Sections
Sections
Embedded Files
Google's Main Apps
This page covers guides and how-to's for Google Workspace's main applications: Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet, Chat, and Contacts. You can use the link navigation to the left to quickly jump to a specific section. Use the bar at the top of this page to go to a different page topic.
Gmail
Gmail
Navigation
Navigation
Your student Gmail account serves as the login information for all other existing applications and programs available to you through Google Workspace. To get started, navigate to any Google login page (see Figure 1) or the Nazareth University Current Students page (see Figures 2 & 2a), and enter your MyNaz credentials.
More information on the Gmail Dashboard (see Figure 3) is available below as well.
Note: Logging in through Nazareth University's quicklink does not require the "@mail.naz.edu." Any other login portal, however, does.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
Figure 3
GMAIL KEY
A. | Main Menu
Opens the Inboxes dropdown, Compose Button, and Labels Section.
B. | Compose Button
Create a new email draft.
C. | Search
Search through your emails, both sent and received.
D. | Inboxes & Sections
User Inbox, starred emails, sent emails, and more specific sorting sections.
E. | Labels
User-created and customizable organizing/labelling feature.
F. | Misc Features
Set your user status for receiving email notifications, a link to Gmail support, a link to your Gmail settings, and the menu for other Google Apps.
Creating a Signature
Creating a Signature
Nazareth University provides free-use templates for students, faculty, and staff to use to brand their Naz email signature/footer (see Figure 4). There are two options to choose from, and you can copy and paste one, mix and match them, or create your own. You can view the templates here.
To implement your email signature, navigate to your Gmail account, open the settings, click "See all settings," and scroll down to Signature (see Figure 4a). Once your signature has been updated, be sure to Save Changes at the bottom of the page before exiting.
Figure 4
Figure 4a
Drive
Drive
Navigation
Navigation
Once logged into your Google account, you can access your Drive by navigating to the Google Apps icon at the top right of any Google homepage, or by heading to https://drive.google.com/drive.
Once logged in, you may be brought to one of two pages: the Home page, or My Drive.
Tip: Navigating and organizing your Drive is best done through the "My Drive" page.
You can view more information on the Drive Dashboard (see Figure 5).
Figure 5
DRIVE KEY
A. | Pages
Pages in your Drive, such as Home, My Drive, and Trash, where you can access your files.
B. | Search
Search your Drive for specific files, either by name or by file type, who it's shared with, etc.
C. | Misc.
Drive Support site, Settings, and other Google Apps.
D. | Files
All of your files will be displayed here.
Uploading & Exporting
Uploading & Exporting
Uploading a file to your Google Drive can be done in a few simple steps. Once navigated to your Drive, click on the + New button, and select File Upload (see Figure 6).
Select the file from your desktop and it will upload directly into your drive; Alternatively, you can upload entire folders by selecting Folder Upload from the same button.
As a shortcut, you can skip pressing the + New button and upload a file by pressing the Alt + C then U keys on your keyboard.
Uploading files on the Google Drive mobile app is done the exact same, with clicking the + icon at the bottom right of your screen and selecting Upload File.
Exporting a file from your Drive is just as easy a uploading. There are two methods for exporting:
- Navigate to your desired file > Left click it > Select Download
This will download the file as is, with no change to the file type and configuration.
- Navigate to your File > Open it > Click File > Click Download > Choose your desired File Type
This method allows you to convert your file before downloading (see Figure 6a).
The number of different conversion options depends on the initial filetype. To learn more, please refer to each Web-Based App and it's navigation section.
Figure 6
Figure 6a
Sharing Files
Sharing Files
Google Workspace allows users to collaborate on files together, all in real-time. Files can be shared directly from their individual page(s), or by navigating to them within your Drive. To learn more about individual file-types and their sharing options, see Web-Based Google Apps)
To share a file, go to your Drive and locate the one you wish to share. Hover over the file, and click the Share Icon (see Figure 7). This will prompt a popup where you can add users, groups, and/or Calendar events that will gain access, as well as adjust the general access/link sharing (see Figure 7a).
Once the user(s) have been selected, you may change their access status and/or add an expiration. The options include:
Viewer --- can only view your file, cannot edit or make comments on it.
Editor --- can freely edit your file, but cannot change the admin settings.
Commenter --- can view your file, as well as make comments and/or suggestions that you can respond to.
Alternatively, when locating your file you can simply right click and select Share, or by selecting your file and pressing Ctrl + Alt + A.
Figure 7
Figure 7a
Organizing Your Drive
Organizing Your Drive
Utilizing your Google Drive and all of its abilities is pertinent to staying organized and maximizing your user experience. Below are some helpful tips and tricks for streamlining your work, as well as a few external video resources we recommend for you!
Folder Structure
Using a logical folder hierarchy to organize your folders helps keep your Drive from becoming cluttered. Starting with broad categories as your main "Root Folders" and getting more specific as you go down the list. Example: Spring 2026 > Class #1 > Assignments.
Color Coding
Choosing a color for your folders allows for easier identification and navigation through your drive. Google currently offers 24 different colors for your folders, and you can organize them by color group or by creating your own patterns.
Clear & Consistent Naming
Naming your files with a consistent template make for easier searching and identification of your files. For example, using the template Month/Day/Year_FileName_UserLastName allows for each file to be sorted by date. You can also add emoticons to your folder and file's names for a clarity and fun!
Tips for Google Drive Organization
File Management System for Google Drive
File Organization Tips for Google Drive
Calendar
Calendar
Navigation
Navigation
Once logged into your Google account, you can access your Calendar by navigating to the Google Apps icon at the top right of any Google homepage, or by heading to https://calendar.google.com/calendar.
Once successfully logged in, you will be at your Google Calendar dashboard, most often the current week/day. You can review the Calendar Dashboard key below for more information on the features you are prompted with at a first glance (see Figure 8).
Figure 8
CALENDAR KEY
A. | Create
Create an event, focus time, office hours, etc.
B. | Today Button
You calendar will jump to the current day.
C. | Monthly Calendar
A quick view of the month.
D. | Meet With...
Search for people to add to exiting meetings, or create new ones with them.
F. | Calendar View
View your calendar by day, week, month, year, or schedule.
G. | Tasks Toggle
View your calendar events or view your tasks.
Creating Events
Creating Events
Google Calendar makes it easy to stay on top of your classes, assignments, and meetings. To create an event, just click on any date or time slot and enter the details, like the title, time, location, and any notes or links. You can even set up recurring events for things like weekly study sessions or club meetings. Don’t forget to add reminders so you never miss a deadline!
Check out the beginner-friendly YouTube tutorial we’ve included to walk you through the basics step by step.
Reserving Appointment Slot(s)
Reserving Appointment Slot(s)
Google Calendar’s appointment schedule feature lets you create dedicated time slots that others can reserve, which is perfect for office hours, tutoring sessions, or project check-ins. You can customize availability, buffer times, and more, all while keeping your calendar organized.
Watch the YouTube tutorial we’ve included for a simple, step-by-step walkthrough!
Meet
Meet
Navigation
Navigation
Google Meet can be accessed through your Gmail dashboard, through a Calendar invite, or by going to https://meet.google.com/landing.
Once at your Meet Landing page, you will see a few key features, as well as a list of any current/upcoming. These features are noted below (see Figure 9).
Figure 9
MEET KEY
A. | Meetings
List of current and/or upcoming meetings, as well as general calls.
B. | New Meeting
You can create a new meeting by clicking on the blue button, or join an existing Meet by putting in the code/nickname for it.
C. | Misc.
A display of the date, as well as links to the Meet Support page, Report a Problem button, settings, and other Google Apps.
Chat
Chat
Navigation
Navigation
Google Chat, similarly to Meet, can be accessed from a few different places. Most commonly, you can navigate to your Gmail account and access Chat from the icon on the left bar of your screen. You can also find it in your Google Apps menu, or by going to https://chat.google.com.
Google Chat features and more information on your Chat Landing page can be found below (see Figure 10).
Figure 10
CHAT KEY
A. | New Chat
Create a new chat with someone, either by email or by contact.
B. | Shortcuts
Quicklinks to your Chat Home, a list of any mentions, and your starred Chats.
C. | Direct Messages
Individual chats with 1 person, which will be listed here for quick access.
D. | Spaces
Group chats with multiple people, which will be listed here for quick access.
E. | Apps
Integrated apps, such as Drive, that allow for easy sharing and collaboration on files.
F. | Search
Search through your chats for specific messages.
G. | Sorting Features
Show only unread chats, get a thread of missed notifications from your chats, and change the view of you landing page.
Contacts
Contacts
Navigation
Navigation
To navigate to Google Contacts, go to contacts.google.com in your web browser. You can also access it by clicking the Google Apps grid in the top right corner of Gmail or any Google service, and select Contacts from the dropdown menu.
There are several features on your Contacts Dashboard, and more information on them is below (see Figure 11).
Figure 11
CONTACTS KEY
A. | New Contact
Create new contacts.
B. | Shortcuts
Quicklinks to view your contacts, directory, the contacts you frequently communicate with, and others.
C. | Contact Management
Manage specific contacts by merging them, importing new contacts from external sources, or by deleting those no longer necessary.
D. | Labels
Organize your contacts with custom labels that you can color-coordinate for easier identification.
E. | Search
Search through for a specific contact.
Having trouble? Contact the Technology & Media Service Desk at 585-389-2111 or tmsd@naz.edu
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