Tag Archives: Google Docs

Improving table placements in Google Docs

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we rolled out improvements to the formatting and customization options for tables of contents and reorganized the options included in the table properties sidebar in Google Docs. 

Today, we’re introducing improved table positioning options for documents set in pages format. These features add more flexibility and control over the layout of text with tables in Docs, allowing you to: 
  • Drag tables in a document and place them directly where you want 
  • Wrap content around a table on a page. The wrap direction (left, right, both sides) and margin from the surrounding text can be specified 
  • Set a fixed position for a table on a page 
  • Provide quick layouts to instantly move a table to a preset position on a page 
Additionally, we’ve improved the import/export of Microsoft Word documents with tables so your documents remain consistent.
Improving table placements in Google Docs

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding and editing tables. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

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

Resources 

Improving table placements in Google Docs

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we rolled out improvements to the formatting and customization options for tables of contents and reorganized the options included in the table properties sidebar in Google Docs. 

Today, we’re introducing improved table positioning options for documents set in pages format. These features add more flexibility and control over the layout of text with tables in Docs, allowing you to: 
  • Drag tables in a document and place them directly where you want 
  • Wrap content around a table on a page. The wrap direction (left, right, both sides) and margin from the surrounding text can be specified 
  • Set a fixed position for a table on a page 
  • Provide quick layouts to instantly move a table to a preset position on a page 
Additionally, we’ve improved the import/export of Microsoft Word documents with tables so your documents remain consistent.
Improving table placements in Google Docs

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding and editing tables. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

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

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – June 9, 2023

2 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 customers.


Optimizing the Google Drive Android app for foldable devices 
When using the Drive app on a foldable device, you’ll notice that controls within the item preview viewer will intelligently respond to what position the foldable device is in (opened, closed, or only partially opened) and adjust accordingly. 
Optimizing the Google Drive Android app for foldable devices


View documents in paginated mode on Android devices 
Documents will now be in paginated mode upon first open unless the document is set to pageless. This will set up your Google Doc with pages and page breaks in the app, enabling a more cohesive visual design between web and mobile.
View documents in paginated mode on Android devices


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 and strengthen sign-in by enabling passkeys for your users, available now in open beta 
Google Workspace is enabling the use of passkeys as a simpler and safer alternative to passwords to sign-in to Google Accounts. Additionally, Workspace admins can now allow users to use passkeys to skip passwords at sign-in for Workspace apps. | Learn more about the passkey open beta.

Write messages faster and easier with smart compose in Google Chat 
Smart compose in Google Chat helps you communicate with colleagues quicker to move conversations or projects forward more efficiently. | Learn more about smart compose in Google Chat. 

Visit a class using new option in Google Classroom 
We introduced the ability to visit a class, which allows permissioned users to temporarily access classes to support educators, post announcements, view student profiles, and more, without being assigned as a permanent co-teacher. | Available only to users with a Google Workspace for Education Plus license assigned to them. | Learn more about the visit a class feature. 

Improved experience for admitting or denying join requests in Google Meet 
For a better experience, we’re moving join requests to the people panel. Here, users can take their time reviewing join requests without disrupting the overall meeting experience, and without blocking functionality of other meeting features. | Learn more about join requests in Google Meet. 

Updated user interface for the Email Log Search tool 
We’ve updated the Email Log Search interface to help admins find relevant information faster whether their query is simple or dynamic. | Learn more about the Email Log Search tool.

Enhanced experience for picture-in-picture for Google Meet in Chrome 
We’re updating the Google Meet picture-in-picture experience to be more engaging and feature-rich. Directly from the picture-in-picture window, you can now: raise your hand, use in meeting chat, turn captions on and off, more effectively resize the picture-in-picture view, and access flexible layouts. | Learn more about picture-in-picture for Google Meet in Chrome.

Assistant and Calendar reminders are automatically migrating to Tasks 
In September 2022, we announced that we would be migrating Reminders from Google Calendar and Google Assistant to Google Tasks in order to create a single experience for managing to-dos across Google. Over the last several weeks, Google Workspace users had the opportunity to voluntarily migrate their reminders to Tasks. For Google Workspace users: If you have not already migrated your Reminders to Tasks, they will be migrated starting this week. | Learn more about the automatic migration to Tasks.


Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – June 2, 2023

1 New update

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 customers.


Additional updates for the Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps on Android devices
In continuing our efforts to improve the Google Workspace experience on large screen Android devices, we’re adding the following updates:
  • The ability to access a vertical context menu when you use mouse right-clicking in the Google Docs and Slides apps.
docs-vertical-context-menu
Sheets Android - Formula Keyboard Improvements



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.


More call performance data in the Google Voice audit logs
You’ll now see specific per-call performance information, including: Round Trip Time, Packet Loss per 1000 and Jitter. | Available only to Google Workspace customers who can use the security investigation tool. | Learn more about call performance data in the Google Voice audit logs.


Expanded actions in the Admin console space management tool 
We’re giving admins the ability to delete individual spaces and remove individual members from a space. | Learn more about expanded actions in the Admin console space management tool.


Existing spaces organized by conversation topic will be upgraded to the new in-line threaded experience by Q4 2023
All existing spaces organized by conversation topic will be upgraded to the in-line threaded experience. We anticipate that this upgrade will take place in early Q4 2023. | Learn more about the new in-line threaded experience. 


See the top search results first in Gmail on mobile
When searching in Gmail, machine learning models will use the search term, most recent emails and other relevant factors to show you the results that best match your search query. | Learn more about the improved search experience in Gmail on mobile. 


Plan, organize, and analyze assignments and grades with grading periods in Google Classroom
We’re introducing grading periods, an option that allows teachers to define and apply grading periods segmented from the entire school year to their Classroom assignments. | Available to Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more about grading periods in Google Classroom. 


Declutter your conversations in Google Chat
Chat declutter automatically hides direct messages and spaces that have been inactive for the last 7 days. This feature only activates when a section has more than 10 conversations, and does not affect pinned conversations. | Learn more about accessing your most relevant Chat conversations. 


Better control the flow of meetings with viewer mode in Google Meet
To help provide a better experience and scale attendance for larger meetings, you can now select “Everyone is a viewer” when creating your Calendar invite. | Learn more about new controls for meetings in Google Meet. 


Completed rollouts

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


Rapid Release Domains:
Scheduled Release Domains:

Simplify workflows in Google Docs with variable chips

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we shared innovations in smart canvas that help you simplify workflows and complete common tasks with easy-to-use prompts in Google Docs. Today, we’re introducing variable chips, a new feature that makes document creation for things like invoices, contracts, or broader communications much easier. 

Simply pre-define and insert placeholders such as a client name, contract number, or an address, and then update it throughout an entire document by editing the value in one place. Using variables as dynamic placeholders makes template creation more straightforward, whether that is through custom building blocks or using the document as a template. 
Simplify workflows in Google Docs with variable chips

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus customers and Nonprofits 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials Starter, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline Starter, and Frontline Standard 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – May 19, 2023

6 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 customers.


Improve time management and display time with new chips in Google Docs
In addition to the recent introduction of new smart canvas features in Google Sheets and Google Docs, we’re adding new timer chips that can be used to timebox activities and ensure that you’re using your time productively.
Timer chips
To more finely represent time, we’re also adding a time-of-day chip to Google Docs. By typing “@today" you can add the date and then select "Set time" to add the time to the date chip.
Time-of-day-chips
Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 31, 2023. | Learn more about inserting smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc.


Use alternative text for visual content on Google Sites
Google Sites editors are now able to add or edit alt text on inserted images and add or edit alt text on background images, making their Sites more readable by everyone. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 30, 2023. | Learn more about making your site more accessible. 




