Version control
Google’s rolling out more advanced version control management options to help teams look back on past editions of a document. G Suite already has version control features in Docs, Sheets and Slides but they’re now being expanded to make change tracking simpler.
You can now name specific versions of a document to mark important changes. If you’ve just completed the final draft of your research paper, you can tag the current version with a memorable name. When you’re browsing through the versions in the future, you can quickly jump back to the named file.
New G Suite features
Google
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Google’s also improving how changes to documents are handled in teams. You can review all your edit suggestions in a single place by selecting “Accept all” or “Reject all” in Docs’ Tools menu. You can now suggest changes while using a mobile device too, allowing you to work productively wherever you go.
Advanced templates
Google’s upgrading templates to offer more advanced functionality. Previously, document templates were used to set default formatting details and provide a basic structure for new files. They’re now being combined with add-ons, G Suite’s existing functionality that gives developers a way to implement new functions.
Templates can now include their own add-ons, allowing you to create much more advanced document outlines for reuse in the future. The templates already available include ones with the LucidChart add-on built in, a mutual non-disclosure agreement document with DocuSign signature collection capabilities and files with popular add-ons like PandaDoc and Supermetrics.
Cloud Search
Google’s final major change concerns search. The company is revamping how search works inside documents. In an attempt to improve the performance and accuracy of search, Google’s integrating its AI-powered Cloud Search technology into G Suite apps.
Available in Docs and Slides through the Explore feature, Cloud Search will surface important information from across G Suite that might be relevant to your work. It can find files, emails, calendar appointments and other G Suite documents, helping you look for the right resource to include.
“Power team collaboration”
Google said the new features are meant to make it easier for teams to work effectively. It said the collaboration enhancements allow teams to simplify document creation by making version access faster and content sourcing more efficient.
New G Suite features
Google
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“Getting people on the same page for a project can be tough. It requires managing a ton of opinions and suggestions. The last thing you should have to worry about is making sure your team is literally working on the same document,” said Google. “Today, we’re introducing new updates to better help with ‘version control,’ to customize tools for your workflows, and to help teams locate information when they need it.”
The features are also a stand against Microsoft and its increasingly dominant Office 365 platform. Office 365 already has features similar to G Suite’s search and versioning capabilities. Google’s the first to offer templates that include add-on functionality though, helping teams get off the line faster when starting a new document.
