We explain why converting Microsoft Word documents to Google Docs ensures better formatting and how to automatically convert Word files within Google Drive.
Microsoft Word and Google Docs — two heavyweights of the word processing world! It is an ongoing rivalry. Individuals through to large organisations, will all have a preference of using one over the other. Things can become tricky when you want to collaborate with someone who uses the opposite one to you. Tricky, but not impossible!
For the purposes of today’s blog, we will be in Google Docs’ corner, discussing how to convert a Word document into a Google Doc. So let’s bob and weave around the subject no more and get straight to it.
Why should you convert Word Docs into Google Docs?
It is possible to open up a Microsoft Word file within Google Docs and work on it. However, formatting errors can occur. For example, font or text formatting issues may arise as Word supports more fonts than Google Docs. Word can also cope with more complex layouts with section breaks and multiple columns. So, your beautifully presented, two-column newsletter made in Word might morph into a not so pretty, single-column document in Google Docs.
It is much better and far cleaner to convert Word docs into Google Docs before working on them. But how do you know if you are working on a word doc in Google Docs?
Any Word document uploaded and viewed in Google Docs will have a different file extension i.e. the file name will end with a [ .DOCX ]. A quick way to check this, is to look at the top left-hand corner of your screen. If the [ .DOCX ] file extension features in bright blue next to the name of your file, then it is a Word doc.
How to convert Word Docs into Google Docs automatically
Converting Word docs into Google Docs is a relatively simple process. All you need to do is adjust one setting in your Google Drive. To do that:
- Open a Chrome browser.
- Click the bento or candy box icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
- Select “Google Drive” from the dropdown menu of apps.
- Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown list of options that appear.
- Scroll down to the “Uploads” section.
- Tick the box option that reads “Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format.”
Now every time you upload a Word document to your Google Drive, it will automatically be saved as a Google Doc.