Enhancing our web onboarding experience in Google Chat to help users get started quicker 
To build upon recent Google Chat improvements and help organizations use Chat more efficiently, we’re revamping the web onboarding experience for those new to Chat. When using Chat in Gmail or visiting chat.google.com for the first time, you will see options to start a chat, join a space, or browse apps. If you select the first option to send a direct message to a colleague or group, the simpler chat creation options will appear. Choosing to join a space will display a new browsing experience, and the Chat apps option will show you how apps work and the ways to find and add apps. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for June 5th 2023. 
New web onboarding experience in Google Chat

Spellcheck for client-side encrypted files in Google Slides
If you’re working in a client-side encrypted file in Google Slides, you’ll now see spelling suggestions as you type. You can see suggestions for misspelled words (indicated by a red wavy underline) by accessing the menu (Tools > Spelling > Spell check) or right- or left-clicking on the word. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers only. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 30, 2023. | Learn more about encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides. 
Spell check for client-side encrypted files in Google Slides

Export client-side encrypted spreadsheets to Excel files
Google Sheets files that are client-side encrypted can now be exported as an Excel file. This means you'll continue to protect your files with encryption, but convert your files as needed. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides. 
Export client-side encrypted spreadsheets to Excel files

AppSheet-powered no-code apps in Google Chat
This announcement was made at Google I/O ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about building workflows across Google Workspace to connect user experiences across apps. You can now create Google Chat apps without code in AppSheet to build integrations or workflows that suit the needs of your organization. | Available now to all Google Workspace customers with an AppSheet Starter, Core, or Enterprise plan. | Learn more about Chat apps. 
AppSheet-powered no-code apps in Google Chat


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.


Improving Calendar Interoperability
Recent improvements to Calendar Interoperability include: Microsoft Outlook users who also have a Google Calendar with the same email address can receive Google Calendar invitations and RSVPs in Outlook, a default meeting reminder will be generated in Microsoft Outlook if the invitation was created in Google Calendar to help make sure guests using Outlook do not miss events, and non-Google Calendar recurring events will be more systematically and accurately updated in Google Calendar. | Learn more about Calendar Interoperability improvements. 


New membership limits for Google Groups
We've increased the limits for the number of direct and indirect group memberships for which a user can have: Direct: 3,000 memberships (increasing from 2,000) and Combined direct and indirect: 7,500 memberships (increasing from 5,000). | Learn more about new membership limits for Google Groups.


Easily expand and collapse content in Google Docs
We introduced a new feature that helps you minimize and expand sections within Google Docs. This collapsible headings function makes it easier to consume content by enabling you to hide portions of larger documents more easily. | Learn more about expand/collapse in Google Docs.


Create custom building blocks in Google Docs
This feature enables you to save custom blocks of text, tables, and chips to build reusable components. For example, you might create a project kickoff template to track milestones and tasks, a product launch checklist, or even a block of code or text that’s commonly used within your organization. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus customers and Nonprofits only. | Learn more about custom building blocks in Docs.


React to messages quickly in Google Chat
We've added quick reactions in Chat, which displays your most frequently used emojis upon hovering over a message. You'll also see options to open the full emoji picker, reply in a thread, quote in reply and more. | Learn more about quick reactions in Google Chat.


Monitor abuse related events in the Alert Center
Admins will now receive alerts related to abuse related events in their organization. This includes events related to content that has been marked abusive or user access restrictions to apps. | Learn more about monitoring abuse related events in the Alert Center.


Complete data-driven tasks faster with new smart chip data extraction in Google Sheets
You will now be able to quickly extract information from smart chips for advanced sorting, filtering and analysis to drive your projects forward. | Learn more about smart chip data extraction in Google Sheets.


Collaborate with others on Google Calendar invites in Google Docs
We've introduced a building block that lets you collaborate with others to draft calendar invites. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus customers and Nonprofits only. | Learn more about drafting calendar events from Google Docs. 



Completed rollouts

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


Rapid Release Domains:
Scheduled Release Domains:

Collaborate with others on Google Calendar invites in Google Docs

What’s changing

Following our most recent innovations in smart canvas with custom building blocks and collapsible headings in Google Docs, we’re adding a building block that lets you collaborate with others to draft calendar invites. 


This can be useful when several stakeholders have inputs for dates, times, attendees, event descriptions and more. Similar to the email draft template, once the invitation is complete, simply click the Calendar icon to pull the details into Google Calendar when you’re ready to send. 
Collaborate with others on Google Calendar invites in Google Docs

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: You must have edit access to a Google Doc to use this feature. Simply open a document, type "@" and “Calendar event draft” > hit enter. You can also go to Insert> Building blocks> Calendar event draft. Visit the Help Center to learn more about drafting calendar events from Google Docs. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus customers and Nonprofits 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials Starter, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline Starter, and Frontline Standard
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Create custom building blocks in Google Docs

What’s changing

Today, we’re introducing custom building blocks in Google Docs, one of the latest innovations in smart canvas that brings people and data into a single workflow to save time and keep you focused. 

