Google Docs & Spreadsheets

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Google Docs & Spreadsheets
Google Docs & Spreadsheets
Developer:	Google Inc.
OS:	Any (Web-based application)
Use:	Online spreadsheet and word processor
Website:	http://docs.google.com/

Google Docs & Spreadsheets, sometimes simply called Google Docs [1], is a Web-based word processor and spreadsheet application offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents and spreadsheets online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Docs & Spreadsheets is the result of two services, Writely and Spreadsheets, and they were merged on October 10, 2006 into a single product.

Contents 1 Features 1.1 Documents 1.2 Spreadsheets 2 Security 3 History 4 See also 5 External links

Features

Documents and spreadsheets can be created with Docs & Spreadsheets itself, imported through the web interface or sent via email. They can also be saved in a variety of formats to the user's computer. By default, they are saved to Google's servers. The open document is automatically saved to prevent data loss. Documents and spreadsheets can also be tagged and archived for organizational purposes.

Collaboration between users is also a feature of Docs & Spreadsheets. Documents can be shared, and can be opened and edited by multiple users at the same time.

The program does not support certain browsers such as Opera and Safari.

Documents

Documents can be uploaded and emailed in HTML, plain text, RTF, Microsoft Word, OpenDocument, and StarOffice formats. They can be exported as HTML, RTF, Word, OpenDocument, and PDF files. Docs & Spreadsheets has several formatting features. As well as basic font options, bullet lists can be made, along with paragraphs and line spacing. Other features found in traditional word processors, such as margin formatting, are lacking.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are the other main part of Docs & Spreadsheets. Spreadsheets can be uploaded and emailed in CSV, Microsoft Excel, and OpenDocument formats. They can be exported as HTML, CSV, Microsoft Excel, OpenDocument, and PDF formats. Like most spreadsheet software, it supports sorting, formatting, and numerous mathematical formulas. Spreadsheets also allow freezing the first few rows, but not the first column of the spreadsheet, as well as merging cells horizontally (but not vertically). Popular features included in such software as Microsoft Excel and OpenOffice, such as charting, are lacking as of the current version.

Security

Google Spreadsheets is not accessible through an encrypted HTTPS connection beyond the login screen, posing a threat for private or sensitive data.

History

Google Docs & Spreadsheets originated from two separate products, Writely and Google Spreadsheets. Writely was an individual web-based word processor. It was created by the software company Upstartle, and features included a collaborative text editing suite and access controls. Menus, keyboard shortcuts, and dialogue boxes show up in a way similar to what users may expect in a GUI-driven word processor, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org Writer.

In early 2006, Google acquired Upstartle. At the time it was acquired by Google, Upstartle had four employees.[2] Writely had closed down registrations to its service until the move to Google servers was complete. In August 2006, Writely began sending account invitations to those who had requested to be placed on a waitlist and planned to have everyone on the waitlist invited by the end of the summer. On August 23, 2006, Writely finished sending out all invitations and became publicly available. Writely account owners can invite others to Writely by adding them as collaborators to a Writely document. Writely continued to maintain its own user system until September 19, 2006, when it was integrated with Google Accounts. [3]

Writely originally ran on Microsoft ASP.NET technology which uses Microsoft Windows. Since July 2006, Writely servers appear to be running a Linux-based operating system. [4]

Meanwhile, Google developed Google Spreadsheets. This product introduced most of the abilities found today in Docs & Spreadsheets. Google announced Spreadsheets at 1 p.m. (UTC) on June 6, 2006, and initially made it available to only a limited number of users, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The limited test was then lifted, and replaced with a beta version available to all Google Account holders.

See also

• List of online spreadsheets
• List of word processors

External links

• Google Docs & Spreadsheets
• Official Google Docs & Spreadsheets Blog on Blogger
• Ajax Projects Review