Docs > Chapter 9: Mobile Docs
Docs
Chapter 9: Mobile Docs
Table of contents
Minimum requirements for mobile Google Docs
Accessing and creating Google Docs on your mobile device Overview
Creating new documents Share docs on the go
Editing and collaborating on documents with a mobile device Start editing a document on a mobile device
Collaborating in documents on a mobile device Working with text in documents on a mobile device Editing text
Copying, pasting, and selecting
Editing a spreadsheet on a mobile device Viewing files on your mobile device
Viewing files from within Google Docs
Mobile and Desktop views for documents on a mobile device Printing Google Docs from your mobile device
Setting up Cloud Print on your mobile device Printing a document or spreadsheet
Using the Google Docs app on your Android device Overview
Installing the Google Docs app The Docs dashboard
Working in your Documents List Creating new docs
Accessing Google Docs directly from your home screen Mobile Docs in the classroom
Minimum requirements for mobile Google Docs
Depending on the mobile device and Operating System you're using, you might be able to access, view, or edit your Google documents, spreadsheets, presentations, as well as files uploaded to Google Docs.
Viewing
You can view documents, spreadsheets, presentations and drawings on most phones that support HTML. We also support viewing other file types through Google Docs on your mobile device.
Editing
You can edit Google documents and spreadsheets if you're using one of these devices and Operating Systems: Android devices with the Froyo operating system (version 2.2) and above.
iPhone and iPad devices with iOS 3.0 and up
Earlier Android platforms such as Eclair may work, but these aren't fully supported.
Mobile editing for Google Docs is supported in 34 languages. You can set your language from your Documents settings on a desktop computer (not from your mobile device).
Overview
You can access your Google docs on specific mobile devices. To get started, point your mobile browser to https://docs.google.com.
Here's what you can do from the mobile Docs list: Search for docs
View or edit docs Star docs
View all documents, or just the ones you own or you've starred.
When you open a doc or certain files, you'll be able to view it only. If you'd like to make changes to a doc, you'll need to press the Edit button at the top of the document. Learn more about editing a Google document on your mobile device.
Creating new documents
You can create new spreadsheets and documents from your mobile device. Just follow these steps:
1. Touch the icon on the far right of the toolbar above your Docs list. 2. From the menu, select the type of doc you want to create.
3. Type your title.
Share docs on the go
Editing and collaborating on documents with a mobile device
Start editing a document on a mobile device
You can edit your Google document on specific mobile devices.
To get started, simply open the document you’d like to edit from your mobile Docs list.
Then, press the Edit button that appears on the toolbar at the top of the document, and start editing your document. Read more about working with text in documents on a mobile device.
Collaborating in documents on a mobile device
On your mobile device
As changes are made, your document is kept up to date. You can keep an eye on the status of changes from the menu above the editing space.
This view shows you if and when a collaborator last made changes.
Your document will automatically refresh as your collaborator makes changes, but you can also press the Refresh button on the menu bar.
Similarly, when you’ve made changes, they are automatically saved to your document as you add them.
But you can also save by pressing the Save button.
On your computer
When you're working in the desktop version of Google documents, you can also continue to collaborate with people who may be using a mobile device to access a document.
However, unlike other desktop collaborators, you will not see mobile collaborators in the chat window. Also, when mobile collaborators add text, you will not see the presence of their cursor, though their text will be added in real-time.
The other collaborative components of Google documents, such as revision history, will function as usual.
Working with text in documents on a mobile device
About text formatting
These formatting options won't change when you edit on your mobile device: Ordered and unordered lists
Bold, italics, underline Text size
Text color Heading styles
Web fonts are not currently supported in the mobile version of Google documents. But web fonts will be preserved when you open your document on your computer.
Editing text
Because Google documents preserves your formatting, you can add more items to a list you created while working on your computer. Depending on the phone you have, you also might be able to enter text by speaking.
Copying, pasting, and selecting
Editing a spreadsheet on a mobile device
You can view and edit your Google spreadsheets from a supported mobile device.
If you're on an iPad, you can also edit a spreadsheet in desktop view, as you would on a desktop computer. To do this, simply touch the Go to spreadsheet view link at the top of the page. You'll see this link only when you open a spreadsheet from an iPad.
As mobile and tablet browsers aren't yet as robust as desktop browsers, editing spreadsheets on these devices tends to be slightly slower than on a regular desktop computers.
Viewing files on your mobile device
Viewing files from within Google Docs
Now that you can upload any file into Google Docs, it's easier than ever to view your files from within Google Docs on your mobile device.
If you're using Docs from an Android or Apple device, you can view the following file types: pdf, ppt, doc and docx. You don't need to download the file, and you can easily scroll through the doc and zoom in and out in the viewer.
After selecting the file you want to open, you'll see a preview, like this:
From this view, you can browse through the multiple pages of your file by clicking the arrow keys in the toolbar above the document. You can also zoom in and out of the preview, using the magnifying glass buttons, also in the toolbar.
Mobile and Desktop views for documents on a mobile device
However, there are some minor limitations when using the Desktop view on your iPad: you can't right-click, zoom, or copy and paste between Google documents and other applications.
Printing Google Docs from your mobile device
You can print your Google documents and spreadsheets from your mobile device using Google Cloud Print.
Setting up Cloud Print on your mobile device
Before you begin, be sure you have set up your printer to work with Google Cloud Print.
When you use Google Cloud print from your mobile device, your document or spreadsheet will be printed with your printer's default settings.
Printing a document or spreadsheet
Be sure you're using a supported device, and navigate to docs.google.com from your device. To print a spreadsheet, press the Print... link at the top of your spreadsheet. To print a document, press the drop-down menu to the left of the Edit button, and mark the Print option.
Using the Google Docs app on your Android device
Overview
Google Docs is available as an app on your Android device. With this app, you can access and edit your docs without having to use your browser.
The app also seamlessly integrates with other features on your Android phone. Here are some things you can do with the Google Docs app on your Android:
Take a photo with your phone's camera and convert the image to a text document in Google Docs Easily share docs with your contacts
Access the Docs app directly from a shortcut on your home screen
Installing the Google Docs app
To get started, make sure you're using an Android device version 2.1 or higher. Follow these steps to install the Google Docs app on your Android device:
1. Open the Android Marketplace.
2. Find and install the application called Docs.
3. On your phone's home screen, click the Google Docs app icon .
The Docs dashboard
When the Docs app loads, you'll see the dashboard screen.
From here, you can access different views of your Documents List: All Items: A list of all items in your Documents List
Collections: A list of the collections in your Documents List Starred: A list of the items you've starred in your Documents List
Documents: A list of all Google Docs (Text documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations) and PDFs Images: A list of all of the image files in your Documents List
Once you've selected a Documents List view on the dashboard, you can filter your documents even more using the blue menu bar above the list of docs. You can swipe left or right on the document list or tap the labels on the menu bar to switch between All Items, Owned by Me, Starred, and Home.
Working in your Documents List
In addition to sorting and filtering your docs, you can do the following tasks from your Documents List: Edit a document or spreadsheet
Share, rename, or star an item in your Documents List by touching the drop-down arrow next to a document
Create new documents by pressing the Create a document button next to the magnifying glass in the top right of the app.
Creating new docs
Follow these steps to create a new document or spreadsheet:
1. Press the Create a document button in the top right of the app. 2. Select the type of document you'd like to create:
Document Spreadsheet
Document from photo
When you create a document using the Document from photo option, your Android device's camera can convert a photo to a text document using OCR.
Accessing Google Docs directly from your home screen
This is what you can do from the Docs widget: Access your Documents List
Access the Starred documents in your Documents List
Create a new document from OCR using your phone's camera Create a new document
Mobile Docs in the classroom
Mobile docs are a great way for students to collaborate on the go. With a smartphone with a cellular or wifi connection, students can collaborate on documents and spreadsheets with other students and the teacher. Some ways students can use mobile Google Docs:
Collect notes while out on field trips.
Contribute to spreadsheets for data collection, science labs, and so forth.
With the Android App for Docs, students can take pictures of whiteboard notes and have them converted into a Google Doc using OCR.
Participate in formative assessments using Forms
