Navigation and Getting Started

There are several ways you can start a Google Doc!

Directly from your Google Drive

From your app launcher (waffle)

Going directly to docs.google.com

Read the labeled items below to understand the navigation of the Google Docs interface.

  • Click into the title to rename the document.

  • Click the star icon to add the file to your Starred list in Google Drive.

  • Click the folder icon to move the file into the desired folder in your Google Drive.

🔸From the File menu, you can:

      • Share the file

      • Make a Copy

      • Download the file as a PDF, PNG, etc.

      • Publish to the Web

      • Access Version History

      • Print

🔸From the Edit menu, you can:

      • Undo/Redo

      • Cut/Copy/Paste

      • Find & Replace

🔸From the View menu, you can:

      • Change the Mode of the file

      • Show/hide the ruler and other toolbars

🔸From the Insert menu, you can add:

      • Images

      • Shapes

      • Tables

      • Charts

      • Equations/Special characters

      • Links

      • Headers/Footers

🔸From the Format menu, you can adjust:

      • Text, image, and table properties

      • Spacing, indents, and columns

      • Page orientation and page numbers

      • Headers and Footers

🔸From the Tools menu, you can access:

      • Spelling & grammar

      • Explore feature

      • Dictionary

      • Voice typing

      • Accessibility Settings

🔸From the Add-Ons menu, you can:

      • Get, access, and manage add-ons that enhance Google Docs

🔸From the Help menu, you can access:

      • Help, training, and updates on Google Docs

      • Keyboard shortcuts for Docs

  • Google Doc's quick access toolbar allows you to format your document easily. The image above describes the function of each icon.

  • Comment History - Clicking the comment icon will allow you to review any/all comments made within the document, alter comment notifications, and/or create a new comment.

  • Share - Clicking the blue share button will allow you to share the document with individuals or as a link with viewer, commenter, or editor rights.

Google Doc's Document Mode provides three different viewing/editing options for users:

  • Editing - allows those with permission to edit the document.

  • Suggesting - allows the ability to suggest edits, while not altering the original content. Suggestions get recorded in green text and also placed as comments in the side margins for review.

  • Viewing - allows the ability to view the document as though it was published.

  • The Document Outline button provides access to a table of contents based on text that is linked as headings.

  • Clicking a linked item in the document outline will navigate the user directly to the section in the document.

  • The Explore feature allows users to search for content without leaving the document.

  • Content found using the Explore feature is part of the Creative Commons library.

  • Users can use the built-in citation feature for web content, which places the citation in the footnote of the document.

  • Images can be dragged and dropped directly into the document and remains linked to the source it comes from.

  • The toggle arrow on the far right side of the toolbar hides the upper menus of Google Docs.

  • Click the arrow once to hide the menus. Click it again to show the menus.