Tag Archives: Google Slides

New insights in Google Docs Activity dashboard

We’re introducing new features to provide more insight and help you collaborate through Activity dashboard in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This will help make the data in Activity dashboard:

  • More actionable. Users can quickly email file collaborators. 
  • More useful. Users can see viewing patterns over time. 


Email collaborators through Activity dashboard 

In just a few clicks, users can pick recipients, customize, and send a follow-up email with the link to the file. Users can:

  • Select who to email. There are shortcuts for collaborators who have viewed the file or have not viewed the file, or you can pick recipients manually with checkboxes (see image below for example). 
  • Customize an email. Users can write a message to chosen recipients. 
  • Send the email. 

See our Help Center for detailed instructions on how to send emails through Activity dashboard. 




See viewing patterns over time 

A popular request from our users is to have more insight into patterns around viewing data on files. So we’re adding a chart showing how many viewers have visited the file over time. You can adjust the date range, and hover over specific data points for more details.



Use our Help Center to find out more about how to understand the data in Activity dashboard.

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

Editions:
Available on G Suite Business, Enterprise, Education, and Nonprofit editions

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

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information





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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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Menu and toolbar updates in Google Docs editors

Based on usage data and your feedback, we’re making some changes to the menus in the web versions of the Google Docs editors. These are similar to the changes we made in December, in January, and in February and will make it easier to find certain items.

Changes that affect the Google Docs and Google Slides menus: 
  • In the Format menu, text formatting options (including bold, italic, font size, and more) will be moved to a new “Text” submenu.

Changes that only affect Google Slides menus: 
  • The Table menu will be removed. Options to add or remove a table will be in the Insert menu. Options to format tables will be in the Format menu. 
  • In the Slide menu, four options for moving slides will be moved to a new “Move” submenu. 
  • In the Arrange menu, "Align horizontally" and "Align vertically" will be moved into a new "Align" submenu. 

Changes that only affect Google Docs menus and toolbars: 
  • In the toolbar, text color and highlight color will be split into separate controls for each. 
  • In the toolbar, a new option will be added to “Insert image” 
  • The Table menu will be removed. Options to add or remove a table will be in the Insert menu. Options to format tables will be in the Format menu. 

Changes that affect all Docs editors menus (including Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets): 
  • Items in the Insert menu will be reordered.

These changes will only affect the visual menu on the web version of these products. All options will still be available via keyboard shortcuts and the search box in the Help menu.

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

Editions: 
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs 
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Slides 
Help Center: Docs editors homepage

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Improving the menus in Google Docs editors

Based on usage data and your feedback, we’re making some changes to the menus in the web versions of the Google Docs editors. These are similar to the changes we made in December and in January and will make it easier to find certain items.

Changes that affect all Docs editors menus (including Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets):
  • In the Tools menu, “Spelling” will be renamed “Check Spelling.”
  • In the Edit menu, “Select none” will be removed. 
  • Items in the File, Edit, and Tools menus will be reordered. 


Changes that only affect Google Sheets menus:
  • In the Data menu, “Filter” will be renamed “Create a filter.”
  • In the Data menu, “Validation” will be renamed “Data validation.”
  • Items in the Data menu will be reordered. 
  • Items in the Format menu will be reordered. 


These changes will only affect the visual menu on the web version of these products. All options will still be available via keyboard shortcuts and the search box in the Help menu.


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

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets
Help Center: Docs editors homepage


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Launch detail categories
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More menu improvements in Google Docs and Slides

Based on usage data and your feedback, we’re making some changes to the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides on the web. These are similar to some previous changes we made and will make it easier to find certain items. Among other things, these changes include:

To add a line or page break in Docs:

To add Alt text to a shape in Docs or Slides:
  • Before: Select shape > Format > Alt text. This option will be removed from the menu.
  • After: Right click on shape > Alt text. This is the new way to add alt text to a shape.
  • See Help Center for more details: Make your document or presentation accessible.

To change a shape in Slides:

  • Before: Select shape > Format > Change shape. This option will be removed from the menu.
  • After: Right click on shape > Change shape. This is the new way to change a shape.

The HTML view in Slides is being removed from the menu.

These changes will only affect the visual menu. All options will still be available via keyboard shortcuts and the search box in the Help menu.

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, edit, or remove a link, bookmark, or page break
Help Center: Make your document or presentation accessible
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs
G Suite Updates Blog: Improving the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

More menu improvements in Google Docs and Slides

Based on usage data and your feedback, we’re making some changes to the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides on the web. These are similar to some previous changes we made and will make it easier to find certain items. Among other things, these changes include:

To add a line or page break in Docs:

To add Alt text to a shape in Docs or Slides:
  • Before: Select shape > Format > Alt text. This option will be removed from the menu.
  • After: Right click on shape > Alt text. This is the new way to add alt text to a shape.
  • See Help Center for more details: Make your document or presentation accessible.

