Cloud google drive. Creating a disk on your phone
Hi all! Google Drive is a free cloud storage plus package office applications. How can you benefit from access to these features and how to use Google Drive?
Among many similar products, Google Drive cloud storage has a significant advantage, namely its close integration with Google services.
What does this mean? operating room Android system owned by Google and more than 80% of all mobile devices run on this platform. Browser Google Chrome today has achieved undisputed leadership among the best Internet browsers. Google Corporation is a de facto global monopolist of Internet search, possessing colossal resources for advanced development - Google's innovative developments appear earlier than those of competing organizations.
To make it easier and more convenient to understand Google Drive, how to use it , It makes sense to start at the beginning and go through all the basic steps.
Getting started with Google Drive
If you do not yet have the Google Chrome browser installed on your computer, then you need to make up for the omission, since it is with the help of this browser that it is most convenient to master the Google Drive cloud storage and get the most direct access to all the endless possibilities of Google services.
At the next stage, you will be asked to download and install Google Drive on your computer.
A little warning is needed here. If you don't have much powerful computer, it is better to use Google Drive using the web interface in the browser, since the Google Drive application consumes quite a lot hardware resource and during the synchronization process the system will slow down.
Since Google Drive cloud storage allows you to use all files stored on the server from any device, at the same time do not forget to install Google Drive on all your smartphones, tablets, laptops and all-in-one PCs.
You don't have to worry - Google apps The drives are designed for all platforms, both mobile and desktop.
Features of using Google Drive
- Work on text documents, tables and presentations, slide shows from any computer.
- Collaborate on documents remotely. To do this, you need to find Access in Settings and specify who and to what extent is allowed to read, edit or comment on documents.
- You can publish any file on the Internet for free access to all users. This can be useful, for example, when you don't want to waste internet traffic sending large files video to other users. Google Disk allows you to simply email a link to download a file - and let the recipient pay for the Internet.
It should be mentioned that after modernization two Google service Drive and Google Docs have been merged and now it makes no difference which application you run - the capabilities will be the same. You can instantly switch from any application to any other.
Features of Google Drive synchronization
After connecting and installing Google Drive on your desktop computer, some changes will occur in the system.
- IN Windows Explorer The Drive folder will appear. Any files you place there will automatically sync with your cloud storage. With help context menu You can send any file from other folders on your hard drive to the cloud.
- New shortcuts to office applications included in the Google package Docs and Application Launcher shortcut. Using these shortcuts, you can launch a text editor or other programs directly from the Desktop and start working right away.
A Google Drive icon will appear in the system tray; clicking on it will give you access to the Settings Menu. In particular, from there you can configure the synchronization order. Specify which files should be synchronized and which should not be synchronized. Set the number of simultaneously downloaded files and upload speed.
In general, there is absolutely no need to worry about how to sync Google Drive with your computer. , after all, all these processes are automated and come by default. As an option - with slow computer so as not to wait long time synchronizing files from the Drive folder, you can upload documents and videos, photos through the browser.
If you are going to use Google Drive as network drive on a smartphone or tablet, you need to install the mobile application and log in using your Google account. If you want to work with texts, then you need to download and install the Google Docs mobile application. The difference with desktops here is that each application for working with texts, tables, and presentations on tablets must be installed separately. This is done to save money local memory, which is limited on mobile devices.
You can connect Google Drive in the mobile File Manager and to upload to the cloud, you just need to copy the selected files to the Google Drive folder.
Another question is how to access Google Drive from someone else’s computer? To do this, enter the address in your browser drive.google.com and log in using your Gmail address and password. On a mobile device, you won’t be able to access Drive online; you will be redirected to the application download page every time. Will have to install mobile Google Disk or one of the office applications.
That's all for me. See you soon!
Best regards, Evgeniy Kuzmenko.
In order to use Google Drive, you must have Google account. . It's free to create a Google account, and registration is quite simple. In order to create Google account, you need to enter some information such as name, date and place of birth. Creating an account Google posts will automatically create an address Email Gmail and Google+ profile.
If you have Gmail, then you already have a Google account and you don’t need to register - you can just log in using your Gmail username and password. If not, then create your Google account using.
Access to Google Drive cloud
Once you have created your Google account, you can access Google Drive by going to http://drive.google.com in your browser.
You can also go to Google Drive from any Google pages(such as Gmail or Google search) by clicking the grid icon in the top right corner and then selecting Drive.
Google Drive interface
Your Google Drive may be empty at the moment, but once you start uploading and creating files, you should know how to view, manage, and organize them within the interface.
The Google Cloud interface elements are marked in the image below, and their descriptions are immediately below the image.
1. Click the Create button to create new document, table, presentation or other Google doc. New file will be saved to Google Drive automatically.
