Tag Archives: Google Chat

Introducing Workday app for Google Chat

What’s changing

We’re adding a new Workday app for Google Chat that allows you to perform quick actions in Workday, such as requesting time off, filing expense reports and looking up colleague's information, all without leaving Google Chat. 
Introducing Workday app for Google Chat

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

See message view counts in Google Chat spaces

What’s changing

In June, we introduced read receipts in group direct messages so that users could quickly identify if other members of a group have read their latest message within a Google Chat stream. Today, we’re excited to announce a similar feature in spaces that will allow space members to see view counts for messages in all spaces. 

A more detailed view of how many members are engaging with content in spaces can be seen by hovering over the message, selecting the three-dot menu, and clicking “See message views”. 
See view counts in Google Chat spaces


Additional details 

The view counts in spaces will be available for messages sent on August 1, 2023 and beyond. Additionally, view counts are not available for in-line replies. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Web: 

Mobile (Android & iOS): 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 11, 2023

4 New updates 

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.


Adding bulk conversion for place chips in Google Sheets
Earlier this year, we introduced a smart canvas feature that enables you to open a location directly in Google Maps and see a preview of the location or find directions when a Google Maps place chip is added to your Sheet. Starting this week, users can now convert links to place chips in bulk from the insert menu or cell menu. This time-saving update is especially helpful when formatting data in bulk for event schedules, vendor lists, trip itineraries, etc. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains at an extended pace (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more about inserting smart chips in your Google Sheets. 
Adding bulk conversion for place chips in Google Sheets
Easily set up dropdown chips in Google Sheets with a new pre-fill feature 
If you select a range of cells then insert a dropdown chip, manually entered cell data will convert to pre-fill the dropdown values. You can then use the dropdown sidebar to easily adjust the options or add styles to the dropdowns before accepting. | Learn more about creating a dropdown list with existing data. 
Easily set up dropdown chips in Google Sheets with a new pre-fill feature
Reorganizing the file and folder menu in Google Drive
Earlier this year, we introduced a refreshed interface for Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Building upon this, when right-clicking a file or folder in Drive, you will now see a new menu format. While the menu functionality remains the same, we’ve reordered and renamed menu items, and also added new sub-menus. 
Reorganizing the right-click menu format in Google Drive

Updated timeline for upgrading to the in-line threaded experience in Google Chat 
Earlier this year, we announced that existing spaces organized by conversation topic will be upgraded to the new in-line threaded experience by Q4 2023. We’d like to provide an update on that timing: 
  • The upgrade will start in September 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2024. 
Ahead of the upgrade, Google Workspace admins, partners, and resellers will receive an email with more information about what to expect before any changes are made to their experience. For more information, please refer to our previous announcement. 


Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Simplify lesson planning with shareable class templates and classwork with new Google Classroom beta 
We’re excited to announce a Google Classroom beta that will simplify lesson planning with others and make classroom materials more accessible. | Available to Education Plus only. | Learn more about the new Google Classroom beta. 

Updates for exporting your organization’s data 
Google Workspace customers can choose to export the data of a specific user, rather than a customer’s full set of user generated content. Additionally, you’ll notice an improved user interface for the data export tool, which provides more detailed information about exports, records a longer history of exports, and offers more features (filtered takeout). | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Assured Controls customers only. | Learn more about exporting your organization’s data. 

Review suggested hints, add your own resources, and more for practice sets in Google Classroom We’ve announced an update that gives teachers more control over the resources for students in practice sets. | Available to Google Workspace for Education Plus and Google Workspace for Education Teaching and Learning Upgrade only. | Learn more about practice sets in Google Classroom. 

Expanding branding and customization capabilities in Google Slides and Google Forms 
Users now have access to a domain template with a variety of branded slides, layouts, images, colors and fonts that will appear when creating a new presentation in Slides. They also have access to a domain theme including fonts, branded colors and a header image that you can use when creating a new form or editing an existing form in Forms. | Available to Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus only. | Learn more about default templates & themes. 

Adding Gmail translation to mobile devices 
There is now a native translation integration within the Gmail mobile app that will enable you to seamlessly communicate in a wide range of languages. | Learn more about translating on mobile devices in Gmail. 

Google Keep integration with Assistant available to all Google Workspace users 
If you’re using the Google Assistant with your Google Workspace device, you can set Google Keep as the default provider for your notes and lists. You can ask Assistant to create a new list, add or delete items for an existing list, or read back all the list items to you. | Learn more about the Google Keep integration with Assistant. 

Introducing eSignature for Google Docs and Google Drive: launching to open beta for Workspace Individual subscribers, launching to beta for Google Workspace customers 
eSignature is now available as an open beta for Google Workspace Individual subscribers — no additional sign-up is required to use the feature. eSignature will be available in beta for select Google Workspace customers — see the “Additional details” section below for more information. | Eligible for beta: Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Education Plus, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more about eSignatures in Google Docs. 

