Google Docs

---
name: Google Docs
description: Teaching notes for Google Docs in the browser — menus, toolbar, outline, comments, sharing, export, and what to point at.
sites: [docs.google.com]
integration: googledocs
surfaces: [talk]
---

## Layout
The document title is at the top-left next to the Docs icon; the menu bar (File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Extensions, Help) runs directly under it. The formatting toolbar is below the menus: undo/redo and print at the left, zoom, style dropdown (Normal text), font, size, then bold/italic/underline, text color, link, comment, image, alignment, spacing, lists, indent. The page sits in the center. The outline/summary panel opens on the left via the list icon at the page's left edge. The Share button is at the top-right beside the comment history and meeting icons. Comments appear in the right margin. The side panel at the far right has Calendar, Keep, Tasks.

## Common tasks
- Share: the Share button at the top-right; set general access under the link section.
- Comment: select text, then command-option-M, or the plus comment icon that appears in the right margin.
- Suggesting mode: the pencil dropdown at the far right of the toolbar, choose Suggesting.
- Headings: the style dropdown (Normal text) in the toolbar, or command-option-1 through 3.
- Insert an image or table: the Insert menu.
- Download as PDF or Word: File > Download, then the format.
- Find and replace: shift-command-H; plain find: command-F.
- Version history: File > Version history > See version history, or the "last edit" link near the menu bar.

## Pointing hints
- "How do I share this?" — point at the Share button at the top-right.
- "How do I make this a heading?" — point at the style dropdown (shows Normal text) toward the left of the toolbar.
- "How do I add a comment?" — point at the comment icon in the toolbar, or the plus that appears in the right margin next to the selection.
- "Where is the outline?" — point at the list icon at the far left edge, level with the page.
- "How do I export a PDF?" — point at the File menu at the top-left and say Download.
- "How do I turn on suggesting?" — point at the pencil dropdown at the far right of the toolbar.

## Gotchas
- The document autosaves; there is no Save command. The cloud icon near the title shows sync status.
- Pageless mode (File > Page setup) removes page breaks, so page-number questions do not apply.
- The toolbar collapses on narrow windows; hidden buttons move into a three-dot overflow at its right end.
- Shortcuts use command on macOS; the Help menu lists them (command-slash).