Before answering how Google Drive works, we are going to explain what it is. Google Drive is a tool which offers a number of productivity applications such as text editor, spreadsheet, presentation and calendar.
who works with the you need tools that help you not only in creating, but also in storing and accessing files.
How often do we lose all our work due to inattention or smart features that allow automatic saving and backup?
There are dozens of tools on the market that help create and manage content. Among them, Google Drive stands out for offering several features in one package. And all for free.
In addition to allowing the production and storage of content, Google Drive also has the function of synchronization between devices. Thus, it is possible to create a file on a computer and continue editing on a smartphone or tablet, for example.
But those are just some of the advantages of this powerful tool. And, in this post, you will learn how Google Drive works, what its main features are, and how to start exploring this platform in your business.
Let’s go?
What is Google Drive?
Google Drive is a set of tools that the giant Google makes available to facilitate the daily life of those who need to produce, store and access content on the Internet.
It allows you to share files with other users, with real-time collaboration, as well as the exchange of messages and comments in a simple and intuitive way between collaborators.
Another strong point of Google Drive is synchronization.
When we work in an offline software, like Microsoft Word, we are forced to save material every time we use a new device. To provide continuity in the same file, it is necessary to transfer it between the computers.
With Google Drive sync, all content is stored and saved on Google servers automatically. This means that it is possible to continue a work on different devices or even different Internet networks, without fear of losing the content.. Or even open them on your smartphone (if you have downloaded the Google Drive app).
And we’re not talking about syncing just text files. Images, videos and photos can be synced automatically as well.
All the material is stored in the cloud, with total security, and the user can access it whenever and wherever they want.
What does Google Drive include?
The most interesting thing about Google Drive is not the file storage service itself, but the entire set of applications that it offers free of charge to individuals or at a low price for companies.
In the same place, you can access the following tools:
- Gmail: one of the most popular email clients on the Internet;
- Drive: cloud file storage and synchronization;
- Documents: text editor, similar to Microsoft Word;
- Spreadsheets: spreadsheet editor, such as Microsoft Excel;
- Presentations: slideshow editor, such as Microsoft PowerPoint;
- Hangouts: chat service, with support for audio, video and screen sharing;
- Diary: organizer of commitments and personal tasks;
- Contacts: organizer of contacts and emails.
The service also has other tools, such as the website builder (Google Sites), annotation tool (Keep), form editor and manager (Forms), among others.
However, the focus of this article will be on productivity tools: documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. If you want to know how Google Drive works, stay with us and keep reading!
How to use Google Drive?
One of the great advantages of Google Drive is its ease of use.
There are payment plans, which are more complete, but it is possible to explore countless resources completely free of charge. Even the paid plans are affordable, especially when you think about the benefits they offer.
To access the Google Drive resource pack, it is enough for the user to have a Gmail email account. This is, in fact, the only requirement for anyone to be able to start enjoying the advantages offered by Drive.
Access can be done both through the computer and through mobile devices, and to access the files, just log in with your email and password and that’s it.
Advantages and disadvantages of Google Drive
Like any tool, there are pros and cons to using Google Drive, but the benefits are actually much greater.
1. Advantages
First of all, remember the basic function of Drive, data storage. This storage is done in the cloud, which means that all the synchronized material is sent to an exclusive Google server.
The security of saving files in the cloud is gigantic. If there’s a hardware failure, it’s easy to get everything back with access to Google Drive from another computer.
Another point that makes Google Drive a great editor in the cloud is the fact that it is an intuitive platform. Even users with basic knowledge can take advantage of the offered resources.
And on top of that, free.
2. Disadvantages
But, since not everything is flowers, there are some disadvantages that we must mention.
As a good part of the services can only be carried out virtually, that is, in the online environment, if the Internet connection is interrupted, it is difficult to continue with the work.
However, there is the option to activate offline editing, which solves part of the problem. But you have to enable it first. Click on this and follow the step by step. You will save yourself a lot of headaches, I assure you.
Tools available in Google Drive
Now that you have understood a little more about how Google Drive works, we are going to talk about some of the features that this tool has for creating content.
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is a text editor that works in a similar way to Microsoft Word, allowing users to write texts and carry out work of the most diverse natures.
Whether it’s for a college project, a contract, or writing an advertising article, Google Docs is ideal for all uses.
Even the most complex materials, such as a can be created from the Google Docs document editor, because it is very easy to write, add elements, include images, format the font, color and any other detail of the text.
Like Word, it works intuitively. But there are advantages provided by Docs that no other editor can offer, such as cloud storage and automatic synchronization, which, as you know, are the features that make it unique.
This is one of the most used features by those who constantly need to produce content for their communication channels, such as websites, blogs and social networks.
In addition, document sharing and online collaboration allow multiple people to participate in the creation process. It is possible, for example, that one professional is in charge of creating the content and another makes occasional changes, revisions and corrections throughout the text, making suggestions or modifying the content.
Discover now the step by step to create documents in Google Docs:
- with your Google (Gmail) account in Google Drive.
- On the Google Drive resources home page, click New and then in Google Docs.
- Clever! You will notice that a new document will automatically open to start editing.
To share this document, click Sharein the upper left corner of the screen.
These two options will appear:
1.1. Share via link:
Where you must select the permissions and choose the desired option (Reader mode, Commenter, Editor).
1.2. Add people and groups
Where, in addition to writing the email of the people you want to give access to, you will also have to select the types of permission.
2.Google Sheets
Another tool that is part of the Google Drive resource pack is Google Sheets. It is a powerful spreadsheet application, invented to compete head-on with Microsoft’s Excel.
Templates are optimal for data management of the most diverse.
As in the Microsoft Excel program, you can apply formulas to simplify the filling of spreadsheets.
The big difference is that you can access Google Sheets directly from the browser, without the need to install programs on your computer.
In addition, it has all the other features inherent to Google Drive, such as content sharing, real-time collaboration and automatic synchronization.
It can be very useful for carrying out the most varied tasks, such as the financial control of the company, and others. Having a management tool is essential for those who need to keep their activities organized.
In the same way that you have opened a document to create a new text, to make a spreadsheet, you simply go to New> google templates.
3.Google Slides
Google Slides is a powerful tool for .
Unlike slideshow programs available on the market, which require installation, Google Slides can be accessed directly over the Internet.
Among the main features of this tool, we can list:
3.1. Online interaction with the public
it’s possible in real time with the audience, turning the slides and giving the presentation. At the same time, viewers can submit questions to whoever is doing the live broadcast.
3.2. Search integrated with Google
All the content that is used in the preparation of the presentation can be searched directly on Google. This resource is important, since it allows checking sources and consulting the information used in the material.
3.3. online collaboration
It is possible to count on the support of other people during the performance of the work. The sharing and collaboration tool encourages teamwork.
3.4. offline mode
It allows you to edit and change the content even when the computer does not have access to the Internet. It can be useful for moments of instability in the connection, for example.
You also access Google Slides at New> google slides.
In addition to these resources, there are others that can also be explored, such as googleforms, Google Maps, Google My Maps Y Google Sites. But, to begin with, the three previous resources are already enough.
Google Drive: a powerful tool for everyday life!
As you must have noticed, Google Drive is a very interesting tool for those people who produce content and cannot waste time.
It is worth doing a tour of each of the features of this tool to analyze its differences compared to other resources on the market and see if they are really interesting for you and your…
Facebook Comments
Disqus