You can also use this button to create new folders and upload files from your computer.
2. By default, My disk will be selected in the left menu, where all your files are stored. You can also view your flagged files, recent files, or deleted files.
3. Search bar allows you to search certain files in Google cloud. Whenever you enter search query, Google Drive will automatically display the names of the files that match your search.
You can also run an advanced search, which allows you to filter files by type.
4. B viewing areas all files are displayed. You can see who owns a particular file, which files are shared, and when the files were last modified.
To open a file, simply select it and double-click on it.
5. If you select a file, file operation buttons will appear. They allow you to quickly share files, preview or delete.
6. By default, files are sorted by date last change. Click here to reorganize files by size, name, or edit history.
Google Drive for mobile devices
Google Cloud Drive available for systems iOS And Android as a mobile application that makes it easy to view and upload files to the cloud using your mobile device.
Google recently introduced separate mobile applications for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. To find out more, visit Google blog on new mobile apps for documents, sheets and slides.
If you prefer to work on a desktop, you can download the Google Drive desktop app to your computer. It is available for Windows and OS X, this application makes it easy to download existing files and work in offline mode. Once you install it you will see new folder Google Drive on your computer. Any files you move to this folder will be automatically uploaded to your Google Drive.
| 01.07.2016
The Google Drive service is a “cloud” file storage, file hosting from Google. The Google Drive service (which is popularly called simply Google Drive) is simple, convenient and practical. It perfectly complements other Google services.
If we compare the Google “cloud” with other similar products (DropBox, Yandex.Disk, Disk.Mail, VanDisk), we can note both similar and distinctive features. Objective advantages of Google Disk:
– minimalism of the interface (the Google Drive system does not have many settings, and therefore it is very difficult to get confused);
– ease of file management – even a schoolchild will quickly understand what’s what;
- usage classical functions and standard Windows operations(copy, paste, delete, cut, move, etc.);
– option to install additional applications (expands the functionality and practicality of the service to unimaginable proportions);
– the ability to synchronize the file structure with a computer or laptop (using special program);
– the ability to manage Disk from any mobile device (via application of the same name for Android or iOS);
– work offline (with periodic copies saved in the computer’s memory and subsequent synchronization when connected to the Internet);
– connection of Google Drive with other Google services ( this advantage is often a priority in choosing the Google Disk cloud);
– 15 Gigabytes of free space on cloud hosting, distributed between Gmail, Google Photo and Google Drive services.
– possibility of paid increase of disk space;
– the ability to create documents, tables, presentations and any other types of files in the “cloud” interface;
– “shared” access function (you can configure shared access to files and folders);
– the ability to easily transfer large files that “do not fit” in mail due to their large sizes (via a link or personal invitations);
– reliability (the files that we will store in the Google cloud are guaranteed not to be deleted by anyone, they will not disappear anywhere);
– availability of an application forum, technical support, help;
– option to automatically store earlier versions of documents (this may be useful in working together over files to restore the original version of the document);
– high functionality and flexibility with apparent simplicity.
Naturally, some of the functions and capabilities are quite standard, typical for most other “cloud” storage systems. However, Google Drive also has features that are not available for other systems. In addition, to work with Google Drive we don’t have to create new account, re-register.
A single profile in the Google system provides immediate access to all the company's features and services. And this is, of course, another plus of the Google Drive service.
Google Drive (Disk): registration, login to Google Drive
First, let's take a step back. Let us remind readers that we have already published step by step instructions via Google services. In particular, we recommend that you read the articles about Google Docs and Gmail:
1. Google Docs: features of working with documents, tables and presentations in Google Docs –
2. Gmail ( Google Mail): registration, login, settings, mail collection, importing contacts, folders and shortcuts, changing theme, exit –
If the reader has managed to study these articles, then he has already 100% created his own Google profile, which can be used to access cloud file storage.
For users who have not registered and do not yet have their own profiles on Google, we advise you to carefully review the article about Gmail, which begins with the most detailed step-by-step registration with screenshots and examples:
REGISTRATION with Google is described here:
Now regarding the entrance. You can get to Google Drive from any page of the Google system, from any service. Notice the table grid icon located in the top right corner of the page Google search. When you click on this icon, a list of services opens, where there is also a button link to “Disk”:
The second way to log into Google Drive is a direct link (if you are not yet authorized in Google, the system will first offer authorization):
https://drive.google.com
IN Google interface Drive we will see either an empty window (if we don’t have any files on the disk yet) or a list of those files and documents that were downloaded earlier:
Let's pay attention to the small information block located below the left-hand menu. Here you can see how full our Disk is and how much space is available. When you hover the mouse cursor, the block expands and displays employment statistics for the Gmail, Photo and Drive services. Since we haven’t added or created anything, we have 15 Gigabytes free, occupied – 0, 0, 0:
In the process of work, when we receive and send mail, upload files to Disk or synchronize photos, free space will become smaller, the initial numbers will change. Now everything is at zero.
