Google Docs

Compatibility

Any computer, any operating system-No need to install upgrades-Shared files means it's always the latest version

Owners

Can edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings, and invite more editors and viewers. Can delete documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings, and thereby remove access for editors and viewers. Please note: To fully delete a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing, and remove access to it, you need to delete it and then Empty Trash.

Collaborators with edit access (editors)

Can edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings. Can invite or delete other editors and viewers (if the owner has given them permission). Can export a copy of the document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing to their local hard drive. Can view the list of editors. Can make a copy of a doc, and copy the list of doc's editors.

Others with view access (viewers)

Can see the most recent version of a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing but can't make any changes. Can export a copy of the document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing to their local hard drive. Can not view the list of editors. Can make a copy a doc, but can't copy the list of doc's editors.

Spreadsheets export

Microsoft Excel (.xls) OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) Comma-separated values (.csv, .txt) PDF, HTML

Spreadsheets import or convert

Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx) OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) Comma-separated values (.csv, .txt)

Presentations export

Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt) PDF (.pdf) Text (.txt)

Presentations import or convert

Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt, .pps)

Word Processing import or convert

Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) OpenDocument text (.odt) StarOffice text (.sxw) Rich text (.rtf) Plain text (.txt) HTML (.htm, .html)

Templates

Ready-made templates or create and publish your own document templates.Templates can be copied with one click and then modified like any other document.

Cloud access

Web-based allows access to your files from any internet browser & safely stores documents online, making them accessible to authorized users from any computer or mobile device, whenever they're needed.

Sharing Limitations

You can explicitly share a doc or file with 200 viewers and editors (combined), or you can make your doc available to anyone by changing its visibility option. 50 may edit and view a spreadsheet, document, or drawing.

Spreadsheet import options

create a whole new spreadsheet, append to the current sheet, add a new sheet to your existing spreadsheet or even replace your entire spreadsheet with this new version Import dialog is available from the spreadsheet File menu.

Publishing

creates a separate, lightweight webpage where anyone with the link can view the contents of your document Create an embeddable HTML version of a doc. Show your doc to large web audiences. Provide quick access to file downloads, and publish individual sheets or even cell selections (Google spreadsheets only) Publish a one-time snapshot of a living document. To create such a snapshot, make sure you un-check "Automatically republish" when you publish your doc

File formats

easily import and store any file format, many of the file formats you have the option to convert the file into a Google Doc for editing and collaboration, export the documents out to be used with other programs

Accessing Google Docs

from any of your school Google Apps product pages-In the top left corner of any product main page, you will see a list of links-Click Documents or access Google Docs through a custom URL for your school-http://docs.google.com/a/yourschool.org

Revision history

makes it easy to review, compare, or revert to a prior version at any point

Visibility options

private people at my organization with a link people at my organization can find and access anyone with the link public on the web.

Collaboration support

users easily invite others to work on the same document, at the same time

Sharing settings

who can make changes or only view the document

Google docs

word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and drawings

Sharing with individuals

you will always be able to share a document with others at your school who have a Google Apps account you can select what level of access (view or edit) each person has.

Word Processing export

Microsoft Word(.doc) OpenDocument text (.odt) Rich text (.rtf) Plain text (.txt) HTML (.htm, .html) PDF

Autosave

ensures that current work stays safe, preserving ongoing drafts and edits

Chat feature

start a discussion with others in the document