5 Google Docs Tips for Smarter Working, Smarter Collaboration

Smarter working and smarter collaboration with Google Docs? You better believe it! If there's one thing current and emerging computer technology has demonstrated, it's that we continue to perform tasks faster and more efficiently. You would think that improving on current platforms would be near to impossible but an application as simple as Google Docs has shown that there is always room for improvement and evolution.

For those who don't know, Google Docs is a fully featured online production suite which is available to anyone with a Google account. Google Docs allows you to create, edit and share documents, presentations and spreadsheets in just about any format available to include web forms. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as Google Docs offers a wide variety of tips, tricks and features to assist you on whatever project is on your slate.

Working Smarter with Data Collection

Not owning your own domain and host can make collecting data online tedious to the point of boring. But with Google Docs you can create data collection forms with a wide range of data input fields. In fact, you can create anything from a simple registration form to a complete online product survey in minutes. And what's more, you can even embed these forms and surveys in your own website.

Collaboration Means Sharing

One of Google Docs most user-friendly features involves file sharing. When it comes to collaboration you can't beat the ability to share files with colleagues and friends. Especially if you're working together on a project together. A built-in chat client function (that works in real time) enables communication as you make changes to file content.

But what's really cool is that Google Docs lets you share entire folders of documents, which means you and your co-workers can easily manage and share office spreadsheets. Google Docs also autosaves everything you do, but you may not know that you can manipulate past revisions in order to see exactly what's changed. What that means is Google Docs keeps a revisions history so you can track your changes and, if you want, revert to them at any time. And an added benefit is that you can color-code your comments and contributions to avoid confusion when you pow-wow with co-workers.

Working Smarter (not harder) with Google Docs Viewer

Google Docs allows you to view documents online without needing to download them. Navigate to docs.google.com/viewer and enter the URL of the document you want to view and Google Docs will open that document for you. GDV is extremely useful if you need to open PDF files (which often take up hundreds of MBs).

Collaboration means Format Conversion

Another popular Google Docs feature is its unique document conversion features. Just upload a compatible file (MS Office, Office 2009, OpenOffice, etc) that you want to convert. Open the file in the document editor and select File > Download as > and the format you wish to convert the file into.

Share with the World: blogs and more

Not only does Google Docs allow you to share your documents with coworkers, but an interesting feature of Google Docs lets you publish the document to almost any blogging platform and thus reach an audience of millions. Publishing a document makes it visible to the public, but it is still hosted on Google's servers.

And that's not all

Google Docs also offers the recent ability to upload any kind of file format and the availability of Google partners to provide synchronization software which will automatically sync docs between your local machine(s) and Google Docs.

Google gives you the ability to edit the html or even the css of your documents. In a spreadsheet, you can reference one sheet from the other, allowing users to stay on their own sheet while simultaneously updating others.

When it comes to comes to smarter working and smarter collaboration, there's no reason not to use Google Docs!