Google Drive (Disk): adding files, photos, videos, documents
You can add files to the Google storage cloud in at least three ways:
1. Simply manually drag the file into the opened Drive window in your browser.
2. Using the “Upload files” or “Upload folder” option (options available through the “My Drive” button or the “Create” button):
Note: when you select “Upload file”, you can immediately select several files for uploading, and not just one. When you select the “Load Folder” option, a window for browsing your computer folders opens.
So, let’s upload several files to Google Drive, and then we’ll continue working with the service, we’ll understand the basic settings using examples.
Google Drive (Disk): useful information, options and settings
We invite readers to change the way files are displayed to make the Disk working window clearer. To change the view you need to click on the list icon located on the right side below search string and enter your Google profile settings. Like this:
Now let's look into information window properties, which provides a list of all operations with files ( latest information are above others here):
– settings of our Google Drive;
– option “Install Disk on computer”;
– a list of shortcut keys that make your work easier if you learn and use them regularly;
– Help on working with the system.
Select the “Settings” menu item and see 3 tabs with settings: “General”, “Notifications” and “Application Management”. Let’s look at the “Settings” – “General” tab. Here we can:
- get extra space on Disk;
– change offline access settings;
– enable automatic conversion of downloaded files to Google format;
– set parameters for uploading photos;
– change the interface language.
Next is the “Notifications” tab. Let's make sure that all the checkboxes/ticks are checked so that we receive notifications if we are given access to files on the side, if our opponent via the link comments on the files, if we are sent an access request. At the same time, the top tick means that these alerts will be displayed directly in the browser!
If you disable some options here, notifications will only be sent by mail.
The last tab here is the most interesting. It allows you to connect applications that can create and read files popular programs and services. To add new applications, you need to click on the “Manage Applications” tab and click on the “Connect other applications” link.
The next window contains a huge number of applications that allow you to work with all types of content (video, audio, photo, animation, tables, forms, wireframes, diagrams, PDF, playlists, 3D layouts, interior plans, scripts, algorithms, compilations, research, statistical collections, program code and so on). The list of additional applications is huge!
We simply select the application we need, click on its window, and press the “Connect” button.
Note: In the Additional Applications window, notice the "ALL" button with a down arrow. Clicking this button will help you sort useful applications by topic and purpose (business, photography, work, education, entertainment, video, audio, etc.).
We return to our own profile, close the settings windows (if you changed something, save the settings with the “Done” button). Now we can create documents in additional applications that we just installed! To create a file in the application we installed, run one of the options:
1. Button “Create” – “More...” we find the desired document format.
2. Button “My Disk” – “More...” – find the desired document format:
When choosing a format created file opens new inset browser with an application interface ready to work. All created files will be saved in Google Drive.
Google Drive (Disk): File Sharing Settings
Sharing Google's cloud file access is nothing new, since all file storage and file hosting services have similar settings. Google Drive allows you to set up sharing in several ways. Here's the first option:
1. Select a specific file or folder that we uploaded to Disk (i.e. click on it with the mouse, select it).
2. An additional toolbar appears with access settings and other features:
The panel includes options:
- provide private access by name Google user or E-mail (viewing, commenting, editing the file):
– preview (will open the file for viewing in a new window) – using this option we can view the contents of the files;
– delete – classic “Trash” icon.
2. To set up sharing, select either the first or second item. That is, you need to open access via a link or access by invitation.
3. Now all that remains is to copy the link to the file or folder that we “shared” (opened) and pass the link to your opponent. The same link can be placed on a website, blog or social networks (if we want third-party people to view, comment or download our files):
4. By the way, files and folders with public access are marked with special icons. Example of marked open files:
5. If you need to block access to a file, simply move the settings slider to the inactive “Disable” state.
Important: we already mentioned above that folders can also be configured open access. Moreover, this is done in the same way as with files. Same menus, same tools:
DELETE files: If the attentive reader noticed, then the “Trash” was mentioned above, into which we can send files that we do not need. If you suddenly delete something unnecessary, go to the “Trash” (this is a menu item) and restore the files (here everything is like in OS Windows - deletion/restore):
By the way, the “Trash” needs to be cleaned periodically! Moving files to the Trash DOES NOT free up space on Google Drive! To free up space, files need to be deleted not just from the main window, but from the Recycle Bin too.
Google Drive (Disk): creating folders and sorting files
If we just chaotically throw more and more new files into the main directory of Google Drive, then very soon we will not be able to find the necessary files there among a bunch of other documents. We need structure. We need order. And it's done like this:
1. Click the “Create” button – select “Folder+”.
2. Now you need to come up with a name for the folder. We'll call it "Site Growth".
4. Select the files that we want to transfer, drag them with the mouse into the created folder (that is, we create a tree structure for storing files).
Note: to select multiple files, hold down the Ctrl or Shift keys (as in Windows). By the way, you can move (cut and paste) files using the key combinations Ctrl+X (cut) and Ctrl+V (paste into the desired folder).
By dividing all your files into different folders (groups and categories), you can create perfect order on your Disk! And then it will be more convenient to work.
Google Drive (Disk): file operations
In addition to the basic operations with files that have already been mentioned in this instruction (move, download, delete, restore, view, share), there are other options. To see all available operations, necessary:
1. Select a specific file (or a specific folder).
2. Right-click on the file or folder.
3. View the list of possible operations:
The most interesting options here are the ones we haven't talked about yet. In particular, these are:
– “Add mark” – add a star icon to the most important files, so that they look more clearly and attract attention (the principle is the same as in Gmail with the “Important” tags).
– “Versions” – a window opens with available versions file (the option is relevant when working on documents together in order to return to earlier versions).
Other functions “Rename”, “Properties”, “Move”, “Delete”, “View”, “Share”, “Create a copy” and “Download”, we think, speak for themselves and there is nothing to explain here.
This is the review of the cloud web interface Google storage We complete Drive, and move on to the next important part of the article - working with the Google Disk application for a computer.
Google Drive (Disk): DISK application for computer or laptop
The next step after familiarizing yourself with the web interface, we recommend downloading and installing the Google Drive application for your computer, laptop, netbook, or laptop. This application will simplify operations with files in the Google cloud (uploading, downloading, editing) and speed up work with file storage. In addition, the Google application will allow you to work with files offline without an Internet connection.
It turns out that we will be able to edit Disk files on our computer or laptop, and later they will automatically synchronize with the “cloud” information (they will be uploaded to the “cloud” themselves). Using the Disk application, changed files will be automatically saved to Disk as soon as the computer is connected to a high-speed Internet channel (directly by cable or via Wi-Fi).
How to download Google Drive app for PC
1. Find the corresponding button “Download Disk for PC” under the left-hand menu, click on it:
2. On the page that opens, find the “Download for PC” button and click on it.
Note: on the page in top menu there are links to Help, Features and Additional information about the Google Drive application.
3. Here we will be asked to “Accept the terms and install”, as well as participate in improving the service. Participation is not at all mandatory, and we put a checkmark/tick only if we wish. We accept the terms and move on.
4. If everything went well, then Google browser Chrome download will start automatically. However, in other browsers (Yandex.Browser, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Explorer) may require confirmation to save or open the file. If your browser asks such questions, select “Save” file.
5. After waiting for a second, we can launch the Google Drive application installer. When working with different browsers the file can be downloaded to different folders computer, but you can always extract it and run it from Downloads (key combination Ctrl+J).
The installer file name is “GOOGLEDRIVESYNC.EXE”
How to install Google Drive app for PC
1. Launch the application file that you downloaded. Surely, you also have OS Windows, and therefore, we once again confirm our intentions - click the “Run” button.
2. Since the file you downloaded earlier is just a shell and a link, you will need an Internet connection to install. The program itself will download the necessary files and launch a welcome window. Click the “Get Started” button:
5. When we see a window with the word “Ready” and a panel of several buttons, it is important not to rush into making a choice. Here we click the “Synchronization Settings” button to specify the location on the computer where:
– a Google Drive folder of the same name will be created;
– synchronized files will be stored;
– copies of files will be created for offline operation.
6. In the top field “Path to folder”, click the right button “Change...” and indicate the directory where it will be more convenient for us to save files on the computer! For example, in separate folder on local disk"D:" or "E:". To save the settings and start automatic synchronization, click the “Synchronize” button.
Important: when changing the folder for storing files, you need to specify only an empty directory (i.e., a new empty folder without files). Otherwise, the entire contents of the folder (if it is NOT empty and contains files) will be transferred to the Google cloud!
In the future, any files that end up in the Google Drive folder will automatically be transferred to the Internet - to the Google Drive cloud.
Note: In this settings window you can also set synchronization rules for each folder individually. This can be useful if several people work on the same Google profile, and there is no need to transfer all the folders at once.
Note: on the “Advanced” tab we can: limit the speed of downloading files during synchronization (upload and download), disable the launch of the program when Windows startup, set priority Internet connection options.
