Browser Apps
In this article, you will learn how to access the various G Suite Apps using the browser on your computer.
The apps that we use most often are:
- Gmail: for use with your branded email account you@scorevolunteer.org or you@nuevassonrisas.org
- Drive: store files in Team Drives
- Docs: Word-like environment for text document
- Sheets: Excel-like environment for spreadsheets
- Groups: email a team using just one address
- Meet: video conferencing
- Calendar: organizational calendars
There are many ways to get to a service, and you may have your own favorite way, but here are the two ways that I personally prefer to use because they cause me the least amount of mental anguish:
Directly type an address
To connect to Gmail, type in the following address into your browser URL window (and I recommend that you memorize the URL, it's obvious):
To connect to Drive, type in the following address into your browser URL window (and I recommend that you memorize the URL, it's (mostly) obvious):
- drive.nuevassonrisas.org or click here.
- docs.scorevolunteer.org or click here. Note the docs in the name though. This is SCORE National IT choice. You get to all document kinds, not just Docs.
(Aside: these URL prefixes - mail, drive, docs - are assigned by the organization administrator, not Google. They are common, but not universal in case you want to try this with other accounts you might have.)
And here is a generic one to get to a Google account and then springboard to the app of your choice (see next section):
- accounts.google.com or click here.
Switch to another app
Once you are using a Google App, or after you have logged in to your account, the easiest way to switch to another App is to use the 9-dot icon. It is next to your Google Account icon (see also Switching Google Accounts) and should be another of your friends:
NOTE: If you do not see it, I will give you some hints on how to find it further down in this article. But if you do, click on it:
Some of the available apps are there for you to click on and start using. If you do not see an App that you're looking for (Groups for example is not shown), click on "More" (I pointed to it by a hollow red arrow). If you do not see "More" either zoom out, or you may need to scroll down within the menu itself - More should be there.
I do not know how the Apps are ordered in this menu, and the menu is not the same in all of my accounts, so you'll have to hunt for what you're looking for. Remember More!
Missing 9-Dot Icon
As I was writing this article, I noticed that the 9-Dot icon is sometimes not there. If you run into that situation, try these:
- Zoom out to get a bigger view (smaller font). Did you know you can zoom easily by holding down Ctrl and turning the scrolling wheel on your mouse? Try it!
- If you are editing a Doc or a Sheet, there is no 9-Dot icon. Go first to the Docs Home or the Sheets Home. You can do that by clicking the App Icon at the left top of your editing window (Blue for Docs, Green for Sheets):
If all else fails, go to a place you've been and try there. Or type in one of the addresses I showed earlier directly into your browser address window.