Use Google Docs

Using a shared work space -- and that's what GoogleDocs is -- is the heart of this consultancy!

• Try posting just one document to your GoogleDocs account. It can be anything: an old memo, an old presentation, a test document, whatever
• Mark the box next to the document you have uploaded, and share it with me (type in my email address) and the co-worker of your choice

What is It?

Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Menus, keyboard shortcuts, and dialog boxes are similar to desktop word processors such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org Writer. With Google Docs, you can easily create documents and edit them and even upload Microsoft and OpenOffice files.

You can create file in Google Docs -- a document, a spreadsheet, a presentation -- and send it out to anyone with an email address. They won't need to sign in to view it or edit it, and they can respond directly from the email message or from an automatically generated web page.

Please note that, while I'm asking you to use Google Docs now, it does NOT mean your office will end up committing to using it in the long-term. But by trying Google Docs, you will be able to evaluate and use other online sharing sites/platforms.

Creating the form in Googledocs is easy: start with a spreadsheet to get the form, or start by creating the form and you will get the spreadsheet automatically.

Responses are automatically added to your spreadsheet.

Short videos and slide shows about Google Docs

Altogether, these can be viewed in less than 30 minutes.

Google Docs in Plain English
Short video (2 min 50 sec) on YouTube


Using Forms in Google Docs
Short video (1 min 59 sec) on YouTube


User Interface in Google Documents
Short video (2 min 48 sec) on ehow.com (there may be a short commercial at first for something unrelated to Googledocs)

How to Upload to Google Documents
Short video (2 min 57 sec) on ehow.com (there may be a short commercial at first for something unrelated to Googledocs)

Google Docs Tour
Just a few slides, with pictures and very brief text. Don't click on the "Start Now" button but, rather, the arrow, to go through the briefing. It will take you about 10 minutes to read through these.

Documents and web pages about Google Docs: How to Use Google documents (pdf), the official Googledocs page.