Gallery view for Zoom interoperability on Google Meet hardware 
We’re now introducing support for Zoom’s Gallery view, which makes much better use of screen real estate and allows more participants to be seen on screen at the same time. | Available for all Google Meet hardware customers. | Learn more about Zoom interoperability for Google Meet hardware devices. 

Add annotations to your presentations in Google Slides 
There is a feature that lets you highlight or emphasize key content while you present in Google Slides. With the new pen tool, you can circle, underline, draw connections or make quick notes directly on your presentation. | Learn more about annotations in Google Slides

Set Context Aware Access policies for 1P & 3P applications to access Workspace APIs
Admins can now use context-aware access to block users' access to Workspace Applications via other Google (1st party) & non Google (3rd party) applications. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and Cloud Identity Premium customers. | Learn more about Context Aware Access policies.


Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.


Rapid Release Domains: 

Scheduled Release Domains: 

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

In-line replies now available within announcement spaces in Google Chat

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for space managers to configure spaces for sharing organizational announcements. While these announcement spaces aim to facilitate one-way controlled communication in Google Chat, we’re adding an optional in-line reply feature that will enable members of a space to respond to or discuss an announcement. 
In-line replies now available within announcement spaces in Google Chat

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about optimizing Chat spaces for your organization. 
  • End users: For newly created announcement spaces, the in-line reply feature is the default for all members. In existing announcement spaces, the in-line reply feature is the default for space managers only. To enable or disable this setting, space managers can go to the space menu > space settings > permissions > “Reply to messages” > select “All members” or “Space managers only”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing your space settings, creating an announcement space and your role as a space manager. 

Rollout pace 

Web: 
Mobile (Android & iOS): 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers 

Resources 

Introducing membership search and the option to add up to 50,000 members to spaces in Google Chat

What’s changing

In continuing our efforts to boost communication and collaboration for teams of all sizes in Google Workspace, we’re increasing the number of users you can add to a space in Google Chat from 8,000 to 50,000. 

This update is especially impactful for company-wide announcements, event-oriented spaces, large communities within companies, and support-related spaces. 

We hope this feature not only helps increase connectivity and sense of belonging but also creates broader and more thriving communities within your organizations. 

50,000 members to spaces in Google Chat

Additionally, we are introducing the ability to easily search for members within a space. If a member is present, you can change their role and if a member is not present, you can add the member to the space. 

membership search spaces in chat

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Large spaces: 
Member search — Web: 
Member Search — Mobile: 
  • Android: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 7, 2023 
  • iOS: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 28, 2023 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers 

Resources 

Ability to create spaces, memberships, group chats, and more using the Google Chat API is now generally available

What’s changing 

Last year, we announced that developers could use the Google Chat API to programmatically create new spaces and add members to those spaces through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. 

Today, those features are generally available for all Google Workspace developers, along with the ability to use Chat API to: 


Who’s impacted


Admins and developers


Why you’d use it 

These features enable developers to build solutions that integrate into workflows and pull contextual data right into the conversation. Using the new API functionalities, you can set up new spaces that focus on a specific topic, team, or project. You can also use the new APIs to encourage collaboration and outreach with users in your organization. For example, LumApps, a leading intranet platform, enables you to start a direct message in Google Chat from its user directory. Those who are trying to find others based on job titles, roles, departments, and other attributes, can quickly start messaging each other.




Additional details

To ensure you are aware that a Chat application has performed an action on behalf of a user, Chat web and mobile apps will display the app name for system messages and Chat messages. 




Getting started

  • Admins: Admins can use the API controls in Admin Console if they want to restrict access to Google Chat data.
  • Developers: Access the new Chat APIs through the Google Chat API. 


Rollout pace


  • This feature is now available.

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers.

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – July 14, 2023

4 New updates 

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time (if not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers. 


Improved media viewing on Android devices in Google Chat 
We’re introducing a new media viewer in Google Chat on Android devices that significantly improves the media browsing experience. Now, media thumbnails open faster in full screen, repeat playback is quicker, and you can swipe between all of the media in the conversation. We've also added a shared media option that allows users to quickly browse through all media shared in a Chat conversation, which is accessible from the conversation as well as from the full-screen view of every media item. | Learn more about sending & sharing files in Google Chat messages.




Extending long running queries within Connected Sheets
Currently, we timeout any queries that take longer than 5 minutes for Connected Sheets. This week, we extended the timeout time from 5 minutes to 10 minutes for BigQuery and Looker. This means Connected Sheets users will be able to analyze data from queries that scan even larger data sets in Sheets.  


Filter by measures and value in a pivot table with Connected Sheets for Looker
Previously, Connected Sheets users could filter by dimensions in pivot tables, but not measures. Now, Looker users are able to filter by measures in a pivot table, which allows for even more targeted analysis on Connected Sheets. Additionally, Looker users will be able to filter by value in a pivot table on Connected Sheets. | Learn more about measure types on Looker and creating & using pivot tables. 




Add emojis in Google Sheets
Emojis are a great way for people to express themselves across Google Workspace. We’re excited to announce that you can now insert emojis into a Google Sheet by:
  • Typing “@” > “Emoji” > select the desired emoji
  • Going to “Insert” > “Emoji” > select the desired emoji

Scale meetings to 1,000 attendees, with 500 attendees being viewers, now available for Google Workspace Education Plus
In June 2023, we announced viewer mode for Google Meet. For certain Google Workspace editions, viewer mode can be used to scale their meetings to 1,000 attendees, with 500 attendees being viewers. We’re now expanding this functionality to Google Workspace Education Plus customers. | Learn more about scaling meetings with viewer mode.


Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Add hyperlinks to text in Google Chat
You can now hyperlink text on web and Android when composing or editing a message in Google Chat. This update also includes the ability to copy over hyperlinks from other places like Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Slides. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about adding hyperlinks to text in Chat.


Paid appointment bookings now available in Google Calendar
To improve upon the current capabilities of appointment scheduling, the Google Calendar feature that allows users to share their availability via a booking page, we're now integrating paid appointment bookings into Google Calendar. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits and Workspace Individual only. | Learn more about paid appointment bookings in Google Calendar.


Negotiate time directly in Gmail to schedule meetings faster
We’re adding a feature into Gmail that helps you find convenient 1:1 meeting times with others much quicker. This is especially useful when scheduling time with customers, partners or people in your organization whose Google Calendars are not visible to you. | Learn more about scheduling meetings in Gmail.


Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.


Rapid Release Domains:

Add hyperlinks to text in Google Chat

What’s changing 

You can now hyperlink text on web and Android when composing or editing a message in Google Chat. This update also includes the ability to copy over hyperlinks from other places like Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Slides. We hope this highly requested feature helps your messages look cleaner, more compact and easier to read. 




Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • To hyperlink your text, click on the link icon in the rich text formatting toolbar and enter the URL. 
    • Tip: Users on web can use the familiar keyboard shortcut (⌘+K on MacOS and Ctrl+K on ChromeOS & Windows) to hyperlink text. 


Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts

Customize error messages for Google Chat data loss prevention rules, available in open beta

What’s changing 

For new and existing data protection rules for Google Chat, you can now customize the message shown to users when a message is blocked or intercepted. Previously, the message would be a standard warning, shared for all cases. Now, you can provide more context for users, including what they can do to unblock themselves or links to additional resources. 


This feature is available as an open beta, which means admins can use it without enrolling in a specific beta program. Note that this feature is only available on the web, mobile users will continue to see the standard warning. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 



Why it’s important 

Data loss prevention rules are built into the Workspace platform, performing checks in real time to help keep employees and their data safe as they go about their work. Beyond enforcement of these rules, creating user awareness is critical in the overall understanding and adoption of safety best practices. 


Providing a more detailed explanation for why their message has been intercepted or blocked helps users understand how to unblock themselves and more safely accomplish their task. More detailed explanations might include sharing links for more info on safety best practices, how to re-work their messages to be more secure, and more. Additionally, if you’re using data loss prevention rules to warn users against sharing certain information across Chat, you can customize the message to inform your users of the risks before they proceed. 


For more information on data loss prevention for Google Chat, refer to the Help Center, our original announcement, as well as the announcement made at Google Cloud Next 2022.


Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be customized per rule at the domain, Organizational Unit (OU), or group level. When creating a rule, in Step 4: Actions, under “User Message”, select “customize message”.




Visit the Help Center to learn more about preventing data leaks from Chat messages & attachments.

  • End users: There is no end user action required. Depending on your admin settings, you’ll see more detailed information if you’re trying to send a Google Chat message that meets conditions defined in a data loss prevention rule.


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching & Learning Upgrade, and Frontline Standard customers. 
  • DLP for Chat is also available to Cloud Identity Premium users who are also licensed for Workspace editions that include Google Chat and Audit and investigation. Visit the Help Center for more information. 

Resources


See read receipts for messages in Google Chat group direct messages

What’s changing

Following the recent updates in Google Chat that add context without breaking the flow of conversations and enable you to declutter your chat conversations, we’re introducing read receipts in group direct messages. 

With this feature, you can now quickly identify if other members of a group have read your latest message within a Chat stream. 
Read receipts on web in Google Chat

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why it’s important 

Many users rely on Chat for immediate communication with their colleagues, and it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with the number of messages sent and received throughout the day. Knowing which of your colleagues have read your message can help set expectations for a response. 

Whether you’re waiting for a colleague to read your message or you want to ensure high visibility of a topic in a group direct message, we hope this highly requested feature helps you communicate more effectively in Chat. 
Read receipts on mobile in Google Chat


Additional details 

Read receipts will only be shown in Chats of 20 people or less, and will not be shown in spaces. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature and it cannot be toggled ON or OFF. Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending a message in Google Chat.

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources