Google Docs
Power User
Use the links below to find out more about the advanced features of Google Docs that will help you to save time.
Copy and link data to documents
When you copy and paste data from Google Sheets and Google Slides into documents, you can create a link that can be updated at any time to show the latest data from the source you copied the information from. This allows you to keep your data synchronised across all documents that the data is in.
The Explore option in Google Docs allows you to search for information to insert into your documents, and provides design suggestions based on the content of the document you are creating...
You can format document text as you type it, or after it has been typed, by selecting the text and applying the format. You can also format your text using pre-set heading styles, using Heading 1 for main headings, Heading 2 for sub-headings, etc...
You can use headers and footers to set specific text to appear at the top and bottom of each page of the document, without the need to type it on each page manually...
If you need to forward a document on to someone via email, you can do so from within the document and choose the format in which to send the document. You can also quickly send an email to everyone that a document is shared with, if you wish to communicate with all collaborators in one step...
You can download a copy of a Google Document in a number of formats, including PDF and Microsoft Word...
You can translate a document into any language, creating a new document. The translated document will open in a new window. Only documents can be translated at present, and not spreadsheets or presentations...
Add functionality to documents using add-ons
You can extend the functionality of Google Docs using add-ons, which are useful tools written by third parties and added via the add-ons store for Google Workspace. Examples of add-ons for docs include tools to track changes, create diagrams and perform a mail merge.
Although Mail Merge is not a menu command in Google Docs, it is possible to perform an email mail merge using Google Sheets and Apps Script. You can list the names, email addresses and any other information to include in the mail merge into a spreadsheet, as well as the standard mail merge...
Create custom templates for documents
To promote consistency across your documents, you can set up templates that anyone in the organisation can access as the starting point for their new documents. Templates can contain standard text, formatting and layouts...