Google Docs: Importing and Exporting

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Importing/Exporting Your Documents

When you’re writing something very important, it can be a pain to have other appointments, or work-related issues that prevent you from finishing it. Thankfully, Google Docs has a very handy feature which allows you to import and export documents. This will let you work anywhere a computer with an internet connection is available.

In order to export, you’ll need either a word document, spreadsheet, or presentation of the correct File Type. Microsoft Applications use .doc for Word, .txt for Spreadsheets, and .ppt respectively. Openoffice is unique in the fact that it can use many different file types to suit its needs. But for other files such as Wordperfect or StarOffice or Appleworks, their file types may not be compatible. Once you have saved your work for another day, Open up Google Docs.

  1. Click the Upload button on the blue command bar of the page. Upon loading, you are presented with two options; to either upload the file manually through a browse option, or to send a specialized Email with an attached document straight to Google Docs.

With the first option, you may only upload a Word file of 500kb, 10Mb presentation documents, and spreadsheets up to 1Mb. The second option can be used to make the transfer process quicker, or act as a middle-ground for online collaboration of files, such as a group project or writing team pooling their resources. You may also load Adobe Acrobat PDF files, up to 10Mb.

  1. Once you’ve found your article through Browse, (You may also link a website to upload a file from the web onto your Google Docs page), You are allowed to rename your document as you please. Once the file has been uploaded, it will appear on your Google Docs page for selection. From any computer, you may continue to work on this document consistently.

  2. Once you are finished with your file, Export that file from Google Docs by downloading it to the computer you are working on. Open your file in Google Docs, as shown on the main screen of the program. Click on the File in the green command bar and select “Download As…”. You may save your file as any number of file types, such as a Zipped HTML file, OpenOffice Writer Document, or even a Word Document.

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