This feature enables you to save custom blocks of text, tables, and chips to build reusable components. For example, you might create a project kickoff template to track milestones and tasks, a product launch checklist, or even a block of code or text that’s commonly used within your organization. Rather than reworking the out-of-the-box building blocks to meet your specific needs or searching for a template that you frequently copy/paste into a new Doc, you can save that snippet or the entire document as a custom building block, and easily insert the content into other documents. 
Custom building blocks in Google Docs

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • To create custom building blocks, select any part of a document that you have access to copy from > right click and select "Save as custom building block" > name the block and click save. 
      • Note: Custom building blocks are saved as documents in your Google Drive in a folder called "Custom Building Blocks (auto-generated)", where you can reorganize, edit, or delete those documents as you wish. 
    • To insert the custom building block in a document, type "@" and the name of your block > hit enter or scroll down to "building blocks" > select the name of your building block. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting custom building blocks.

Rollout pace 



Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus customers and Nonprofits 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Easily expand and collapse content in Google Docs

What’s changing

We’re introducing a new feature that helps you minimize and expand sections within Google Docs. This collapsible headings function makes it easier to consume content by enabling you to hide portions of larger documents more easily. 
Easily expand and collapse content in Google Docs

Who’s impacted

End users 

Why you’d use it 

This highly requested feature helps you create and consume more digestible content in Docs. Editors of a document will have the ability to set the default state of headers to expanded or collapsed for all users. Users with view and comment access are able to expand and collapse content when they have the document open, and when they close the document their expand/collapse changes will not be saved. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 28, 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.


Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android 
You can now drag and drop or copy/paste an image into Google Sheets on Android as an over-grid image rather than an in-cell image. You’re also now able to convert over-grid images into in-cell images via the context menu. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 8, 2023. | Learn more about adding an image to a spreadsheet.
Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Previously, to replace an image in Google Slides, you could either use the menu toolbar or right-click on the image you wanted to replace and select “Replace image.” Starting this week, you’ll have the additional option to easily drag and drop images from anywhere to replace images in your Slides presentations. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 9, 2023. | Learn more about inserting or deleting images and videos. 
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Attach a document, spreadsheet, or presentation to a Google Calendar event directly from Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
You can already share a file in a Google Meet chat when using Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. With this launch, you can easily attach that file to the associated Google Calendar event, allowing meeting attendees to access the file more easily. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more about using Google Meet with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, & Jamboard. 


Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs
Last year, we introduced an emoji reaction feature that provides a less formal alternative to comments in Google Docs. We’re building upon this by giving you the ability to add emoji reactions to existing comments in Docs. This new feature increases collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about document content. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 3, 2023. | Learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions. 
Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs



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.


Enhancing tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
We’ve rolled out an enhanced tool finder at the top of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to make it easier for users to discover commonly used tools and features. These refined tool-finding capabilities aim to help you quickly locate relevant features or functionality using your own words. | Learn more about enhanced tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. 


Full HD in Google Meet video calls
For select Google Workspace editions, you can set your Google Meet video resolution to 1080p. This resolution is available on the web when using a computer with a 1080p camera and enough computing power in meetings with two participants. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials and Frontline customers only. Also available to Google One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space with eligible devices. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet video calls. 


Introducing additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets
We’re expanding YouTube chips to Sheets to help you more easily manage YouTube content. You can also now insert multiple smart chips and text into a single cell using the @ menu. | Learn more about additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets.


New Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates
The Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate is a critical component for advanced mobile management for iOS devices. This certificate expires yearly and requires manual renewal. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, The Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Cloud Identity Premium customers only. | Learn more about new Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates.


Set a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat
For select Google Workspace editions, admins can now define a duration after which their users' messages in Google Chat will be deleted automatically. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about setting a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat. 


Set Full HD in Google Meet live streams
For select Google Workspace editions, we’re adding 1080p as a resolution option for live streaming video, an increase from 720p. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Education Plus, and Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet live streams.


Completed rollouts

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