To change a shape in Slides:

  • Before: Select shape > Format > Change shape. This option will be removed from the menu.
  • After: Right click on shape > Change shape. This is the new way to change a shape.

The HTML view in Slides is being removed from the menu.

These changes will only affect the visual menu. All options will still be available via keyboard shortcuts and the search box in the Help menu.

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, edit, or remove a link, bookmark, or page break
Help Center: Make your document or presentation accessible
Help Center: Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs
G Suite Updates Blog: Improving the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Improved accessibility for Google Sheets, Slides, and Drawings

We want to make sure our products work well for everyone. That’s why, as part of our ongoing accessibility initiatives, we’re launching new features for Google Sheets, Slides, and Drawings. Specifically, we’re adding Braille support in Google Sheets, and screen magnifier support in Google Slides and Drawings.

Use Google Sheets with Braille displays

You can already use Braille displays to read and edit text in Docs, Slides and Drawings. Now we’re adding Braille support to Sheets as well. You’ll be able to use a Braille display to read and edit cell contents as well as navigate between cells in a sheet. At the moment, Braille support in Sheets will only be available on Chrome OS with the ChromeVox screen reader. We’re working to add support for other platforms and screen readers.

See our Help Center to find out how to use a Braille display with Sheets.

Use screen magnifiers with Google Slides and Drawings

We recently added screen magnifier support to Docs and Sheets. Now screen magnifiers will also work with Slides and Drawings.

You can use screen magnifiers with Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings on Mac and Chrome OS devices. See our Help Center to learn how to use screen magnifiers with Google Docs editors.

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: Accessibility for Docs editors 
Help Center: Use a Braille display to read & enter text


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Improved accessibility for Google Sheets, Slides, and Drawings

We want to make sure our products work well for everyone. That’s why, as part of our ongoing accessibility initiatives, we’re launching new features for Google Sheets, Slides, and Drawings. Specifically, we’re adding Braille support in Google Sheets, and screen magnifier support in Google Slides and Drawings.

Use Google Sheets with Braille displays

You can already use Braille displays to read and edit text in Docs, Slides and Drawings. Now we’re adding Braille support to Sheets as well. You’ll be able to use a Braille display to read and edit cell contents as well as navigate between cells in a sheet. At the moment, Braille support in Sheets will only be available on Chrome OS with the ChromeVox screen reader. We’re working to add support for other platforms and screen readers.

See our Help Center to find out how to use a Braille display with Sheets.

Use screen magnifiers with Google Slides and Drawings

We recently added screen magnifier support to Docs and Sheets. Now screen magnifiers will also work with Slides and Drawings.

You can use screen magnifiers with Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings on Mac and Chrome OS devices. See our Help Center to learn how to use screen magnifiers with Google Docs editors.

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: Accessibility for Docs editors 
Help Center: Use a Braille display to read & enter text


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Improving the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides

We’re making some changes to the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides on the web. These changes will make it easier to find certain items and increase consistency across Docs and Slides. Among other things, you’ll notice the following:
  • In Docs and Slides, “Lists” in the Format menu has been renamed “Bullets and numbering.”
  • In Docs and Slides, “Show spelling suggestions” has been renamed “Spelling” and moved from the View menu to the Tools menu.
  • In Docs, “Document outline” has been renamed “Show document outline” and moved from the Tools menu to the View menu.
  • In Slides, “Import slides” has been removed from the Insert menu.
See below for some examples of the revamped toolbars and menus.



Launch Details
Release track: 
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming on January 4th, 2018

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

New categories and languages for templates in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

We know how valuable templates can be to a company—they save employees’ precious time, ensure that their work product looks professional, and increase brand consistency across their materials. That’s why we’ve spent the last several months working with partner experts to develop templates in four new categories:

1. Project Management in Sheets, in partnership with Smartsheet



2. Sales in Docs, in partnership with PandaDoc



3. Human Resources (HR) in Docs, in partnership with Zenefits



4. Freelancer Engagement in Docs, in partnership with Upwork



At the moment, these templates are only available in English and on the web.

While the new templates above are English only, our existing templates are now available in several additional languages, including Hindi (hi), German (de), Indonesian (in), Japanese (ja), Dutch (nl), and Chinese (zh-CN). These localized templates will be available in Docs, Sheets, and Slides on the web.

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

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: Create a file from a template


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Launch detail categories
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