How to Create a Google Doc
Go to Google Docs
- http://docs.google.com
- Login (You need an account to create a document; you don't necessarily need one to edit or view)
If you use Gmail you already have an account, otherwise Create a Google account
Create a Document
- Create New -> Document; (tip: Click on "Untitled" to name it)
- or
- Upload; Select file to upload; Start upload; Go back to Google Docs; (Click the uploaded document)
Make it Accessible
To let everyone edit:
- Share -> Get the link to share -> Allow anyone to view -> Also allow them to edit; (Copy the link); Save & Close
- Paste the link into a Wiki page or an email to the group.
To let everyone view, but select editors:
- Share -> Get the link to share -> Allow anyone to view; (Copy the link); Save & Close
- Paste the link into a Wiki page or an email to the group.
- Share -> Invite people...; (Enter email addresses of editors); (Enter message); Send
Tips
Letting everyone edit is probably best. It avoids confusion when people have multiple emails and google accounts and you have sent the invitation to the "other one".
Anonymous editing and viewing doesn't require logging in, but it does require you have cookies enabled.
You can use File -> See revision history to recover from malicious edits, or compare version changes.
Insert -> Comment to comment on a document.
Google Docs allows completely simultaneous editing (although there is a maximum of 10 simultaneous editors/viewers).
There is a 500K size limit on Word documents.
The application function and GUI evolves, so the name or location of features above may change.