Google Docs and Spreadsheets

**"* P* <k*@gmail.com>**

Hi, all--
Just thought I'd bring Google Docs and Spreadsheets to your attention. I
used it to compose and publish the letter I sent to Robert LaGasse about GWA
website suggestions. It is an adequately-featured online word processor (and
spreadsheet if you use that part).

I chose to write the email using an online word processor because I wanted
to be able to work on it from more than one location. By using Google Docs I
was able to start my document at home, take my kids to the public library,
work on the document at a library computer while they chose their books, and
then come back home and work on it from a different computer than the one I
started it on.

My original intention was to copy-and-paste the document into my email
program when done. However, I realized the links I had included in my email
would be lost if I did this. Instead, you can export to various formats
(such as Word .doc) and then open the file on your computer. This is what I
did. However, I wound up with everything double-spaced and had to clean it
up.

I hadn't expected the ability to publish to the web, but decided this was a
good way to let everyone in GWA interact with it.

In short, Google Docs is good when you will need to access the document from
many locations, or will need to work on a document with more than one
author. This could be anything from a committee report to a grocery list
shared by husband and wife, to some notes to yourself when you're on the
road.

Both you and your collaborators need to have Google accounts to access the
document. If you are reading this in a Gmail account, there is a link at the
top left of your screen that says "Docs & Spreadsheets." Use that to access
it. If you don't already have Gmail, you will need to set up an account
here:
https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount
before you can use it.

It certainly won't replace the word processor in your desktop office suite,
but in certain situations in comes in handy.

Kathy
-- 
Kathy Purdy
Cold Climate Gardening: providing the information you need
to succeed in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 and colder.
http://www.coldclimategardening.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coldclimategardening/
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters