Tag Archives: Google Docs

eSignature is now generally available for Google Workspace Individual subscribers

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we introduced eSignature for Docs and Drive in beta. Today, eSignature for Docs and Drive is rolling out in general availability for all Workspace Individual customers. 


Built directly into Google Docs, eSignature makes it easier for solopreneurs and small businesses to request signatures, keep track of and manage contracts like customer agreements, vendor contracts, stakeholder sign-offs and more. eSignature can be used to: 
  • Request signatures, see the status of pending signatures, and find completed contracts. 
  • Sign official contracts directly within Google Drive, eliminating the need to switch apps or tabs. 
  • Create a copy of any given contract so it can be used as a template to initiate multiple eSignatures requests.



Since the last announcement, we’ve expanded functionality to include the following features:
  • Audit trail: all completed contracts will automatically contain an audit trail report.
  • Multi-signer: the ability to request a signature from more than one user.
  • Non-Gmail users: the ability to request an eSignature from non-Gmail users.
  • Initiating eSignature on PDF (beta): the ability to initiate an eSignature on PDF files stored in Drive.

We’ll also be introducing more features for eSignature in the next few months, including:
  • PDF templates: the ability to easily reuse a PDF file as contract templates.
  • Custom text fields: the ability to ask signers to add relevant information (e.g. job titles, email address) to the contract. 


Additional details

Select Google Workspace editions (see the “Availability” section below) can apply to beta test eSignature using this form. We will be accepting beta applications until December 18, 2023.


This feature will be available as part of a larger beta, which includes access to new custom email layouts in Gmail. These new email layouts allow users to customize existing templates, reuse a custom layout in multiple email campaigns, or create a brand new layout from scratch. Once you sign up for the beta you will see the eSignature and new Gmail features in the coming weeks.

Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Individual Subscribers 

  • 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

Resources


Set client-side encryption as the default mode for new emails, events, and files

What’s changing

Admins can now set client-side encryption (CSE) to be on by default for:

  • Newly created Gmail messages, Google Calendar events. 
  • Newly created Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files.
  • Newly uploaded Google Drive files.

Admins can set client-side encryption as default on for users in Organizational Units (OUs) that regularly handle sensitive data requiring additional encryption. This allows organizations the flexibility to meet their compliance and regulatory requirements and reduce the burden on change management programs. Users are prompted to create a CSE object natively in each app meaning their emails, events and files are encrypted by default with customer-managed keys and are private from Google. For organizations with strict regulatory or sovereignty needs, this can help them close compliance gaps by defaulting users to the preferred mode for handling sensitive data.  

Drive:


Gmail:

This is available on the web initially, with support coming for mobile apps in the future. 

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why it matters

This feature is important for Google Workspace admins as it improves users compliance behavior without sacrificing productivity and increases control for admins implementing data control policies. It also includes improved audit logs, providing more detail for admins compiling regulatory compliance reports.

Workspace already uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt data by default, at rest and in transit between our facilities. Client-side encryption goes beyond this, giving organizations authoritative control and privacy as the sole owner of private encryption keys and the identity provider of the encryption keys. It gives organizations higher confidence that any third party, including Google and foreign governments, cannot access their confidential data. Users can continue to collaborate across their preferred apps in Workspace while IT and compliance teams can ensure that sensitive data stays compliant with regulations. 


Getting started

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Google Workspace Assured Controls is available as an add-on to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers only. For more information, contact your Google account representative.

Resources


Solve math equations easily with Smart Compose

What’s changing

For years, users have written content and replied to comments faster and more easily using Smart Compose in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets and Drawings. Today, we’re excited to announce a new feature that extends the power of Smart Compose to help you solve simple math equations. 

Upon typing a math equation that ends with “=” into your document, presentation, spreadsheet comments, or drawing, solutions will appear as grey text suggestions. This new seamless mathematical experience will increase productivity and accuracy when solving math equations across Workspace. 
Solve math equations easily with Smart Compose


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled by opening a file, clicking Tools > Preferences > deselect “Show Smart Compose suggestions”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Smart Compose and Smart Reply. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits 

Resources 

AppSheet smart chips for Google Docs

What’s changing 

In Google Docs, you can already insert smart chips for Docs, Sheets and Slides files, date chips, Calendar event chips, and more. Beginning today, you can now insert smart chips for AppSheet content. These smart chips allow you to access AppSheet data directly into Docs — you’ll be able to view and take action on the data, including triggering automations, without having to leave Docs.







Getting started


Rollout pace

  • This feature is available now.

Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace customers with AppSheet licenses.

Resources


Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – November 10, 2023

3 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.


Timeline view in Google Sheets now available on Android & iOS 
In 2022, we introduced an interactive timeline view that allows you to track projects in Google Sheets. We’re excited to announce that you can now view your timelines on Android and iOS. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for November 15, 2023. | Timeline viewing is available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about timeline view in Sheets. 


Adding timezone support for existing smart chips in Google Docs 
To more accurately represent time across the world, we’re introducing timezone support for existing date+time smart chips in Google Docs. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for November 27, 2023. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about inserting smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc. 
timezone chip in docs


Improved toolbars in the Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps on Android devices 
We’re introducing enhanced toolbars in the Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps that are optimized for Android tablets and foldables, and ultimately improve the editing experience across the apps. 
  • In Docs, there is a new mode switcher that allows you to switch between editing, suggestion, and viewing modes. 
  • In Slides, you will have access to an ever-present toolbar while in editing mode. 
  • In Sheets, a cell will be selected by default upon opening the app. 
Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for November 28, 2023. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. 
Mode switching in the Google Docs app
Mode switching in the Google Docs app



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 GIFs and stickers in Google Slides 
We’re bringing GIFs and stickers directly into Google Slides to empower you to build visual, dynamic, and creative presentations that help you connect with your audience in Slides. | Learn more about GIFs and Stickers in Slides. 

Make more informed decisions using Classroom analytics 
We’re introducing analytics in Google Classroom, providing a centralized view of Classroom data and insights for educators and education leaders. | A Google Workspace for Education Plus license is required to access this feature for both education leaders and educators. | Learn more about assigning licenses in the Help Center and about Classroom analytics.

Google Meet API now available in Developer Preview 
The Google Meet API will give partners and customers the ability to create and configure Meet video conferences, allow their end users to join a conference, and post real-time updates from within their own applications.| Available now through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. | Learn more about Google Meet API. 

Streamlining the user experience in Google Chat to help you find what you need much faster 
A redesigned navigation panel brings direct messages and spaces together and introduces shortcuts, a new framework to help you stay on top of your messages. To reduce friction while navigating between messages, home helps you quickly catch up on any new activity across all conversations in a single location. Finally, mentions give you visibility into the messages addressed specifically to you. | Learn more about the new Google Chat. 

Filter by people or groups in Google Drive 
We’re adding a new filter to Google Drive that lets you see which files or folders have been shared with specific people or groups. | Learn more about filters in Drive.

Improvements for scheduling large scale meetings on the web
We’re making several changes which will make scheduling large scale meetings (up to 100k guests per event) easier and guide schedulers through the process with more context. Once you’ve created and saved a Calendar event which contains a large group of attendees, you can open the event to check on the invitation progress. | Learn more about large scale meetings in Calendar.

Introducing a new homepage in the Google Drive app 
We’re updating the homepage of the Google Drive mobile app on Android and iOS mobile devices to help you more easily find the right file much faster. An updated suggested view will allow you to see even more recommended files at once, such as those that have been recently opened, shared or edited. In addition, we’re replacing the notifications view with activity view, which recently launched on web. | Learn more about the homepage in Drive.


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.


Scheduled Release Domains: 

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 



Build content quickly in Google Docs with instant access to building blocks and more

What’s changing 

We’re introducing new buttons at the top of your Google Doc that enable you to quickly insert building blocks for different types of content, such as meeting notes, email drafts and more, directly into your document. 

Simply click your preferred button or choose '@ More’ to see options like drafts for a Calendar event or a code block.

New buttons allow you to insert building blocks and more when creating a new document.

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why you’d use it 

This feature boosts productivity and saves time by helping you quickly access Docs smart canvas features like email drafts, meeting notes, and search for more. 


Additional details 

The row of buttons will only appear at the top of newly created or empty Google Docs, meaning you will not see these options in documents with existing content. 


Selecting the “@ More” option will display a menu allowing you to search for Docs features and leverage the power of smart canvas. 



Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: This feature will be ON by default. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

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

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – September 8, 2023

5 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.


Expanding autocorrect to Google Chat on web 
Google Chat on web will now automatically correct misspelled words, making it easier to send messages without typos. Similar to functionality in Gmail and Google Docs, the corrected words are shown with a gray underline so you know when the auto-correction has occurred. | This feature is rolling out now to all English users.
Expanding autocorrect to Google Chat on web

Expanding streamlined file organization across Google Workspace 
Earlier this year, we introduced streamlined file organization with the new Google Drive location picker. As a follow up, we're expanding this updated visual experience to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Sites and Gmail. Users will now have access to helpful suggestions when moving files, adding shortcuts to files, or creating copies of files. | 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 how to use Google Drive. 

Updated zoom in/out capabilities across Google Docs, Slides and Drawings
We’re introducing new zoom keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs and Slides on web to help you zoom in, zoom out, or scale to 100%. Additionally, you can now smoothly zoom in or out in Slides using the trackpad or mouse wheel with a modifier key (cmd/ctrl), making it easier to control your view of Slides. | Learn more about keyboard shortcuts for Docs and Slides. 

Expanded language support for captions in Google Meet 
Captions in Google Meet allow you to view captions as everyone speaks during a meeting. Over the course of the next several weeks, you’ll be able to use captions in more languages: 

Arabic (Arab Emirates) (Beta)

Arabic (Egypt) (Beta)

Arabic (Levant) (Beta)

Arabic (Maghrebi) (Beta)

Bengali (Bangladesh) (Beta)

Bulgarian (Bulgaria) (Beta)

Chinese (Simplified) (Beta)

Chinese, Mandarin (Traditional) (Beta)

English (UK) (Beta)

Gujarati (India) (Beta)

Hindi (Beta)

isiXhosa (South Africa) (Beta)

Kannada (India) (Beta)

Khmer (Cambodia) (Beta)

Kinyarwanda (Rwanda) (Beta)

Malayalam (India) (Beta)

Marathi (India) (Beta)

Northern Sotho (South Africa) (Beta)

Sesotho (South Africa) (Beta)

Swati (South Africa) (Beta)

Swedish (Sweden) (Beta)

Tshivenda (South Africa) (Beta)

Tswana (South Africa) (Beta)

Xitsonga (South Africa) (Beta)

Available now to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using captions in Google Meet.

Dynamic groups now supports negation queries 
You can now create or edit dynamic groups to use negation in membership queries. For example, you can opt to create a dynamic group that excludes all users from a particular sub organization or specific job title. There are a few limitations, however — any query using the “exists” macro and using the AND (&) operator or queries where the NOT operator is used inside of the “exists” macro will not be supported. | Rolling out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains at gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting September 11, 2023. | Available to Google Workspace Frontline Standard, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus and Cloud Identity Premium customers only. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating membership queries for dynamic groups and our Developer documentation for more information about formulating and testing a membership query. 
Dynamic groups now supports negation queries

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.


Expanding branding and customization capabilities to Google Sites 
You can now easily and quickly create with high-quality, pre-designed themes for Google Sites. | Available to Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus only. | Learn more about changing how your Google Site looks. 

Introducing a new ultra-low latency viewer experience for in-domain live streaming in Google Meet 
We are introducing a new ultra-low latency viewing experience for video meetings that are streamed within an organization. The new experience will be available to the first ten thousand viewers — all additional viewers will have the existing experience. | Learn more about in-domain live streaming in Google Meet. 

More Google Meet features for Google Workspace Individual users 
If you’re a Google Workspace Individual user, you can now take advantage of several new Meet features and enhancements. We hope these updates make it easier for you to connect and collaborate with your customers and stakeholders, continuing to drive your business forward. | Learn more about features for Google Workspace Individual users. 

Lock files more easily in Google Drive 
We’re adding the option to lock Drive files by right-clicking the file, selecting “File information”, and clicking “Lock”. Locking a file makes sure reviewers can’t change a file. Edits, comments and suggestions can't be added to locked documents. | Learn more about locking files in Drive.

Increased row limits in Connected Sheets for BigQuery 
We’re increasing the maximum number of rows of results returned from BigQuery for pivot tables and for data extracts. Pivot tables have been expanded to 50,000 rows (previously 30,000) and data extracts have been expanded to 50,000 rows (previously 25,000). | Learn more about Connected Sheets for BigQuery.


Write emails, documents and more with ease and speed using Duet AI in Google Docs and Gmail

This announcement was made at Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the next wave of AI innovation in Workspace. This feature is exclusive to the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on.

What’s changing

We’re introducing AI-powered writing features that help you quickly refine existing work or get you started with something new in Google Docs and Gmail using Duet AI for Google Workspace. 

On web and mobile, you can draft and reply to messages in Gmail. Upon selecting the Help me write button, you can choose between the following options: 
  • Write your draft: Use your own words to describe the message you’d like to draft. Help me write also understands the context from previous messages in an email thread to craft reply drafts that are relevant to the conversation. 
  • Formalize your draft: Change the tone of your draft to be more formal. 
  • Elaborate on your draft: Add further detail to your email message to build on the draft. 
  • Shorten your draft: Decrease the length of your email draft. 
  • I’m feeling Lucky: Introduce fun variations on tone and style for content you’ve drafted. 

Whether you’re setting up a meeting with a prospective client or reworking an intro email for a new team member, Help me write in Gmail saves you the time by eliminating the tedious task of writing emails and provides the right tone and style for any message occasion.
Duet AI in Gmail formalizing notes into a polished email.
Duet AI in Gmail formalizing notes into a polished email.

