Tag Archives: Google Slides

A new look for the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides viewers on the mobile web

To create a consistent experience across the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides viewers on the web on mobile, today we’re introducing a simpler, more uniform interface for each.

In addition, we’re encouraging people to edit their Google Docs files in the mobile app, which is easier to use and offers more robust functionality. Going forward, when users open Docs files on the mobile web and attempt to edit, they’ll be taken directly to the app or given the option to download it. Like with Google Sheets and Slides files, they’ll no longer be able to edit Docs files on the mobile web.

Check out the Help Center for more information.

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

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

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
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Notification of invalid sharing settings in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Sharing files in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides is crucial to collaboration, but it’s important to maintain confidentiality by setting the appropriate file-sharing permissions. As such, employees can share files only to the extent allowed by their Google Apps administrators (for example, as an Apps admin, you can restrict employees from sharing Drive files and folders outside of your organization). This launch will provide employees with more information on how their files are being shared. In particular, the “Sharing with others” dialog will now show employees warnings when:
  • a file is shared with a person outside of the sharing employee’s domain, but sharing outside of that employee’s domain is disabled,
  • a file is shared with a person outside of the sharing employee’s domain, but sharing into the receiving person’s domain is disabled, and/or
  • a file is shared using one of the “anyone” options, but sharing or publishing outside of the sharing employee’s domain is disabled.

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

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

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Clearer indication of ‘View’ and ‘Comment’ access in Google Docs editors

In an effort to make it more clear when people using the Google Docs editors have only ‘View’ or ‘Comment’ access to a file―and to simplify the process of requesting edit access―we’re making some minor UI tweaks.

Starting today, those with ‘View only’ access to a document, spreadsheet, slide, or drawing will see a new blue button in the toolbar:
view-only.png
Those with ‘Comment only’ access to a spreadsheet, slide, or drawing will see a similar green button (in documents, the ‘Suggesting’ mode indication will remain in the right side of the toolbar):
comment-only.png
Clicking on the button allows one to easily request edit access from the file owner:
request-edit.png
Check out the Help Center for more information on file sharing.

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

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

Impact: 
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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

Disable downloading, printing, and copying of any Google Drive file

With Information Rights Management (IRM), people using Google Drive can now disable downloading, printing, and copying from the advanced sharing menu―perfect for when the file you're sharing contains sensitive information that you don't want shared broadly or leaked. This new option is available for any file stored in Google Drive, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations created with Google Docs.

To enable this feature, open the sharing dialogue from any Google document, spreadsheet, presentation, or other file in Drive on the web and click on Advanced in the lower right hand corner. Check the ‘Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers’ box and click Save changes. This functionality is also available through API.
irm.png

Notes:

  • This feature can be enabled by file owners only, and on the web only
  • Once this feature is enabled, all entry points for downloading, printing, and copying will be removed from Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides on all platforms.
  • Google documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for which this feature has been enabled will show a notification at the top of the File and Edit menus

export-disabled.png

Check out the Help Center for more information.

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

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

Impact: 
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

For more information:
Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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

Edit and review more easily in the newest Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android

The latest versions of the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android make it easier to work on both Google and non-Google files on mobile. Check out the new features below.
  • People can now edit document, spreadsheet, and presentation titles directly from the overflow menu in the top right corner of each app, making renaming files faster and simpler.

  • Within the Slides app, individuals can now change the layout of an existing slide to one of several predefined layouts, allowing them to update presentations on mobile more effectively.
  • People can now reply to comments when working in Office Compatibility Mode in the Docs app. In addition, when in OCM, suggestions and comments now appear in the Comments panel in the order they were made—rather than as all comments first and all suggestions second. 

For more information, check out the Help Center links below. Download the latest Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Google Play.

Launch Details [learn more]
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Download Microsoft Office files quickly and easily in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

The Office Compatibility Mode extension in Chrome allows people to view and edit Microsoft® Office files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Based on feedback, we’ve added a new feature that makes it simpler to use those edited files on the web. This new download functionality provides a person with a local copy of their file instantly, making it easy to upload that file via a webform or to share it in a Microsoft Office format. This feature lives in two places: as an option in the File drop-down menu and as a button in the top right corner of the screen. Check out the Help Center for more information.
Launch Details [learn more]
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

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

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information

More image types now supported during conversion in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Converting a file to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides allows a person to edit, collaborate on, and share the file online. When converting Microsoft® Office files, the following common image types remain readable: JPEG, PNG, EMF, and WMF. Starting today, larger images, images in less common formats (like TIFF), and images with non-RGB color profiles (like CMYK), can also be imported to and exported from the Google Docs editors on the web successfully. Check out the Help Center for more information on converting files in Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

More information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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

Google Slides now supports Chromecast and AirPlay

Today’s update to the Google Slides app makes it even easier to share presentations on big screens. With just your phone or tablet and the Google Slides app, you can present easily to any screen with Chromecast or AirPlay. 

slides-cast.png

When you’re presenting on the big screen, you can use your smaller screen to advance slides, view speaker notes and stay on track with a timer. This way you can focus more on telling your story and engaging your audience, instead of on logistics.

Check out the Help Center for more information.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center
Launch Video
Get the latest Slides apps on Google Play and the App Store

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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

Mobile image and table insertion on the Google Docs and Slides apps

New versions of the Google Docs and Slides apps for Android and iOS are now available on Google Play and the App Store. New features include:

  • Docs
    • Insert images
  • Slides
    • Insert, crop and mask images
    • Insert and manipulate tables

All of today’s improvements to Docs and Slides will remain available when you’re offline. You’ll just need the updated mobile apps.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Get the latest Docs and Slides apps on Google Play and the App Store (Docs | Slides)
Help Center: Docs
Help Center: Slides


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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

Animation improvements in Google Slides

Animations are an easy way to make your presentations look more dynamic in Google Slides. Starting today, you can improve your Slides presentations with two new animations: Appear and Disappear. You can also now set the direction (to and from left, right, top, and bottom) of two previously existing animations: Fly in and Fly out.


Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

More information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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