Tag Archives: Editors

Create better looking sites more quickly with section layouts in new Google Sites

We’re adding section layouts to the new Google Sites. You can use these layouts to quickly design pages or sections of pages on your site. This makes it even easier and quicker to create professional-looking websites using the new Sites.


Six pre-built layouts for your site 

At launch there are six pre-built section layout options. You’ll find them in Sites’ right-hand Insert menu. To use them, just click or drag the layout onto the page. A new section will be added to your site and auto-populated with placeholder content matching the layout. You can then add your own content and customize the layout to make it your own.


The six layouts which will be available at launch 

Launch Details 
Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions: 
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Add or edit text or images
New Google Sites - sites.google.com/new


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Embed Google+ streams in the new Google Sites for more engagement

We’re making it easier to embed Google+ streams in the new Google Sites. This feature is a top request from users who want to create more interactive and engaging sites. The launch will help you:

  • Increase the social aspect of sites. Users can see all the posts, photos, comments, and other content that they’d see with the full G+ experience. 
  • Enable free-flowing communication. Users can add comments, +1s, and more to the G+ content directly from the site. 
  • Keep content fresh. Users can avoid duplicate content management by having G+ updates appear automatically in sites. 


How embedded G+ streams work 

You can embed many types of G+ post streams in your Google Sites pages. Specifically, you can embed a top-level community page, a community category page, a collection page, a search results page, or a G+ profile. Formatting of the G+ embed will automatically adjust to the width you set. Once it’s embedded, users can interact with posts just as they can on the full G+ experience. 

Permissions to see and interact with the stream are determined by whether users can see the content in G+. So if you embed from a private G+ community, only members of that community will be able to see the content on the site.

See our Help Center for more details on how to embed G+ streams in Google Sites.

Launch Details 
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release

Editions: 
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI 

More Information 
Help Center: Add Google files, video & more

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Easily connect with Salesforce from Google Sheets

We’re publishing an add-on for Google Sheets to connect with Salesforce.

You can use it to import data and reports from Salesforce into Sheets, and to push updates you make in Sheets back to Salesforce. This seamless integration will help your users optimize workflows and reduce duplicate work between the two products.

For example, your Finance team could use the add-on to perform an in-depth forecast based on all current deals in the pipeline. The add-on would pull all data from the relevant Salesforce report into Sheets, where Finance team members could then use other powerful Sheets features, such as Explore, pivot tables, or macro recorder. Or the Sales team could use the add-on to import the details of their accounts from Salesforce and use Sheets to do a bulk update that pushes the changes back to Salesforce.


Get and use the Salesforce add-on for Google Sheets 

This add-on, made by Google Cloud, is currently in Beta. Add-ons are covered by Google Apps Script Additional Terms. To get the add on:


As a G Suite admin you can control access to this add-on the same way you can with any other Sheets add-on.


See our Help Center for more details on how to import, edit, and sync Salesforce data with Google Sheets.

More information 
G Suite Marketplace: Data Connector for Salesforce add-on
Admin Help Center: Install Marketplace apps
Admin Help Center: Control user installation of Marketplace apps
Admin Help Center: Turn a Marketplace app on or off for users
User Help Center: Use add-ons and Apps Script 
User Help Center: Import, edit and sync Salesforce data with Google Sheets


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New Google Sheets enterprise data integrations with BigQuery and SAP

We're introducing two new Google Sheets integrations to make it easier to analyze your data. We’re opening a Beta program for a data connector that dynamically connects Sheets with BigQuery. We’re also announcing the general availability of an integration with SAP ERP that enables teams to seamlessly pull their business data into Sheets.

We hope that these features will make powerful business data more accessible through Sheets’ familiar, intelligent, and collaborative interface. By freeing data from large databases that need analytical experts to query it or from specialized software that not everyone has access to, we can help you get more insight into your business and make better, data-driven decisions.

Easier and better big data collaboration with Sheets and BigQuery integration Beta 

BigQuery can provide powerful analysis of multiple data sets, but needs specialized skills and knowledge which can make collaborating on data difficult. Sheets provides familiar spreadsheet tools that can help whole teams collaborate and make better data-driven decisions.

Users in the Beta will be able to create a BigQuery query, get a preview, and insert the results into Sheets without leaving the Sheets interface. The data can then be refreshed from within the Sheets interface. Teams can use this to:
  • Streamline reporting and dashboard workflows. Have a single source of truth for big data insights without exports that can get out of date and cause errors. 
  • Democratize analysis. The Sheets interface can bring data to wider, less technical teams with a familiar spreadsheet interface and tools like “Explore” and macro recorder. 
  • Increase collaboration. Sheets makes it easy for teams to comment, discuss, and share insights as they analyze and use the data. 

For example, an analyst could set up a query that analyzes data from several datasets in BigQuery. The data from that would then be accessible in Sheets, where the business team could get the latest data, ask questions in plain English, and add comments ahead of finalizing their quarterly reports. What’s more, with parameterized queries, a single analyst could set up a query in Sheets so that dozens of different sales teams could get different results depending on their regional needs—all without requiring the salesperson to know any SQL.

Apply to join the Beta for the BigQuery and Sheets connectors

Sheets and BigQuery users can apply to join the Beta program for this feature. Admins can see more details, review the eligibility requirements, and apply for their domains to join at gsuite.google.com/bq-sheets.


Discover additional insights from SAP ERP with new integration 

The integration between Sheets and SAP that we announced in June has now launched. You can now export data directly from SAP GUI and SAP ECC 6.0 to Sheets and analyze that data with tools like charts, pivot tables, and Explore. With this new integration, you can skip manually exporting data to CSVs and uploading them to Drive. This can help you:
  • Use the Sheets “Explore” feature to find new insights from data in SAP. 
  • Easily analyze and create data visualizations. 
  • Collaborate with a single source of truth. 

Find out more about how to integrate Sheets and SAP.


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New grammar suggestions in Google Docs launching to Early Adopter Program

We’re introducing grammar suggestions in Google Docs along with a revamped interface for spelling and grammar review. The new features build on the existing spell check functionality to also highlight possible grammar errors in your text and help you correct them. This will help you spend less time checking and proofreading your work and make your writing easier to understand.

These features will initially launch as an Early Adopter Program (EAP). Find out more at g.co/GrammarEAP.

New grammar suggestions 

When Docs detects a possible grammar correction, it will underline it in blue to indicate you might want to check it. You can right-click to see a suggested correction or dismiss the alert. Possible grammar errors will also show up when you run a spelling and grammar check through the tools menu.

New comprehensive language review interface 

We’ve also made it easier to review all language suggestions for a given document with an updated the spelling and grammar check tool in Docs. To launch it, either use the “Tools” menu or right-click on a suggestion and select “Review more suggestions.” The tool will then show you each suggestion and help you take action to correct any errors.


Automated tool to make working in Docs more efficient 

Docs uses machine learning technology to recognize and help correct potential grammar errors in real time. Docs already uses intelligence to help you assign action items, find relevant content, and identify spelling mistakes. We’ll continue to build intelligent solutions to help you get more done and collaborate better through G Suite.

Early Adopter Program for grammar suggestions now open

To take advantage of these features, apply to join the EAP. You can review the eligibility requirements and apply to join at g.co/GrammarEAP.

More Information 
Early Adopter Program sign-up form
The Keyword: Work reimagined: new ways to collaborate safer, smarter and simpler with G Suite 


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Spend less time searching with new Google Docs features

We’re making the Quick Access feature in Google Docs available to more G Suite users and are adding natural language search when you’re looking for documents. We hope these launches mean you spend less time searching for documents and more time working on them.

Expanding Quick Access in Docs to more users 

We launched Quick Access in Docs earlier this year to help users spend less time searching for the right documents and more time crafting ideas. We’re now making this feature available to all G Suite users. Previously it was only available on a subset of G Suite editions.

Quick Access uses artificial intelligence to suggest relevant files in the right hand “Explore” panel of Docs based on your Google Drive activity and information in your document. You can use this to add related resources to a document you’re working on, discover additional content that’s relevant to projects, and more.

See our Help Center to find out how to use Explore in Google Docs.


Adding natural language processing to search in Explore

We’re making the search in Google Docs’ “Explore” panel easier by adding natural language Processing.

This means you can search in a more natural and intuitive way. Just describe what you’re looking for, and Docs will find it for you. So you can search for things like “show me slides shared with me last week” or “show me documents I created this month” and Docs will find the best results. This is similar to the natural language processing used in other Google products and will show you relevant files and information from your Google Drive, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides files.

