Here are some of the most interesting features of the new version of Google Docs:
- Real time collaboration: See updates from other collaborators as they edit the document.
- Higher-quality imports: More consistent imports from your desktop into Google Docs.
- Chat with other collaborators: As you make your edits, you can chat with other document editors about the changes, from within the document.
- Ruler: Google documents have a ruler for setting margins, indentations, and tab stops.
What else is different?
You'll probably notice that some features from the older version of Google Docs aren't available yet. Don't worry: we'll be adding a lot of them soon.
These features from the previous version of Google Docs, however, won't be available in the new version:
- Offline document access via Google Gears
- Edit HTML
- Edit CSS
Keyboard shortcuts have also changed. Check the list of new keyboard shortcuts.
Which version am I using?
An easy way to tell if you're using the new version is if there's a ruler above the editing space. (Just be sure the ruler is enabled from View > Show ruler)
Transitioning from the old version of Google Docs
We hope that transitioning to the new version of Google Docs is as seamless as possible. While we believe that the new version has more to offer than the legacy editor, we've heard from certain users about specific functionality they miss from the older version. In these situations, we think specific workarounds can be helpful. You might also want to learn about how to upgrade your documents to the new version of Google Docs.
- Full-screen mode: We've added some options to maximize your screen real-estate in the new version. You can remove certain toolbars and controls from the View menu by selecting Compact controls or Hide controls, which will hide the controls above the editing space.
- Greater editing space: If you're looking for even more space, it can also help to increase the editing space of your document. We encourage you to adjust the page settings if you'd like a larger editing space from File > Page setup (You may find the Landscape setting useful or the page size A4).
- Hiding the ruler: If you find the ruler unnecessary, you can disable it from View > Show ruler.
- HTML: We know that some users have used the older version of Google Docs as a lightweight HTML editor, especially for newsletters or to share with others. For this use, we encourage you to give Google Sites a try. It also allows easily sharing a group website.
- Speed: The new editor is more computationally advanced and works best in browsers with fast Javascript engines. If you're looking for a fast browser, we recommend Google Chrome.