You can find out how the Google Drive application is running on your computer by its characteristic icon on the taskbar (where the clock and language are - in the lower right corner). This is where you configure and manage the application:
If you click on this icon (which is one-to-one similar to the shortcut of the famous translator Promt), an information block will open, supplemented by settings functionality and direct links to working folders (on the Internet and on the computer).
The amount of occupied and free disk space of the “cloud” is displayed here, there is additional settings. To set up synchronization, pay attention to the vertical ellipsis at the top of the opened block.
If you click on the “three dots”, another small menu appears in which we see the following items:
- About the program
- Reference
- Post a review
– Suspend
- Settings
– Close Google Drive
We think that there is no point in commenting on this menu, everything is obvious. From the menu you can return to the synchronization settings that we set when installing the application for the PC (synchronization settings), you can open the help to study, stop the application, set the speed of uploading and downloading files, change the Google user.
Important: The main thing is to understand that the contents of Drive on the Internet and the contents Google folders The disk on your computer will always be identical! If we change files on the Internet, changes occur on the computer. The same thing will happen if we change files in the Google Drive folder on the computer - the changes will be immediately uploaded to the Internet.
Other Google Drive cloud features
In this step-by-step and detailed instructions we have covered 90% of all the obvious functions of the Google Drive service (Google Drive). But this is not the limit!
1. Google Drive app has adaptive versions for mobile Android platforms and iOS. We can download and install these programs using the link:
https://www.google.com/drive/download/
You can also download mobile applications from Google Play and App Store.
2. The external simplicity of Google Drive (Disk) is deceptive, because simple functionality and simple settings hide enormous possibilities here. Let us remember that the system supports the installation of related programs for all types of content (“Settings” – “Manage applications” – “Connect other applications”).
3. Such a serious service comes with a whole range of additional resources and services - technical support, forum, questions and answers, help center, related programs, available via links from the “basement” of the Google Drive website:
4. Google service Drive, with its capabilities, integrated approach and systematic approach, covers all other “cloud” storages, in which you can only save or download files, or, at most, configure access. The Google Corporation, as always, is global and maintains its brand, which makes it so popular among users all over the world!
Greetings, friends! Cloud storage are now quite popular. Their main purpose is to store and access information from any device at any time, as well as the ability to share this information (documents, photographs, and other files) with other people. In addition, popular cloud services provide a number of other useful functions for users – creating and working with documents online, sharing, etc.
On my blog I have already posted instructions on two large cloud services - and. And I dedicate today’s article to one more thing – Google Drive. Until recently, I didn’t use it so actively - I mainly relied on Yandex.Disk. But, due to recent events, I started thinking about backup options.
I suggest you understand the interface and main functions of Google Drive. Let's talk about how to use it - upload and provide access to files and folders, perform other actions on files, work with documents and applications online.
If you prefer video format, then you can view my detailed tutorial below:
How to log into Google Drive?
The disk is linked to your Google account, and to get inside the cloud, you need to log in to your account - enter your login (gmail) and password.
You can access Drive from this page www.google.com/intl/ru/drive/
Or go from mail by clicking on the “Google Apps” icon at the top right.
How much disk space?
15 GB are provided for free. This space is divided into files on the disk itself, files and letters in Gmail, as well as Google Photos. By the way, the latter automatically includes images that you upload to posts in social network Google plus. You can remove them from Google Photos so that they don’t take up space, but they remain in your posts.
If you need more space, it can be purchased for money. There are a few tariff plans with monthly or annual payment up to 30 TB of memory.
You can also have several Google accounts and each will have its own disk with free space.
Cloud storage interface
Let's go over the main sections, buttons and Google settings Disk.
Via the “Create” button in the left top corner you can upload files and folders from your computer to your disk. And also create folders and documents directly in the cloud. You can create text documents, tables, presentations with slides, Google Forms (for surveys, questionnaires, recordings of Skype consultations), drawings, maps and websites.
Below this button is panel with the main Disk partitions.
In the "My Drive" section contains all files and folders uploaded to the cloud, as well as documents and folders that you created in the cloud.
By selecting a particular file/folder with the mouse, you can perform actions on them various actions, I’ll tell you more about this later. To select multiple files at once, hold Ctrl key on the keyboard and click on the desired files.
The display of files on Disk can be sorted by name, by date of modification, by date of viewing.
In the "Available to me" section files from Google Drives of other users to which you have access are displayed - for example, you followed a link to this file, or you were sent an invitation with access. To open a file, double-click on it.
In the "Recent" section– files that you have recently worked with (opened, downloaded, edited, etc.) are displayed.
Google Photos section– This is where the images you've uploaded to the Google Photos app appear. Also, pictures uploaded to posts on Google Plus are automatically saved here. You can get into the application itself by clicking on the Google applications icon from disk, mail, home page Google Chrome browser.
In the application settings, you can put a useful checkbox so that photos and videos do not take up extra space in storage.
To do this, go to Google Photos, click on three vertical stripes top left, go to settings.
And check the appropriate box:
"Tagged" section– files and folders that you mark as important to you go here. Marking is very simple - select the file, press right click mouse, select “Add mark” in the list that opens. To remove a file from “Marked”, right-click again and select “Unmark”.
Basket- it contains files that you delete from your Google Drive. The Recycle Bin can be emptied, then the files are permanently deleted. You can also restore any file from the Recycle Bin by selecting it with the mouse and clicking “Recover from Recycle Bin”.
There are several more useful icons in the upper right corner of Google Drive.
You can configure the display of files in the cloud as a list or grid. By clicking on the letter “i” in the circle, you can view the history of your actions on the disk, as well as the properties of any file by selecting it with the mouse. Clicking on the gear will open additional list tabs.
In the “Settings” tab:
You can change the interface language.
Enable offline access (saving Google documents to your computer to work with them without an Internet connection). On this issue, you can read the separate instructions.
Disable automatic download photos from Google Photos to a folder on disk.
Choose an interface option – spacious, regular or compact.
There are also alert settings.
And the ability to connect different Google applications to your drive.
Clicking on the tab “Install disk on computer”, you can download the application for PC, as well as for smartphones on Android or iPhone. Here, keep in mind that the PC application is synchronized with the online cloud and all files end up on your computer, taking up space. Since this does not suit me, I prefer to use only the web interface. The only advantage of synchronization is the ability to quickly send a large file to the cloud or save all files from the cloud to your computer at once, and then disable synchronization.
Actions on files and folders in Google Drive
To upload files and folders from your computer to the cloud The "Create" button is used. You click on it and select the corresponding menu item - a window for selecting files on your computer will open. To select multiple files at once, hold down the Ctrl key.
When the file is selected, click on the “Open” button, and it will begin downloading to Disk. Information about the process will appear in the lower right corner.
An alternative download option is to minimize the Google Drive tab to a smaller window and drag files from your computer to the “My Drive” section with your mouse.
You can do a number of things with files, folders, and documents on the drive. To do this, select with the mouse required file(or several) and right-click. A list of available actions appears. The same actions are duplicated on the panel above.
The contents of the file can be viewed by clicking " Preview" If you want to edit the document, then select "Open with". The drive will offer you an application through which you can open the file.
To open the contents of a folder– click on it 2 times. You can perform all the same actions on files and documents in a folder.
You can give access to any file, folder or document on the disk to another person. To set up sharing, click on the corresponding menu item.
In the window that opens, you need to enter the gmail email of the person to whom you want to give access. Click on the pencil icon to indicate the access type. This can be commenting, viewing and editing.
If you have granted commenting or viewing access, you can prevent the user from downloading, copying, or printing the file. Just tick the boxes you need. Don't forget to save your changes.
Then click "Submit". The user will receive a letter informing them that you have granted them access to the files. He will see this file on his disk in the “Available to me” section.
To block access, you again need to right-click on this file, select “Sharing”. In the window that opens, click on the user name.
Access is denied, the user will see this message:
You can also configure access settings. The default is view. Also, using the link, the user will be able to download the file or save it to his disk. You can also enable commenting or editing.
If you click “More”, you will see other settings. For example, you can enable access for absolutely any user on the Internet, that is, the file will be available through search. Or disable access via the link and send an invitation for sharing specific user by email (we discussed this process above).
The next point of action on files is "Move". It can be used to move files into folders. This is convenient if you have a lot of files and want to organize them. You can also move files by dragging them with the mouse.
Creating folders on disk is easy. Click on the “Create” – “New Folder” button.
By the way, you can change the color of the folders.
Paragraph "Add a note" useful if you want to add favorite files to the Starred section for quick access to them.
Paragraph "Rename" will allow you to change the name of a file or folder.
Paragraph "Show Properties"– to view the properties of a file and the history of actions on it.
Paragraph "Versions"– it is available for those files that you upload to Disk.
Let's say you downloaded an archive of materials from your computer and shared a link to it with subscribers. Then you needed to make edits to this archive, you downloaded it to your computer again and edited it. Then we re-uploaded it to Disk with the same name so that the link to the archive did not change. By the way, when downloading again, you can choose how to save this file - separately (the link to it will change), or as new version, which will replace the previous one.
However, the previous version will not be deleted immediately (by default, it is saved on disk for another 30 days). But, you can delete it manually or check the box to previous versions were not deleted. This is done precisely through this “Versions” item.