Using Help me write in Docs, simply type a few words describing a topic you’d like to write about and a draft will be instantly generated for you. You can see suggestions as needed and refine the generated content further with the following options: 
  • Tone: Change the tone of the content to be more casual or more formal. 
  • Summarize: Generate a summary for an entire document or a section. 
  • Bulletize: Use bullets to represent your text. 
  • Elaborate: Add further detail to build on the generated text. 
  • Shorten: Make your content more concise by decreasing its length. 
  • Retry: Receive a different generated draft based on your description. 
  • Custom: Provide your own instruction to refine the generated content. 
Whether you’re a recruiter drafting a customized job description or an account executive drafting a sales pitch, Help me write saves you the time and effort of writing the first version of a document by enabling you to focus on bringing your ideas to life instead of conquering a blank page. 
Duet AI in Docs helping to write a job description.
Duet AI in Docs helping to write a job description.


We’re also combining the power of smart canvas with Help me write by weaving smart chips, variables, and building blocks into generated content. This combination will help if you need to include information like status or add variables for details you’d want to customize like your teammate’s names, job titles and more. By providing you with structured data and shortcuts to take action when creating comprehensive plans or messages, this update will help you go from concept to completion much faster without ever leaving your document. 


Who’s impacted 

End users 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 


Resources 

Enhance your writing in Google Docs with Proofread, available with Duet AI for Workspace

This announcement was made at Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the next wave of AI innovation in Workspace. This feature is exclusive to the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on.

What’s changing

Google Docs offers several existing capabilities to help you write faster and with more confidence, such as grammar suggestions, smart compose, and smart reply. Today, we’re introducing the next generation of writing suggestions, powered by AI: Proofread.


In addition to spelling and grammar, Proofread will provide a list of suggestions you can review and accept, including:
  • Conciseness: Suggestions for making your writing more concise 
  • Active voice: Suggestions for making your writing more clear to readers
  • Wording: Suggestions for making words sound more dynamic or formal in context
  • Sentence Split: Suggestions for splitting up complex sentences to make your writing easier to read



Who’s impacted

End users


Why you’d use it

Proofread is our latest innovation that helps you more easily and quickly compose high-quality content in Google Docs. It can help improve conciseness and make your documents clearer and easier to read.  These suggestions are non-intrusive and won’t clutter your document as you compose and collaborate — you can easily review all suggestions directly from the Proofread sidebar whenever you’re ready and decide which suggestions are most appropriate for you to accept. Plus, you can customize the types of suggestions you’ll see via the filter option, helping ensure we’re giving you the most relevant suggestions.


Additional details

If you’re currently participating in alpha testing for Proofread, you’ll need to purchase the Duet AI for Workspace Enterprise add-on to continue using this feature. If not, you will no longer be able to access the feature beginning on August 29, 2023.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. This feature is exclusive to Google Workspace customers with the Duet AI for Workspace Enterprise add-on. Use this link to get started with a trial for Duet AI.
  • End users: 
    • This feature will be ON by default and can be turned off in Docs by going to Tools > Proofread. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Proofread in Docs.
    • You can open the Proofread sidebar by selecting this icon:


    • There will be a bluedot alongside this icon when there are writing suggestions for your document: 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 18, 2023

2 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.


Get started with smart canvas in Google Sheets 
When opening a new spreadsheet or tab in Google Sheets, you will now see “Type @ to insert” to help you start using the smart canvas features available in Sheets. 
Get started with smart canvas in Google Sheets

A new look for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Android devices 
We’re introducing a modernized visual design for the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Android devices. In the coming weeks, Android users will notice a refreshed look for things like the editing toolbar, icons, background colors, and more. 
A new look for Google Docs on Android devices
Refreshed visual design of Google Docs app

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.


Programmatically read and write working locations with the Calendar API, now generally available 
Previously available in beta through our Developer Preview Program, the ability to read and write a user’s working location using the Calendar API is now generally available. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more about Calendar API. 

Google Voice users can manage incoming calls across individuals and groups 
Admins can now designate specific Voice users as managers of a ring group, allowing them to make changes from voice.google.com instead of the Admin console. | Available to Google Voice Starter, Standard and Premier customers only. | Learn more about managing incoming calls. 

Resolve conflict accounts faster with the new Conflict Accounts Management tool 
We’re introducing an automated workflow to help reduce the manual effort needed to turn unmanaged accounts into managed accounts. Unmanaged accounts are users who independently created a Google account using one of your organization's domains. | Learn more about the new Conflict Accounts Management tool. 


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: