Google Docs is great for collaboratively building documents, but the feature set in its spreadsheet has lagged a long way behind desktop alternatives such as Excel. The introduction of pivot tables, which allow large amounts of data to be quickly summarised, is a major step forward for the platform. More »
Google Docs Viewer can already handle PDF and Word files, and now it can render spreadsheets stored online for you as well. More »
Google has tweaked the import options for spreadsheets on Google Docs, adding an import preview function and the option to append imported data to an existing sheet rather than adding it to the existing pane. They’re both potentially welcome improvements if you’re constantly shuffling data in and out of the platform, though the availability of previews was pretty variable in our quick testing. [Official Google Blog]
A minor but useful tweak to Google Docs’ spreadsheet function: you can now copy an individual sheet from one spreadsheet to another, making it easier to (for example) prepare a clean copy of a spreadsheet before sharing it. The feature works on both generic Google Docs and the Apps edition. [via Google Apps highlights]
Google Spreadsheets can autofill cells with sequential numbers and other related data, like rivers and countries. It’s still not an advanced Excel, but this feature can save you some time when you’re numbering a column. More »
If you’re sharing or collaborating on a Google Spreadshet, you can now set columns to validate data types. Cells can enforce certain data types, require valid URLs or mandatory text, for example. [via Google Blogoscoped]
Google rolls out a few impressive new features to its online spreadsheets offering today, including cell autocomplete, iGoogle gadgets, and notifications about collaborative edits. Autocomplete works the way any desktop spreadsheet does: as you type, if the cell contents match a past entry, Spreadsheets will suggest the value. As for data collection and sharing, you already know you can ask others to fill in a spreadsheet with a user-friendly form. Now you can get notifications whenever a sheet gets updated, down to a specific range of cells or via a form. Finally, you can track the status of your spreadsheet on your iGoogle homepage by creating a data widget, which updates as your spreadsheet does. Pretty nifty. Google Spreadsheets Adds Gadgets, a Directory of Features [Google Operating System]
Google adds an interesting new feature to its online spreadsheets product: the ability to create and share an entry form with others for collecting information (versus giving them full access to the spreadsheet itself). Looks useful for surveys or any kind of easy information collection for a large number of people. Now that you don’t have to be a Gmail user to use Google Docs (and Spreadsheets), it’s open to everyone, too. To make a form for a spreadsheet, in the Share tab, check the “to fill out a form” option under “Invite people.” Stop sharing spreadsheets, start collecting information [Official Google Docs Blog]
