Comments on: An Open Letter to the Google Docs Team http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team Tech News, Reviews and Guides Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:43:27 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Lalo Marquez http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-189193 Lalo Marquez Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:14:07 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-189193 I began writing my first attempt of a book, and I wanted a 6x9inch format and I need to know how many pages I'm writing and where to put informative side blocks so they stay in a single page. I need google docs because I write from my notebook at my home, from my desktop in my office, and from my netbook where I'm not in either of those two places. I began writing my first attempt of a book, and I wanted a 6×9inch format and I need to know how many pages I’m writing and where to put informative side blocks so they stay in a single page. I need google docs because I write from my notebook at my home, from my desktop in my office, and from my netbook where I’m not in either of those two places.

]]> By: Aditya Kavoor http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-188330 Aditya Kavoor Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:05:42 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-188330 Hello Paul, Close to 3 years since you wrote this and still no implementation? This is really sad. I currently want to create doc for a KannaDa screenplay that runs hundreds of pages and there is no way in google docs that I can see the number of pages instantly. Hello Paul,

Close to 3 years since you wrote this and still no implementation? This is really sad. I currently want to create doc for a KannaDa screenplay that runs hundreds of pages and there is no way in google docs that I can see the number of pages instantly.

]]> By: alan http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-184523 alan Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:28:09 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-184523 This is an automated message from Google Docs. There was a problem importing a document (huawei.xlsx) that you emailed into Google Docs, so it was not imported. Here is the error message: The file is too big, max allowed size is: 500000 bytes. Why? See: Документы (до 500 КБ текста) * HTML-файлы и текстовые файлы (.txt). * Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Rich Text (.rtf), OpenDocument Text (.odt) и StarOffice (.sxw). Презентации (до 10 МБ) * Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps). Таблицы (до 1 Мб) * Текст с разделителями-запятыми (.csv). * Таблицы Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx) и OpenDocument (.ods) PDF-файлы (до 10 МБ) This is an automated message from Google Docs. There was a problem importing a document (huawei.xlsx) that you emailed into Google Docs, so it was not imported.
Here is the error message: The file is too big, max allowed size is: 500000 bytes.

Why? See:

Документы (до 500 КБ текста)
* HTML-файлы и текстовые файлы (.txt).
* Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Rich Text (.rtf), OpenDocument Text (.odt) и StarOffice (.sxw).
Презентации (до 10 МБ)
* Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps).
Таблицы (до 1 Мб)
* Текст с разделителями-запятыми (.csv).
* Таблицы Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx) и OpenDocument (.ods)
PDF-файлы (до 10 МБ)

]]> By: DHBuckley http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-184505 DHBuckley Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:44:48 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-184505 Paul: It is truly astonishing that this hasn't been done yet and the lack of "seeing pages" is what keeps me from really using Google Docs. I am not a technical person at all but I can't help but wonder if there is some large technical impediment to this because it is SUCH an obvious lack. Has there been any progress on this you've heard of since you wrote this post 2 1/2 years (!) ago? (C'mon GMen & GWomen!!) Be well, David Paul:

It is truly astonishing that this hasn’t been done yet and the lack of “seeing pages” is what keeps me from really using Google Docs.

I am not a technical person at all but I can’t help but wonder if there is some large technical impediment to this because it is SUCH an obvious lack.

Has there been any progress on this you’ve heard of since you wrote this post 2 1/2 years (!) ago? (C’mon GMen & GWomen!!)

Be well,

David

]]> By: Jason http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-182891 Jason Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:49:37 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-182891 Hello, I think the main problem with the documents application is that it just represents HTML and CSS code in a nice visual way. This opinion is supported by the fact that TAB is not a real tab but just a bunch of spaces, which is all HTML can do. For these page view and Ruler changes, I suspect the whole program would need to be rewritten, probably in the Web2.0, Java, SOAP, whatever (obviously I am not a programmer). Personally, I find Google Docs great in many ways, and you cannot beat the available anywhere, anytime collaboration, but the fact it is just a text editor and not a Word Processor limits the over-all application. Maybe someone has to port Open Office into an online version, merged with the collaboration features of Google Docs and that would fix all these issues using a well recognised Open Source foundation many people are already familiar with. Hello, I think the main problem with the documents application is that it just represents HTML and CSS code in a nice visual way. This opinion is supported by the fact that TAB is not a real tab but just a bunch of spaces, which is all HTML can do. For these page view and Ruler changes, I suspect the whole program would need to be rewritten, probably in the Web2.0, Java, SOAP, whatever (obviously I am not a programmer).
Personally, I find Google Docs great in many ways, and you cannot beat the available anywhere, anytime collaboration, but the fact it is just a text editor and not a Word Processor limits the over-all application.
Maybe someone has to port Open Office into an online version, merged with the collaboration features of Google Docs and that would fix all these issues using a well recognised Open Source foundation many people are already familiar with.

