How to collaborate on Microsoft Office files in GSuite

[tarekma7]

One of the hallmarks of collaborating in GSuite is the ability to edit Docs, Sheets, and Slide files simultaneously with other collaborators and see the changes in real time. Now you can do the same with Microsoft Office files without having to first convert them to the corresponding GSuite format. Here’s how to get started.

Sharing Office files
The first step to collaborating in GSuite is sharing a file with your collaborators. That starts with adding the file to Google Drive. Go to drive.google.com and log in if necessary. On the top left, click New > File upload. Select the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file you want to add and click Open to upload it.

Next, right-click the file and select Share. In the field that opens, enter the email addresses of your collaborators, then click the pencil icon to the right. Select Can edit from the drop-down menu, which will allow them to add and edit content as well as add comments. Add a message to the Note field and make sure the Notify people box is checked. Then hit Send. The recipient will receive an email with a direct link to the file.

How to edit Microsoft Office files in GSuite
The process for editing Office files in GSuite is virtually the same as with any of Google’s native formats. First, go to your Google Drive folder and double-click a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. This will open a preview. At the top, click Open in Google Docs/Sheets/Slides. The file will open and you’ll see a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx file extension next to the file name on the top left of the screen to indicate you’re viewing it in Microsoft Office format.

Once you start editing a document, spreadsheet, or slide, any changes to the content will be saved to the original Microsoft Office file and be instantly viewable by all other collaborators. However, in Word files only you can also propose edits without making any changes to the original text.

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