The cloud has changed the way we looked at technology earlier. Cloud computing has established a new benchmark in the world of technology with better options for storage and cost-effective, scalable applications. Even whole businesses are built around optimising the clounds.
One of the most important benefits that cloud computing has provided is observed in the flexibility of working with docs.
Google is one of the leading cloud service providers and provides its Docs app as a word processor application. You can find Docs as the best way to work with word documents on the cloud as Docs is built in the cloud and is also associated with advanced features for collaboration.
However, many people could find working with Docs in the cloud to be a little bit confusing, just like in the case of any other technology. The following discussion would focus on some of the essential tips that can be helpful for users to work effectively with Docs in the cloud in the most favorable manner possible!
How are Docs better than Dropbox?
Before we move towards the concerns of file conversion on the cloud for word documents, it is essential to learn the advantages presented by Docs as compared to Dropbox. This can help in anticipating the reasons for preferences of users towards Docs. First of all, Dropbox is pricey!
While many competitors have constantly been reducing their prices, Dropbox remains quite emphatic on maintaining high prices. Therefore, Google Drive could easily challenge Dropbox in terms of cloud storage. Also, Google’s cloud service offers similar functionalities in sync tool as that of Dropbox.
Most important of all, Google Drive is integrated into the Google ecosystem, thereby implying the ease of accessing Docs on Google Drive. With such benefits, Google Drive presents the best solution to work with Docs in the cloud. So, let us find out some of the best pointers that can improve your experience of using Docs in the cloud.
Opening documents easily
You don’t have to use a converter for opening new documents with Google Docs as you can just type in “doc.new” in the address bar of a browser for starting a new document. It is noted that “docs” is the document format while “new” signifies the domain. This makes sure that you don’t have to go to the main page of Docs or Google Drive to open a new document.
Find an easy solution
Working with docs in the cloud could be easier with an online converter that can help in translating the documents into convenient formats. However, you could also follow simple steps for making major changes in large documents. The commonly followed approach would imply the conversion of the document into a word file and then making changes in it to prevent any mistakes on the document file that is on the cloud.
Instead, you could easily highlight the paragraphs which you want to move in a document and use the “Alt” and “Shift” (Option Shift on Mac) buttons pressed together with the keyboard arrows to move the highlighted text to the desired position in the document.
Taking from MS Word to Docs
Now, let us reverse the scenario a bit! When it comes to the real world, the majority of people prefer to use Microsoft Word for working with documents. So, if you are an MS Word enthusiast, then you can be a little hesitant about working with docs in the cloud at first. What could be the problem? You may be thinking of file conversion.
However, it is quite easy to convert Microsoft Office files to Docs files. All you have to do is drag the MS Word file into an open window of Google Drive or use the upload button. Once the file has been uploaded to Google Drive, you can access the file on Docs by right-clicking on the file and then selecting “Open With” followed by clicking on “Google Docs.”
Try the offline way!
While you have been thinking about a suitable converter to work effectively with docs on the cloud, Google Docs has a feature that you might have missed out! The feature is “Google Docs Offline.” This feature provides better functionality by allowing users to access, read, and edit documents on docs without any internet connection.
The only setback which you have to bear with in this case is the lack of facility for backup and sync to Google Drive in the absence of internet connection. However, once your internet connection is resumed, you could easily find the sync and backup features in order!
Take away the trouble of converting PDFs
Another notable facet of Google Drive that can help you leverage the functionalities of an online converter is the facility for editing PDFs as well as other files on Google Docs. All you have to do is access “Settings” in your browser and check on the box which states “Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format.” Even if this method can be a little time consuming all the files can be converted easily to text along with the images that were in the original files.
View plain text files easily
Google Docs users could also need the services of file conversion software and tools to view plain text files that are created using plain desktop text editors such as Notepad, Emacs, Vim or Gedit. Why? Google Docs does not support the files created in these apps, and so users cannot be able to read them on Docs. Seems like a setback, doesn’t it?
While you can use online converter applications for transforming the plain text files into formats which are accepted by Docs, you could also try out a simple solution. Before uploading a plain text file to Docs, rename the file by adding a .txt extension at the end of the filename. This would easily make the plain text files readable on docs.
To sum it up on file conversion
With the gradual advancements in computing technology, new opportunities in computing have emerged slowly and cloud computing is one of them. The cloud has taken away the concerns related to file storage alongside providing exemplary levels of functionality in different computing tasks. So, now you could work easily with your documents on the cloud that also provide the additional benefit of sharing and ensuring safe storage of information.
As content marketing agency, we rely only on a Google Docs for editorial workflow as it give a convinient way to give access rights and collaborate.
But, how could you get the most out of working with docs on cloud along with favourable opportunities in file conversion? The above post reflects adequately on the reasons to work with docs on cloud and validates the choice of Google Drive over Dropbox.
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