]]> By: Brad Fitzpatrick http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-182831 Brad Fitzpatrick Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:54:09 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-182831 Go to: view > fixed-width page view... this helps visually Go to: view > fixed-width page view… this helps visually

]]> By: Jason http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-168559 Jason Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:01:04 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-168559 Hello Paul, Not sure if you are still interested in this thread, but the following html will code will insert the Page Number and Page Count into a document. You can add this code to the Footer or Header as appropriate: 1 1 So for my footer I have: Page 1 of 1 Regards, Jason Hello Paul,

Not sure if you are still interested in this thread, but the following html will code will insert the Page Number and Page Count into a document. You can add this code to the Footer or Header as appropriate:

1
1

So for my footer I have:

Page 1 of 1

Regards,
Jason

]]> By: Jason http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-168558 Jason Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:46:26 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-168558 Hello Paul, I agree that Google Docs is trying to be a Word Processor but lacks some fundamentals that Word Processors take for Granted. I can live without being able to see the actual page breaks on screen, but what I would like to know is if you can actually put the page count in the footer? Currently I am using CSS to place the page number in the footer, but I cannot find anyone who knows how to put the count in too, eg: Page x of y I think that these apps will become really awesome in the future, but as very good, online resources, they are very usable now and just lack a few basic features. For all the people who comment that Web Apps will never be as good as the desktop apps and that desktop apps are Gigabytes in size, remember that the Apple][ and early Unix machines were desktop apps driven but their Word Processors would barely be any better than the GDOCs. Jason. Hello Paul,

I agree that Google Docs is trying to be a Word Processor but lacks some fundamentals that Word Processors take for Granted. I can live without being able to see the actual page breaks on screen, but what I would like to know is if you can actually put the page count in the footer?

Currently I am using CSS to place the page number in the footer, but I cannot find anyone who knows how to put the count in too, eg: Page x of y

I think that these apps will become really awesome in the future, but as very good, online resources, they are very usable now and just lack a few basic features.

For all the people who comment that Web Apps will never be as good as the desktop apps and that desktop apps are Gigabytes in size, remember that the Apple][ and early Unix machines were desktop apps driven but their Word Processors would barely be any better than the GDOCs.

Jason.

]]> By: How To: Live the Cloud Life - PaulStamatiou.com http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-166997 How To: Live the Cloud Life - PaulStamatiou.com Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:42:57 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-166997 [...] An Open Letter to the Google Docs Team [...] [...] An Open Letter to the Google Docs Team [...]

]]> By: Yogi http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-165886 Yogi Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:53:21 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-165886 Well, more than a year latter and Google Docs still lacks those features... Well, more than a year latter and Google Docs still lacks those features…

]]> By: Jonas B. http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-153522 Jonas B. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:12:29 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-153522 Ohhh man, i would love if the Docs Team took your layout suggestions serious.... Really noce post... Thanks Ohhh man, i would love if the Docs Team took your layout suggestions serious….

Really noce post… Thanks

]]> By: Ricardo http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-152572 Ricardo Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:04:20 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-152572 In my opinion, the possibility to have a real page layout in gdocs is a good thing, but they need to keep the actual layout too, since there is users that really like not knowing how much they had write until not finished all the text, like me. In my opinion, the possibility to have a real page layout in gdocs is a good thing, but they need to keep the actual layout too, since there is users that really like not knowing how much they had write until not finished all the text, like me.

]]> By: zebel http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-147578 zebel Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:21:40 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-147578 ZohoWriter has done it with their page view.But they do not have the vertical ruler.Check it out. ZohoWriter has done it with their page view.But they do not have the vertical ruler.Check it out.

]]> By: Mike Madaio » The Big Issue with Google Docs http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-146837 Mike Madaio » The Big Issue with Google Docs Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:20:34 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-146837 [...] Paul Stamantiou says it much better than I, so I suggest reading his post here. [...] [...] Paul Stamantiou says it much better than I, so I suggest reading his post here. [...]

]]> By: Jim U. http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-142842 Jim U. Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:13:47 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-142842 Does it help to do a "Preview" in GDocs, then do "Print Preview" in your browser? I have my Firefox margins set to .5" and it works well when I do it this way (margins and # of pages). Does it help to do a “Preview” in GDocs, then do “Print Preview” in your browser? I have my Firefox margins set to .5″ and it works well when I do it this way (margins and # of pages).

]]> By: JR http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-128761 JR Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:07:40 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-128761 Here's a link to that help page: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=49111&query=import&topic=&type= Here’s a link to that help page:
http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=49111&query=import&topic=&type=

]]> By: Paul Stamatiou http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-128756 Paul Stamatiou Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:01:48 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-128756 @Jonathan - you can currently import the following file types with Google Docs. <blockquote>* HTML files and plain text (.txt). * Microsoft Word (.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), OpenDocument Text (.odt) and StarOffice (.sxw)</blockquote> @Jonathan – you can currently import the following file types with Google Docs.

