The following video covers formatting basics in Google Sheets, using the Google Sheets toolbar. Bold, text color, fill color, and other options are demonstrated. The instructions apply to the new version of Google Sheets on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook:
Note that formatting options are far more limited on the Google Sheets app for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.
For more tips and tricks about Sheets, check out the latest edition of my guide, Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes.
In 1 minute, learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets via the Format>Merge Cells command:
This video is by the author of Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes, which also covers Google Sheets.
In less than three minutes, learn how to create a chart in Google Sheets, the spreadsheet program in Google Drive. It’s very easy — basically you need to select some data in the spreadsheet, press a button, and select a few customization options (type of chart, colors, fonts, etc.). It’s even easier than Microsoft Excel’s chart wizard.
The video below shows the steps involved, using a simple example. The narrator is the author of Google Drive and Docs In 30 Minutes, which you can buy here. To expand the video to full screen, press the icon at the bottom of the video.
In addition, look for other videos on this site which explain how to edit charts, as well as perform other basic functions in Google Drive.
This three-minute video explains how to export a PDF using Google Sheets, the spreadsheet program in Google Drive. It’s a very common scenario if you need to create a printable version of a spreadsheet, or want to create a spreadsheet that cannot be edited. It’s also a good tool to use for creating PDF versions of a spreadsheet that have been created on older versions of Microsoft Excel — you simply convert the Excel file to Google Drive’s format, and then export the PDF using the steps explained in the video below.
Finally, two examples of PDF exports are used in the video. One involves a spreadsheet with just text, numbers, and currencies, while the other is a spreadsheet that contains a chart.
After watching, if you’re interested in learning more about creating, sharing, and collaborating on documents using Google Drive & Docs, check out my guide. It’s called Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes and is available for the Kindle, iPad, Nook, Android tablets, and as a PDF and paperback.
Without further ado, the video:
How do you convert a Google Sheets spreadsheet into an .xlsx file which can be opened in Microsoft Excel? This 5-minute video demonstrates how to export from Google Sheets, Google Drive’s excellent spreadsheet program. The resulting .xlsx file can be opened in Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel for Mac, and other recent versions of Excel.
The video also demonstrates some of the formatting problems that can occur with conversion between Google Drive and Microsoft Excel. Charts and number formats sometimes don’t make the transition, and this video shows examples of what can go wrong. The video is by Ian Lamont, author of Excel Basics In 30 Minutes and Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes.
To see the full-screen version of the video, click the icon at the bottom of the video player:
Convert Excel files to Google Drive! This short video (updated in 2015) explains how to convert Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx or .xls files) to Google Drive’s spreadsheet program — Google Sheets. There are three examples of Excel spreadsheets being converted, including situations in which formatting does not translate.
Why would someone want to convert Excel files to Google Drive? One scenario: You’re emailed an .xls or .xlsx file, but don’t have Microsoft Excel installed. Or, you want to collaborate on a spreadsheet, and the collaboration features on Google Drive (including live collaboration, as described in Google Drive In 30 Minutes) is superior.
Press the icon on the bottom of the video to make it viewable full-screen.