The remaining actions on the files: create a copy, download it to your computer and delete it in the trash. By the way, to delete the file in the trash, you can drag it with the mouse to this section on Google Drive.
So, we figured out the main points of the Google Drive web interface. Now a few words how to download to your computer or save to disk a file that was shared with you via a link from another Google Drive.
If you followed the link and are logged in to your Google account, then you will see a Google Drive icon at the top, by clicking on which you can save this file to your disk. Nearby there is an arrow for downloading the file to your computer.
Well, I hope my Google Drive instructions will help you navigate the settings and functionality of this cloud service. Well, if you still have questions, I will be happy to answer them in the comments.
I wish you success!
Best regards, Victoria Karpova
Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Today I want to continue cloud storage topic(file hosting), which allow you not to carry flash drives and other media with you, but still have access to the necessary data at home, at work and on the road (from a computer, tablet or smartphone).
Our today's hero (guinea pig) will be Google Drive, which appeared one of the last among the major players in this market (if you do not take it into account), but nevertheless has in its arsenal unique capabilities that allow it to gain some competitive advantages.
Features of Google Drive and why it is so remarkable
Before we start talking about this cloud service to store various important and not so important data, I’ll just say a couple of phrases about competitors, of which there are quite a few:
- — seduces with its ability to work with office documents (sharing, working through an online interface). It also has a unique opportunity for this type of service to receive remote access to the contents of your computer from the Internet (not just the OneDrive folder, but all the contents hard drives computer). The free plan gives you 7 GB of disk space in the cloud.
- — appeared historically first on this market, and in addition to the wonderful possibility of rollback to previous version file (in a free account, the history of changes is stored only for last month) has a convenient (familiar) interface and is supported by a bunch of mobile applications. 2 GB are provided for free, which can then be easily expanded to 16 GB.
- - now it no longer looks like a simpleton compared to competitors, but nevertheless, when I posted some for download on Dropbox, they were blocked after a while, because excessive traffic was created. In Yandex, these same courses are still available and no complaints have been made about the heavy load. Here you can get 10-20 GB for free free space in the cloud.
5 reasons to store files in Google Cloud
- Google Drive also has its own features that force many potential users to choose this service.
- The main feature, it seems to me, is exclusively convenient online work with files(tests, tables, presentations, graphics, etc.). Much of this is due to legacy tools.
But the total number of file types (more than 30) that can be viewed in their web interface from any device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone) is still impressive.
What's noteworthy is that for those file types that Google Drive does not support, you can install an application from third-party developers.
- If speak about disk space in the cloud, which provides this service free of charge, then everything is quite at the level - 15 GB. However, you should keep in mind that this space is allotted to you not only for storing files in Google Drive, but also for storage, as well as for storage.
If you already have mail in this system, then the login and password from your Gmail mail will be suitable for logging into Drive.
If you don’t have a Google account yet, you will have to create one by clicking on the “Create an account” button shown. Everything is simple - you need to fill out the fields, confirm the number mobile phone and start using it (you won’t be able to create an account without a cell number, alas).
Access to files and folders for everyone via the link
But personally, I’m generally more comfortable provide access via link by clicking on the button of the same name in the sharing dialog:
Why is this convenient? Well, not everyone has a Google account (although most do), and access via a link is like a bearer deposit - whoever has the link gets access.
In this case, you do not lose any opportunities. Even access rights You can assign the same functions to this file or folder - viewing, commenting and editing.
You can share like separate files or documents, or entire folders with them. Those who follow the link you sent will have the opportunity to either simply view these files or download them (if desired). In general, everything is as it should be in “the best houses in London and Zhmerinka” (other cloud services).
Shared folders are marked with a blue man when viewing a Google Drive folder on a computer.
How to remove a file or folder on your disk from sharing
To remove the possibility public access some previously shared folders or files, you will need to go through the process described above again by clicking on the name of the user to whom access was granted:
In the window that opens, just click on the cross next to his name:
Google Drive Settings are quite primitive (to get into them, just click on the tray icon and select the corresponding item in the three-dot context menu that appears) and the only thing you may need is to log out of your account to log into another (there are 15 GB and there are so many same).
Oh yes. If you have a situation where the two of you use the same account in “My Drive” (my wife and I do exactly this), then it makes sense to check the “Synchronize only these folders” box so as not to waste time, space on your computer and traffic on synchronization of “other people’s” files you don’t need.
Online version of “My Disk” and miraculous recovery
Let me remind you once again that the Google Drive web interface is available at drive.google.com. Naturally, it is possible from there, and not just from a computer through the program described above. To do this, there is a “My Disk” button located at the top left with a down arrow (with a spoiler).
Actually, find in the download window that opens required folders or files on your computer, after which a window opens in the lower right corner indicating the download process.