* HTML files and plain text (.txt).
* Microsoft Word (.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), OpenDocument Text (.odt) and StarOffice (.sxw)

]]> By: Jonathan Cuyno http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-128753 Jonathan Cuyno Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:02:59 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-128753 Paul, Since you know much about Google docs, I'm wondering if there a feature that allows you to open a local Word document or text file? I am looking for a simple way to replace MS Word on my clients desktop. Most of them don't need the power but just simple letter writing ability. I can live with the import function for the spreadsheet so my clients can edit and save using the spreadsheet. I was hoping for a way to do the same with the word processor. The majority of my clients only need to do the simple things like making lists of information to share and writing a simple letter that an email could do. But Google Docs has enough function to make it pretty and to even share it. That's what the majority of my clients need. Simple... Paul, Since you know much about Google docs, I’m wondering if there a feature that allows you to open a local Word document or text file? I am looking for a simple way to replace MS Word on my clients desktop. Most of them don’t need the power but just simple letter writing ability.

I can live with the import function for the spreadsheet so my clients can edit and save using the spreadsheet. I was hoping for a way to do the same with the word processor. The majority of my clients only need to do the simple things like making lists of information to share and writing a simple letter that an email could do. But Google Docs has enough function to make it pretty and to even share it. That’s what the majority of my clients need. Simple…

]]> By: The only 3 Web apps you really need « The Bright White Bulb http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-128073 The only 3 Web apps you really need « The Bright White Bulb Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:59:23 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-128073 [...] quote and you can view and print it from anywhere that has access to the internet. Though it is still limited in some ways. Makes spreadsheets [...] [...] quote and you can view and print it from anywhere that has access to the internet. Though it is still limited in some ways. Makes spreadsheets [...]

]]> By: David http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-127613 David Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:24:31 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-127613 @Paul Stamatiou - I agree with you on that. This is the major disadvantage of conventional desktop software. On the other hand, webtop application has the major disadvantage on their functionalities, which I believe cannot be solved in the coming years and will prevent them from being used in serious occations. In recent years, software installations are reaching giga bytes. I cannot imagine they can be replaced by web-top systems. So these two kinds of apps will find their own niche in the future. Users will make their choices based on their needs. BTW, I am interested in trying new software systems and found many of them are not so difficult to install. Once you have installed, starting it up is much easier and faster than opening a web page in the browser. @Paul Stamatiou – I agree with you on that. This is the major disadvantage of conventional desktop software. On the other hand, webtop application has the major disadvantage on their functionalities, which I believe cannot be solved in the coming years and will prevent them from being used in serious occations. In recent years, software installations are reaching giga bytes. I cannot imagine they can be replaced by web-top systems. So these two kinds of apps will find their own niche in the future. Users will make their choices based on their needs.

BTW, I am interested in trying new software systems and found many of them are not so difficult to install. Once you have installed, starting it up is much easier and faster than opening a web page in the browser.

]]> By: Paul Stamatiou http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-127540 Paul Stamatiou Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:21:44 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-127540 @David - that still involves me setting up software on my machine. The point of internet web apps is that the client's machine makes no difference and I can go from machine to machine without a problem. @David – that still involves me setting up software on my machine. The point of internet web apps is that the client’s machine makes no difference and I can go from machine to machine without a problem.

]]> By: David http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-127490 David Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:52:53 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-127490 These problems can be solved by using CoWord (http://cooffice.ntu.edu.sg/coword) which converts MS Word into a real-time collaborative word processor. You can do collabortive word processing with MS Word, with most Word functionalities including page view, word count, footnote, etc. Moreover, changes you make in the document are immediately displayed on your collaborators' screens. If you worry about the server being down, you can set up you own server. These problems can be solved by using CoWord (http://cooffice.ntu.edu.sg/coword) which converts MS Word into a real-time collaborative word processor. You can do collabortive word processing with MS Word, with most Word functionalities including page view, word count, footnote, etc. Moreover, changes you make in the document are immediately displayed on your collaborators’ screens.

If you worry about the server being down, you can set up you own server.

]]> By: titanium_geek http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-126638 titanium_geek Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:48:19 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-126638 RE the count words feature: mm... yes it is hidden in a menu, but it is nice for a mini break. (and I'm curious that you get pages for your assignment specs rather than a word count?) RE the count words feature:

mm… yes it is hidden in a menu, but it is nice for a mini break.

(and I’m curious that you get pages for your assignment specs rather than a word count?)

]]> By: William http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-126086 William Wed, 30 May 2007 13:25:47 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-126086 Hey, Im just wondering is there a way to get more people to veiw my google document? I really want at of people to see it but I am nto sure how to get them to see it. Any way? http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dfrp7npp_0hrg95g Hey, Im just wondering is there a way to get more people to veiw
my google document? I really want at of people to see it but I am nto sure
how to get them to see it. Any way?

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dfrp7npp_0hrg95g

]]> By: Sheep http://paulstamatiou.com/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team#comment-125641 Sheep Tue, 22 May 2007 09:36:08 +0000 http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/24/an-open-letter-to-the-google-docs-team/#comment-125641 I'm also a keen user of google docs, but it would be difficult to consider using it to write any "serious" academic work without the footnote feature (at least for human sciences). :-( I’m also a keen user of google docs, but it would be difficult to consider using it to write any “serious” academic work without the footnote feature (at least for human sciences). :-(

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