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Need Microsoft Word? Import MS Word Document Into Google Docs

Need Microsoft Word? Lost Your Old MS Word?

Have you purchased and used Microsoft Word for years, just to find that you've lost your original software after a hard disk crash? No fun. Been there. Done that. I think I've paid for MS Word and/or MS Office a-half-a-dozen times over the years, very expensive.

Did you know you can drag/drop Microsoft Word (MS Word) Documents to a Google Docs browser page, and the document will be imported automatically for your editing and use? It works like magic - - most of the time. =) I'm sure this is true of other file types as well. This is the only one I have tested.

Instructions How To Import Microsoft Word Document into Google Docs:

  • Open your File Explorer, where you can find the MS Word File.
  • Open your browser to http://docs.google.com/
  • If you haven't created an account, do. It's a great document sharing service. You will need a gmail account. Go here to get started: http://docs.google.com
  • After you go to Google Docs, make sure you sign-in.
  • Re-size the Windows Explorer or Mac Explorer Screen - - where you see all of your files. Make the window about half of your screen width.
  • Do the same for your Browser Screen where you have Google Docs open.
  • Find your MS Word Document File in your File Explorer.
  • Drag/Drop to your Google Docs Browser Window, and Google Docs will help you from there.
  • BTW, the real beauty of Google Docs is not necessarily saving you from not having MS Word; but the fact that you can share your documents for "shared viewing" and "shared editing". It's a great tool for Team editing.

  • WARNINGS ON DRAG/DROP TECHNIQUE:
    • If you do not drag/drop into the area for the document list on Google Docs, it will not work.
    • Sometimes if you don't hold your mouth just right, again, it won't work. =)
    • I have found that I have much better success using FireFox as my Browser.
    • It's worth the trouble though, very nice when it's a success. And it could be that I'm missing a step to make it work better. I looked for an Import command from Google Docs and didn't find it. It could be I missed it.
    • If you do not see the following screen, it's not working:

  • Done!
  • If a screencast is needed, I'll try to do this in the future.

Enjoy,

Jen