10 ways to use Google Docs more productively

Google recently updated its online office suite of tools. On the changes in detail tell "An online stuff" and Web Worker Daily shares useful tips on how to use Google Docs more efficiently.

1. Hotkeys to run Google Docs. Leo Babauta (Leo Babauta) of WWD primarily advises to have a keyboard shortcut for quick access to Google Docs. He uses this to AutoHotKey program. In addition, in Mozilla Firefox, you can create a bookmark to Google Docs and in the keyword write letter combination (for example, «gd»). Now you can type in the address bar gd and immediately get into Google Docs. If you actively use GD, then this advice can save a lot of time.

2. Hotkeys for document creation. Similarly to the first item. Using keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly create a new document.

3. Use search to quickly find the documents. On the Google Docs home page is a list of documents. Rather than to click on folders to find the right file, you can use the search form. Google Docs is looking for as you type. If the keyword is not in the title of the document, but is in its content, press enter. GD displays a list of files in which the word occurs.

4. Shortcuts to popular documents. If you are using Google Docs is active, then you probably have a few documents that you work with most often. For example, it can be a table with the family budget, a great article or a book in the process of writing, etc. For quick access to them, you can also create keyboard shortcuts, as described in the first paragraph.

5. Teamwork. One of the main advantages of online office suites - is the ability of people in different parts of the world, to work on the same document. Simply go to the Share tab and enter an e-mail to employees. Once he accepts the invitation, you'll be able to work together. GD keeps track of all the changes the document, so you can do a "rollback" and return to an earlier state.

6. Publication. Another reason to use online word processor - publication. WWD writes that they know at least one instance where Google Doc document came to the home page Del.icio.us. We should not forget about such a possibility, as the blog post.

7. Folder. Folders are not necessary, since search is very fast. However, they may be useful for the group on a specific project documents. Folders have come to replace the tags.

8. Minimalism. The previous version of Google Docs was «Archive» button allows you to move documents over which the work is done in a special archive folder. The beauty of this solution is that all of the old files are removed from view. Archive now gone, but you can try to recreate. To do this, mark the current star of the documents. Then click in the sidebar on the Star view link.

9. Formatting. If you need to create a document in multiple columns, you can achieve this by using the table. When printing the border will not be visible, and the text will appear in multiple columns.

10. Hotkeys. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to work faster than constantly "pull" the mouse. Google Docs supports most common hot keys Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-X, Ctrl-A, Ctrl-S, Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-B, Ctrl-I and Ctrl-U. But besides them there are also other useful hotkeys:

Ctrl-J - alignment on both edges
Ctrl-L - left alignment
Ctrl-E - centered
Ctrl-M - Insert comment
Ctrl-Spacebar - removing formatting
Ctrl-1, 2 and 3 - styles for headers
F2 - editing of the active cell (in the table)
Ctrl-Shift-L - unordered list

WWD also write their wishes for the Google Docs team. According to them, you must add the offline mode Google Gears, to improve the editing of tags back archives to search in Gmail style, add the ability to format the printed version, to improve table CPU.

In comments to the WWD article added that GD has another great feature - chat, where staff can discuss your changes.