IN Google web interface Drive you can perform certain actions on the objects there using the context menu(appears when you right-click on a file or folder). What’s remarkable is that the same menu is available when you select a file with the left button and click the button with three dots in the upper right corner (see screenshot below).
The sharing option we have already discussed will be available there, as well as a number of other options that are not available in the desktop version of Drive.
This is, for example, version control, which I mentioned at the beginning of the article (appears only for objects that have changed). Google stores all versions of documents for a month and, if necessary, you can always access them. You can see them by right-clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate tab.
Let's say you wrote an article in Word and stored the draft on Google Drive. At a certain stage, a fragment of text was accidentally deleted, and only a few days later they died. Most likely, you will not have another option for restoring what you lost (unless you use it).
Voila! On the menu the required version document, click on the “Download” button and your precious information is restored.
You can also use Google Cloud access those folders on your computer, which you chose to use when you installed Startup & Sync. Reserve copy.
All these file folders are available on the tab "Computers" from the left menu of “My Drive”. In principle, you can connect as many computers as you like to one account and all the data from important folders will be available to you in the cloud:
The folders of this particular computer are opened by double click by its name:
Very convenient thing, which, coupled with all the other advantages of the cloud from Google, can tip the scales towards using this particular storage service.
On the tab "Available to me"(from the left menu) you will find all the files and folders that other users of this cloud have shared with you (provided access to view or edit). It’s also very convenient, you’ll agree.
Settings You will find the appearance and functionality of the online version of Google Drive in the upper right area.
There you can change the display of files (list or previews), see shortcut keys For comfortable work with the application, and also see a rather meager set of settings hidden behind the menu item of the same name.
If something remains unclear, here is a video to help you:
Online office from Google based on the My Drive service
As I already mentioned, Google Drive is not just a place to store important data and quickly access it. This is also online office, although not as sophisticated as SkyDrive, but still quite universal and with the possibility of expanding its functionality through third-party extensions.
This means that you can not only store objects in it, but also create or edit them. To create a new file Use the button of the same name in the upper left corner, or the drop-down menu of the “My Drive” button.
As you can see, it is possible to create a new Text Document in the online editor (opens in a new window), new table in the style of Excel, new presentation(ala PowerPoint), a new form, or a drawing in the built-in graphic editor or external, which I have already written about in some detail.
Impressive, isn't it? If these options are not enough for you, then click on the button located at the very bottom "Connect other applications" to expand them. In the window that opens, you can read the description and, if desired, connect the application you like.
For example, I chose the Pixlr Editor, an analogue of online Photoshop that is well known to me. Now I have added a corresponding item to the “Create” button menu, after clicking on which I will first have to give permission to this application to access my Google Drive so that it can save the picture I edited in Pixlr there.
Some of the documents created in Google Drive can be embed on your site. It’s quite difficult for me to imagine why this might be needed, except perhaps to add a form to receive some information from readers. Or, for example, you can display the contents electronic documents on the pages of your blog.
On the page that opens, click the “Start publishing” button, and then in the lower area of the window, select “Html for embedding in the page” from the drop-down list. A code will appear below, which will need to be inserted into the desired place on the web page.
Actually, using the table as an example, it will be possible to show another Google opportunity Drive (Docs) document sharing. A little earlier we looked at examples of file sharing and were somewhat surprised by the complexity this process. These complexities were precisely what was needed to implement shared access.
So, again from the “File” menu, select the item "Sharing", after which a window that is already familiar to us will open, where you will need to add the name or email address (in Gmail, of course) of the user with whom you plan to work together on the document. There you can open access via a link. If you forgot what this is, then scroll up the article to the description of access to files and folders.
In addition, you will need to indicate his rights and capabilities for working with this document by selecting one of the options from the drop-down list - editing, commenting, viewing. The difference between them is significant, so read the instructions before making a decision.
Google Drive for mobile devices
I used the application for Ipad and Android in my work, and in general it did not cause me any complaints. Some types of files can be edited directly in this application, although doing this on a phone is not so convenient by definition.
The application does not have many settings (the transition to them is at the very bottom of the menu shown in the previous screenshot), but among them there is, for example, setting up a backup copy of your phone’s data to the cloud.
In addition, it is possible to automatically synchronize videos and photos with a folder in the cloud (or Google Photos).
It's good that there is an opportunity view files offline. As you understand, when working with Google Drive and any other cloud from a mobile device, no one will upload the entire contents of the “My Drive” folder to it (this is done only on desktop computers and laptops).
However, so that each time your gadget does not waste Internet traffic viewing the same photos or files (which do not change), you can save them in the memory of your mobile device. On mobile Google versions Drive This is implemented by moving the engine "Offline access" to the active position.
