Excellent news, I look forward to seeing the new features. Google goes from strength to strength it seems. And hopefully this will address many complaints from business users as to the usability of Docs.
"We will continue to support offline access for Gmail and Google Calendar."
Offline access to GMail through what? As it stands, both Safari and Firefox cannot use GMail offline through HTML5 - the only supported way is installing Google Gears. Gears itself is a discontinued product, that does not run in latest shipping version of either Safari or Firefox. My colleagues keep old versions of Firefox around only to use GMail offline - and even that has lots of quirks.
What is the official supported offline method for GMail?
Would love for Google spreadsheets to allow in cell embedding of images. Editgrid does it and I don't see why this should be out of the scope of Google.
Offline Gmail works on Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7.0+, Mozilla Firefox versions 2.0+, Google Chrome, and Safari 3+. If you're using Google Chrome, you don't need to download or install Gears, as it's already installed on your browser.
For more information, see the Help Center at http://goo.gl/P7QA.
Now, if you really want to increase the use of Google Apps in the enterprise, please create an installation mechanism for Google Chrome that makes deployment easy via Active Directory. Also, offer .adm files to make management of Chrome possible via Group Policy.
Great Stuff! I wonder when will we be able to Project Manage from our Google Docs - would really enable the platform for many on the fence, also could tie docs to gmail tasks/calendar. Integration between the two spaces would be a huge strength and seems well positioned.
Sample Ideas: -add to spreadsheets: convert to tasks in project, attach to project.task, -add to drawings: convert to project workflow, attach to project.task -add a separate project heading that would show dashboard, tasks, gantt charts - all based on existing google docs functionality and tied to gmail for organized, mobile access.
This sounds great. I've used Google Docs a few times at school to collaborate on a presentation and a text, but there were some difficulties because it took a long time before things written on one computer, were shown on another computer, and I often got messages that there were conflicts. If you are able to see what others are typing, you can avoid conflicts.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use the new features, until I changed a setting (settings > editing). I think most users won't notice this.
About the drawing app: I haven't tried it very well, but it looks a little bit like OpenOffice Draw. I'm not sure if I like this; I think an approach like MS Paint would be better; this is an application I use very much for different purposes, such as (basic) editing pictures or screenshots; just to be able to cut and paste things. That's what I miss in OpenOffice Draw, wich doesn't choose between an approach like MS Paint or in MS Visio...
But the idea of an draw app is great, espacially when people will start to use Chrome OS, which isn't able to run drawing applications.
Sounds cool, just tried it out on my secondary Google account. Unfortunately, my primary one is a Premium one...I still have to use my secondary one for alot of the Google Apps I use...Reader, Books, Wave, and now Docs...the paid version should be getting these things before the free one, not after or not at all.
Hopefully it will be possible now to quickly add multiple cell selection and multiple Worksheet selection (all using ctrl-click) when editing.
The omission of those features is a REAL problem and force us and many others to continue doing most of our work in Excel rather than GoogleApps at this point.
Is there any way to open up an old document with the new version editor? This is done via the "New Version" link for spreadsheets. But, I don't see any equivalent link on Documents. New documents are now appearing in New editor. But, old documents are still opening with old editor. Is this temporary?
I think it is a huge mistake to discontinue the use of offline access. It is essential for some people and everything should have been carefully thought before the roll out. At least it would have been wonderful to say a date in which offline access is available again. I was expecting docs being available for mobile users and what I find is that I lose the offline access....
Old documents will continue to open and function in the old editor. In the current preview release there isn't a simple way to migrate documents to the new editor but we're working on an easy way to do this.
I am working with the new editors now and they look good. However, I do hope this new platform will support the following functionality fairly quickly:
1.) Enhance Header and Footer functionality to include the ability to insert page number, date, titles, and file title and format how page numbering and titles are included.
2.) Data tools in the spreadsheet application. Data pilot,picot tables, etc.
flow-carts = flow-charts :)
ReplyDeletebtw, what about support mind maps? that would be awesome
Yay!
ReplyDeleteWhen does this roll-out for Google Apps for Your Domain?
Excellent news, I look forward to seeing the new features. Google goes from strength to strength it seems. And hopefully this will address many complaints from business users as to the usability of Docs.
ReplyDelete"We will continue to support offline access for Gmail and Google Calendar."
ReplyDeleteOffline access to GMail through what? As it stands, both Safari and Firefox cannot use GMail offline through HTML5 - the only supported way is installing Google Gears. Gears itself is a discontinued product, that does not run in latest shipping version of either Safari or Firefox. My colleagues keep old versions of Firefox around only to use GMail offline - and even that has lots of quirks.
What is the official supported offline method for GMail?
Would love for Google spreadsheets to allow in cell embedding of images. Editgrid does it and I don't see why this should be out of the scope of Google.
