Google Docs is currently one of the most widely used word-processing applications. It’s web-based, it’s free, and it lets you do everything that a word-processing tool ought to let you do, including creating documents, editing text, adding photos, and so on.
One of its distinguishing features is the capacity to facilitate teamwork. Documents can be shared with anyone, other users can contribute comments, and discussion can take place within the documents, among many other features. In addition to that, it provides access to a wide variety of add-ons developed by third-party developers.
This post is like a complete Google Docs guide. We shall cover everything from teaching how to use google docs to generate new documents to collaborating. We’ll also discuss some of some of its numerous third-party add-ons.
What Is Google Docs
Google Docs, the online word processor included in the company’s free Google Drive office package, is readily accessible. Users do not have to pay to access or make use of Google Docs. Equal to, or better than, Microsoft Office, the cloud-based suite also includes Sheets (Excel) and Slides (Powerpoint).
Google Docs is compatible with all operating systems, browsers, and mobile devices. All that is required is a connection to the internet, a web browser, or, in the case of mobile devices, the appropriate applications. While the programme is being executed in the cloud, Google does all of the heavy lifting and takes care of the rest.
So basically, Google Docs is an online word processor that lets multiple people work on the same document at the same time. You can also track revisions, changes, and suggestions in real time.
How To Do Google Docs Login
Google Docs login is quite simple if you already have a google account. Just log in to that account before visiting the Google Docs page.
If you don’t have a google account, you will need to create one to start using google docs. Start by registering for a google account and login to access your google docs.
When you have successfully logged in, a Blank symbol will appear in the sidebar to the left of the main ribbon. Simply click on this link to start composing a new document.
How To Use Google Docs To Create And Write Documents
Google Docs Text Formatting
The Google Docs toolbar lets you change the text and font style. You can also give different font styles to different parts of the text. Google Docs also lets you change things like the spacing between paragraphs and how they are lined up.
Table of contents Google Docs
Click on your Google Docs to choose where the table of contents should go. Click Insert in the menu bar, and then choose Table of Contents.
You can pick between the page numbers and the blue links. If you want to get rid of the table of contents, right-click and choose “Delete.”
How To Add Pictures In Google Docs
On the Insert tab, click on Image. Choose from the following: Upload, Take a picture, By URL, Your albums Google Drive, Search.
You must make sure that the file you choose is less than 50 MB in size and is in gif, jpg, or png format.
Strikethrough Google Docs
You might need to put a line through a text sometimes.
But you can’t use strikethrough in the ribbon.
In Google Docs, select the text you want to strike through. Choose Format from the bar of tools. Then click on TExt and select Strikethrough.
Now, the highlighted text will have a line through it.
Subscript And Superscript In Google Docs
You may have noticed that you can choose to format your text as either superscript or subscript from the menu.
To use these two features, you need to take this extra step. In Excel, to format a document with an exponent like “X to the power 2,” you must first highlight the 2 and type “X2.”
Click on Format followed by clicking on then Text and finally Superscript.
The “2” has been written as an exponent, as you can see (superscript).
If you want the 2 to be at the bottom (subscript), go to Format > Text and choose Subscript.
It’s easy to use, but you have to go through some menus to get it.
How To Change Margins In Google Docs
First, what if you don’t like the margins of the template you chose? Changing the margins of a Google Docs document is easy.
Click on File and Page Setup to change the page margins.
In the Page setup window, you can change any of these formatting options.
- You can set the document to Portrait, Landscape, or both.
- Set a colour for the page’s background.
- Change the left, right, or top margins in inches.
When you’re done, click OK to immediately use the page formatting.
Hanging Indents Google Docs
Many people have trouble with the one-paragraph formatting option in Google Docs. Either this is the first line or the hanging indent. First-line indent is the space where the first line of a paragraph should go.
The space where the first line is not indented is called a “hanging indent.”
This is because you can indent a paragraph by selecting the first line or the whole paragraph and then clicking the indent icon on the ribbon.
To get a hanging indent or first-line indentation in Google Docs:
- Choose the paragraph where the hanging indent will go.
- Pick Align & Indent from the Format menu. Then, choose options for indentation.
- Change the Special indentation from Hanging to the Indentation options Window.
By default, it is set to 0.5 inches.
You can change this if you want to, and then click Apply. This will put your settings into effect for the paragraph you chose.
How To Add Page Numbers In Google Docs
The last part of formatting that can be hard to use or understand is page numbering. It is another feature of Google Docs that is hidden in the menus.
To number your Google Docs pages, choose Insert and then Page numbers from the menu. This will bring up a small pop-up window with easy-to-use options for how to format your page numbers.
Here are the four possible choices:
- Each page should have a number in the top right corner.
- At the bottom left of each page, there should be a number.
- Numbering starts on the second page in the upper right corner.
- Starting with the second page, the numbers go in the bottom right corner.
