How to Use Advanced Editing Tools in Google Docs

Once you're comfortable with using Google Docs as one of your primary word processing programs and have a handle on the basic editing features, it's time to move on to learning how to use the more advanced editing tools. From linking to commenting to formatting in your document, Google Docs has a number of features that can help you move beyond creating basic documents.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Google account

Format Your Document

1. Set the margins for your Google Doc. Go to File-> Print Settings and select the correct margins. If you want them to only apply to specific pages, make sure to enter the page numbers, too. Click "OK."

2. Insert Headers and/or Footers into your document using the advanced editing tools. Click Insert -> Header (or Footer) and enter the desired text in the dotted box that appears. Headers and Footers can also be deleted simply by right-clicking in the text box and choosing the "Delete" option.

3. Add page numbers to your Google Doc in the Print Settings menu. By default, documents do not have page numbers and the setting says "None." Click on the drop-down menu to choose a placement option for your page numbers. Click "OK" to apply.

4. Insert tables as needed by using the "Tables" menu. Select "Insert Table" and specify the settings in the pop-up dialog box. Once your document has tables in it, you can modify the settings directly from the Tables menu.

Insert Information

5. Create a chart to import into your document. Charts can be imported as .png files, so you can either import a previously created file or create one with Google Docs to import into your document. To create, open a new spreadsheet document and create your chart, clicking on the Charts menu when you're finished. Choose "Save Image" and save your chart to your hard disk.

6. Insert a chart into your document. Navigate to the place in your document where you want the chart to appear, leave the cursor in place and navigate to Insert -> Picture. In the pop-up box browse for and choose your chart and click "OK."

7. Leave comments for collaborators (or yourself) with Google Docs comment tool. Place your cursor where you want to insert a comment and go to the Insert menu. Choose "Comment," which has a speech bubble icon next to it, and a comment box will appear with your name, the date and the time the comment was made. Type your note in the dotted box.

8. Link text. Highlight the text you want to link and click on "Link" in the toolbar. You will be presented with a box with a number of options. You can choose to link to a document, URL, bookmark or email address, as well as a space to enter the URL. Enter the link display information and choose what you want the "flyover" to say.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that while all the text will be framed within your chosen margins and the settings will be used when you print from Google Docs, you won't see a difference on your working document.
• The color of your comment boxes can be changed by right-clicking in the box itself. Choose "change color" and you will be asked whether you want to change the color of this particular comment or all comments. Choose what works for you.