ReplyDeleteWill there be a "track changes" feature soon?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for adding Office 2007 OpenXML to GDocs capabilities!
ReplyDeleteHi Jakub,
ReplyDeleteOffline Gmail works on Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7.0+, Mozilla Firefox versions 2.0+, Google Chrome, and Safari 3+. If you're using Google Chrome, you don't need to download or install Gears, as it's already installed on your browser.
For more information, see the Help Center at http://goo.gl/P7QA.
Will we be able to import Visio files? (I assume we'd have to save as SVG first)
ReplyDeleteNow, if you really want to increase the use of Google Apps in the enterprise, please create an installation mechanism for Google Chrome that makes deployment easy via Active Directory. Also, offer .adm files to make management of Chrome possible via Group Policy.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be able to include a spreadsheet or ranges of it in a document.
ReplyDeleteVery useful for invoices with time sheets for example that span multiple pages.
Great Stuff! I wonder when will we be able to Project Manage from our Google Docs - would really enable the platform for many on the fence, also could tie docs to gmail tasks/calendar. Integration between the two spaces would be a huge strength and seems well positioned.
ReplyDeleteSample Ideas:
-add to spreadsheets: convert to tasks in project, attach to project.task,
-add to drawings: convert to project workflow, attach to project.task
-add a separate project heading that would show dashboard, tasks, gantt charts - all based on existing google docs functionality and tied to gmail for organized, mobile access.
What happend to the fonts?
ReplyDeleteNo Times New Roman any more?!
This sounds great. I've used Google Docs a few times at school to collaborate on a presentation and a text, but there were some difficulties because it took a long time before things written on one computer, were shown on another computer, and I often got messages that there were conflicts. If you are able to see what others are typing, you can avoid conflicts.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I wasn't able to use the new features, until I changed a setting (settings > editing). I think most users won't notice this.
About the drawing app: I haven't tried it very well, but it looks a little bit like OpenOffice Draw. I'm not sure if I like this; I think an approach like MS Paint would be better; this is an application I use very much for different purposes, such as (basic) editing pictures or screenshots; just to be able to cut and paste things. That's what I miss in OpenOffice Draw, wich doesn't choose between an approach like MS Paint or in MS Visio...
But the idea of an draw app is great, espacially when people will start to use Chrome OS, which isn't able to run drawing applications.
Sounds cool, just tried it out on my secondary Google account.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, my primary one is a Premium one...I still have to use my secondary one for alot of the Google Apps I use...Reader, Books, Wave, and now Docs...the paid version should be getting these things before the free one, not after or not at all.
I've been waiting for these changes forever - I love the promises. Thanks for all your hard work!
ReplyDeleteI would really love if we could lock (and unlock) specific cell... and not just all the sheet..
ReplyDeleteThanks to all the engineers who worked on this to bring it forward. We can't wait to see what's next from your creative minds!
ReplyDeleteGreat Stuff!
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will be possible now to quickly add multiple cell selection and multiple Worksheet selection (all using ctrl-click) when editing.
The omission of those features is a REAL problem and force us and many others to continue doing most of our work in Excel rather than GoogleApps at this point.
PLEASE get this implemented asap!
Thanks
Is there any way to open up an old document with the new version editor? This is done via the "New Version" link for spreadsheets. But, I don't see any equivalent link on Documents. New documents are now appearing in New editor. But, old documents are still opening with old editor. Is this temporary?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a huge mistake to discontinue the use of offline access. It is essential for some people and everything should have been carefully thought before the roll out.
ReplyDeleteAt least it would have been wonderful to say a date in which offline access is available again.
I was expecting docs being available for mobile users and what I find is that I lose the offline access....
Without spel check I can't use them :)
ReplyDeleteI don't like the way of typing the formulas, I prefer typing with LaTeX code as befo
ReplyDelete@Eric Eldridge
ReplyDeleteOld documents will continue to open and function in the old editor. In the current preview release there isn't a simple way to migrate documents to the new editor but we're working on an easy way to do this.
wow!!!!
ReplyDelete@Jakub
ReplyDeleteMore information on Gears system requirements at http://goo.gl/mR1S.
Is there anyway to do a presentation (slides) and prevent people from downloading them?
ReplyDeletemulti author editing and drawing is a great innovation
ReplyDeleteI am working with the new editors now and they look good. However, I do hope this new platform will support the following functionality fairly quickly:
ReplyDelete1.) Enhance Header and Footer functionality to include the ability to insert page number, date, titles, and file title and format how page numbering and titles are included.
2.) Data tools in the spreadsheet application. Data pilot,picot tables, etc.
These two capabilities should be priorities.
Otherwise great work!
Offline support on the way? Its almost a month and the mobile connection is junk some places...
ReplyDeleteAmazing, this is a great article! I did enjoyed reading it, keep your post .
ReplyDelete