See our Help Center to find out how to search from inside a document in Google Docs.

Launch Details 
Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions: 
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users Action: Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: See and use suggested content in a document

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Use new theme options to customize and brand your Google Forms

To help Google Forms users create more personalized surveys, feedback forms, quizzes, and more, we’re introducing new theme customization options. Specifically, you can now choose colors and fonts to theme your form. This has been a top feature request from our users, who have asked for more options to create forms that match their organization or team branding. We hope these options help you build forms that look and feel just right.


Pick a theme and background color 

You can choose a color for your theme. When you choose a theme color, it will apply to your header background, titles, action buttons, and more. You can pick a predefined color, or a custom one. After you pick a theme color, you can select a complementary color for the background.

Use an image for the form header 

By default, the form header matches the theme color you select. If you want, you can change this and use an image to display in the header instead.

Customize the font style

You can pick from several font styles to apply to your form. When you pick a style, it will apply to your form title and question text.

New theme options for Google Forms 

See our Help Center for more details on how to change the theme of your Google Form.


Launch Details 

Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions: 
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information 
Help Center: Change the theme or font of your form


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Improved slide layouts with new size and position controls in Google Slides

We’re adding new controls to adjust the size and position of shapes, images, text boxes, and more in Google Slides. This builds on our launch from April, when we added guide and ruler features to give you more control over object positions and text alignment. Together these features provide precise control over slides and enable the design of more attractive and effective presentations. The new options allow users to:


  • Set exact size by numeric value or percentage scale 
  • Adjust object position on a slide 
  • Rotate by flipping horizontally or vertically, or setting a precise rotation angle 

Size & position controls in Slides
New object size and position controls in Google Slides 
You can access the new controls through:

  • Format menu > Format options 
  • Right click on object > Format options 
  • Select object > Format options in the toolbar 


See our Help Center for more information on how to arrange objects in Google Slides.


Launch Details

Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information 
Help Center: Insert and arrange text, shapes, diagrams, and lines


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New in Google Slides: linking in Docs, guides and rulers, and improved commenting

Today we’re introducing several features in Google Slides on the web that will make it easier to create, collaborate on, and share presentations. Read on for more information.

Insert slides from Google Slides into Google Docs

You can now insert a slide from a Google Slides presentation directly into Google Docs. If you want, you can then link that slide in Docs to its source presentation in Slides and sync any changes with just one click—similar to the way you can insert and link charts from Google Sheets. This should save you from doing duplicative work and ensure that the content in your documents is always up to date.

Use our Help Center to learn how to insert and link slides in Docs.


Design your slides with precision using new guides and rulers

You can now add guide lines for consistent placement and alignment throughout a presentation. These guides will show on all slides in a presentation, and text and objects will snap to a guide to ensure they’re aligned.

We’ve also created a new visual ruler, which gives you fine-grained control over the alignment of text, lists, objects, and guides. Indentation markers in the ruler can help you control the alignment of text or bullets within objects.

Use our Help Center to find out how to use guides and rulers in Slides.


Comment on text within individual objects

You can now comment on specific text within an object, such as a text box, on a slide. Previously, you could only comment on the whole object or the whole slide. We hope that this extra control over what you’re commenting on will make it easier to collaborate on presentations.

For more information on working in Slides, please visit the Help Center.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Link a chart, table, or slides to Google Docs or Slides
Help Center: Insert and arrange text, shapes, diagrams, and lines
Help Center: Add a bulleted or numbered list

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Add custom links to the navigation bar in the new Google Sites

The navigation bar is how users get around a website, and it helps them find important resources quickly. The new Google Sites automatically creates an intuitive navigation bar that links to content within your site, but there may be times when you want to create your own links that go somewhere else. That’s why we’re adding a new feature where you can link to any URL from the navigation bar.

You can use this new custom link creator to add an item in the navigation bar that goes to:
  • Your company’s social media profile or homepage.
  • Your company’s HCM tool.
  • Another Google Site with different access permissions.
  • Your team’s project tracker.
  • Your team’s Drive folder.
  • Any other website. 

Use our Help Center to find out how to add a custom link in the new Google Sites.


Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Add, delete, & organize pages


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