If you don’t like any of these choices, you can choose More options.
- In the next window, you can put the page numbers exactly where you want them.
- In the top or bottom.
- Whether or not to start counting on the first page.
- Where should you start numbering pages?
When you’re done, click Apply to use your choices for page numbering.
Word count on Google Docs
Want to know how many words you’ve written so far? Select Word count from the Tools menu. It will show the full number of pages, words, and characters.
Let the word count show As you type and click OK, you can see the total number of words in your document in the lower left corner.
How To Use Google Docs Offline
A benefit of using Google Docs is that you can edit, save, or create documents from your web browser even if you aren’t online. If you need to complete some work while travelling, this is a fantastic alternative.
When you get back online, all the modifications you made will be synced with your computer. This is not a built-in function. In your account, you must create offline connections.
- Visit the Google Docs home page to get started.
- Look to your left for the menu button.
- Press Settings after that.
- On your screen, the pop-up box will appear.
- To edit offline, enable the Offline option. As soon as you do this, the button will turn blue from grey.
When offline editing is enabled, the browser will automatically adjust.
Google Docs Download
Google Docs automatically saves your documents in the cloud, so a local hard drive crash won’t wipe them off. However, using Google Docs’ download feature may be a good idea. When you download your Google Doc, you’ll save a copy on your hard drive and leave one in the cloud. We will show you step-by-step how to download Google Docs to your hard drive.
- Open the google drive and sign in to your google account.
- Click New in the top left corner of the Drive window. After that, click Google Docs.
- Give the new document a name. Click the window’s upper left text box (to the right of the blue document icon) and change the file name there.
- Start typing in the document’s text field. Google saves the document every few seconds as you type.
- To enable Google Docs download, click the File menu in the top left corner of the screen.
- Click Download, and then choose the kind of document you want to create from the Google Doc. The options you get are Microsoft Word (.doc), OpenDocument format (.odt), Rich Text format (.rtf), PDF document (.pdf), Plain Text (.txt), Web Page (.html) and EPUB Publication (.epub).
- You should receive a notification that the file download is finished at the bottom of the window, depending on the web browser you’re using.
- To open the file in the programme that is linked to the file name extension you selected, click the box. The document can then be saved to your hard drive using the software’s File option.
Google Docs Templates – Tips To Create
How To Create Google Docs Public Templates
- Create a Google Docs document that will serve as your template.
- Open a template in Google Docs and select Submit a Template.
- Click on Choose in your Google Docs.
- Choose your template created in Step 1.
- Enter a template description in the text box. If it is more than one phrase, Google may not accept it.
- A drop-down choice of categories will appear. Pick the relevant one. Select the category Business if you are generating a template for a project meeting.
- Put the template under the Legal category if it is being used to draft a legal contract.
- Opt for the language used in developing the template.
- Click the Submit template.
- Select your personalised templates from the template gallery page, then get going.
How To Create Google Docs Private Templates
- Create your template document.
- Click File in Google Drive.
- Select the option ‘Make a copy’.
- Maintain a private copy of the original template document.
Google Docs Shared – Options For Sharing
Create a link to share
The simplest way to share a Google Docs webpage is through a shareable link. By clicking a special URL, anyone can view your paper in this manner.
- After selecting Share, click the top-right Get Shareable Link button.
- Choose the sharing option for your document.
- Click the Copy link once permissions have been set.
- After that, the URL will be copied to your clipboard so you may share it with anyone who wants to access the file.
Share Using Email Address
Email is another option for sharing your document. In addition to adding the document to their Google account, this will send the person an email invitation.
- Return to the sharing box for this.
- Once you’ve entered the email address of the person you want to share your document with, you may alter their permissions by selecting a choice from the dropdown menu.
- A note that you include with the invitation will appear in the email invitation as well.
Using The Advanced Sharing Options
Return to your sharing box and click on Advanced.
You may view all of the sharing options here, including the users who have access to your document and their permissions. Additionally, you have the choice of inviting or excluding others.
Allow The Editing Of Your Document
Are you willing to allow others to modify your document? Click File > Share to send a link to someone.
- In the drop-down menu, select More.
- Then, choose On — Anyone with the Link and modify the permissions using the bottom drop-down option.
This option makes it crystal obvious that anyone with access to your special URL can edit, remove, or modify your document. When sharing it, be selective and cautious.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’re almost an expert on how to use Google Docs. These tricks will enable you to make use of Google’s tools and produce amazing documents of any kind, regardless of your professional background.
Google Docs is a fantastic tool for collaborative teams since it allows you to share your work with as many people as you want, whenever you want. Additionally, it makes your life easier by automatically saving any document modifications to the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about losing your work. Finally, regardless of whether you have access to the internet, you can work on your documents from anywhere.
You can see why so many people want to know how to use Google Docs and make use of its amazing features. Plus, it’s also free! So then, are you ready for Google Docs login?