To counter the growing modular productivity tools on the market, Google has predicted Google Docs to be the perfect companion to get work done. With many neat smart canvas widgets, Google Docs has been in the spotlight lately. One such addition is the use of Docs as a project management tool among team members. Here’s how you can create and manage projects in Google Docs.
In May 2022, Google introduced two new smart canvas additions to enhance collaboration. Using drop-down options and board templates, it’s easier than ever to manage projects and tasks in Google Docs. We will create a project from scratch, add relevant details, and finally invite team members to manage that project in this post. Start.
Explore table templates
Table templates are different ready-to-use databases based on your preferences. Here’s how you can use the correct templates.
Step 1: Open Google Chrome or any desktop browser, type docs.new in the address bar and press Enter to open the New Document document.
Step 3: Select Insert at the top and choose the Table option from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: From Tables option, select Table templates and check default project management templates.
You can also type @ and select a relevant template from the drop-down menu. Here, we’ll use the Product Roadmap to get started.
Create project database
Now that you’ve added a relevant table template in Google Docs, it’s time to customize it based on your preferences.
Add, Remove Columns and Rows
The default Product Roadmap template comes with four columns and four rows. This may not be enough for everyone. Let’s add some more blocks to the mix.
Step 1: To add a column, hover your mouse pointer over the top cell.
Step 2: You will see a small floating menu appear in the screenshot below.
Step 3: Select the + icon to insert the column to the right.
Similarly, you can scroll to the left and click the + icon to add another row. You can drag and drop rows and columns in Google Docs at any time.
To move a raw, hover the pointer over the first cell, drag and drop using the six-dot menu. You can use the same floating menu (check screenshot above), click the six-dot icon and change the column position.
Use and customize the drop-down options
It’s officially called a drop-down chip; it allows you to review project status quickly. Here’s how you can add new drop-down options and edit existing ones with color coding. First, let us show you how to implement them in any cell.
Step 1: In your Google Docs document, select a cell where you want to implement the drop-down functionality.
Step 2: Enter @ drop down and choose the same from the suggestion.
Step 3: You can create a new drop-down list according to your requirements or choose from an existing list – Review Status, Launch Status, Yes/No.
Step 4: Do the same in all relevant cells.
Once you’ve added the drop-down menu, you might want to customize it with more options.
Customize dropdown options
Here’s how you can customize the dropdown options and add new status options.
Step 1: Click the down arrow next to the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Select Add/Edit options.
Step 3: You can change the template name, status location and even delete it with the delete icon.
Step 4: Click the New option at the bottom to add a new option and give it a suitable name.
Step 5: You can click on the color menu and choose the color option.
Step 6: When you click Save, you have two options to choose from.
Just this case: The change will only apply to the selected drop-down menu.
Applies to all: You should use this option. The changes will apply to all drop-down menu bars with the same properties.
You can create as many drop-down menus as you want and add them to any column or row in a Google Docs document.
Because Google Docs is tightly integrated with Google Drive, you can easily add reference files from Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Step 1: Type @ icon in a cell and continue typing the document name.
Step 2: Google Docs will display the relevant files from your Drive account.
Step 3: Select a file and add it to your database.
You can also add notes for your team members to refer to.
Now that you have the perfect Google Docs document with all relevant project details, you can invite your team members to join it.
Step 1: Click the Share button at the top.
Step 2: Add everyone’s email ID, give them the necessary permissions and hit the Send button.
Mastering Google Docs
You don’t need to switch between dedicated project management tools and Google Docs anymore. You can try the smart canvas in Docs and recreate the same experience in a single place. Of course, this doesn’t sit well with advanced tools like Asana, Jira or AirTable that come with automation and other functionalities. But it’s still a promising start for Google, and we can’t wait to see how the company will improve on a solid foundation.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
