The OIT recommends Google Drive as the storage service for campus

The OIT offers a variety of training and information sessions, and resources to help you transition to working in Google Drive. We have the streaming app - Drive for Desktop that will allow you to continue working with Office apps such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint while storing that content in Google Drive. See below for more details. 

Google Drive Quick Reference Guides:

• Google Drive Basic QRG
• Google Drive Additional Features QRG
• Google Shared drives QRG
• Google Shared drives Permissions Matrix
• Working in Docs, Sheets, and Slides QRG
• Organizing your Google My Drive space Guide

Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Google Drive File Stream)

Using Google Drive for Desktop will allow you to work with Office apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe products and other file types, and store these files in Google Drive without having to download the files, make changes, and then upload your changes.

You can install the Google Drive for Desktop app which will allow you to use Windows Explorer (Windows) and Finder (Mac) to locate your files in My Drive or Share drives. This provides a similar experience as connecting and working with a mapped drive such as your N: drive. Please see this article on installing Google Drive for Desktop.

Instructor-Led Training

The OIT offers the below Drive training classes each semester. View the latest Discover IT for this semester's offerings. Registration for classes is through Endeavor. For questions or help registering, contact training@nd.edu.

Note: For resources and training information related specifically to Google Sheets, please see this article.

Google Drive, Level I: Introduction to Drive

This course is designed for users new to working in the Chrome interface of Google Drive. As a result of this training, you will be able to:

• Navigate the web interface of Google Drive
• Understand the differences in the three storage spaces inside Drive
• Create or upload new folders/files
• Search your Drive
• Organize your My Drive space
• Share files/folders in your My Drive space

Google Drive, Level I: Working in Docs, Sheets, and Slides

This course is designed for users looking to work in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. As a result of this training, you will be able to:

• Create new Google Docs/Sheets/Slides
• Navigate the menus inside of Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Understand the differences between Google Docs and Microsoft Word
• Understand the main differences between Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel
• Understand the differences between Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint

Google Drive, Level II: More Drive Features

Attendees should have already taken Google Drive, Level I: Introduction to Drive or have equivalent skill within Drive. This course is designed for users comfortable working in the Chrome interface of Google Drive that are looking to expand their knowledge. As a result of this training, you will be able to:

• Understand the five levels of link sharing and set up link sharing for content in Drive
• Create Priority Workspaces and add/remove files
• Use existing Google Groups to share content with multiple people at once
• Use the Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps to create or find your files
• Organize your Drive spaces
• Search your Drive

Google Drive, Level II: Shared Drives

Attendees should have already taken Google Drive, Level I: Introduction to Drive or have equivalent skill within Drive. This course is designed for those managing Shared drives. As a result of this training, you will be able to:

• Create and delete a Shared drive
• Understand the five different membership levels
• Add, edit and remove members
• Add and upload content into a Shared drive
• Migrate content from My Drive to a Shared drive
• Delete and remove content from a Shared drive

Additional Help

Though we recommend the training classes since they are both free and geared for campus, Google does have a learning center which you can explore on your own for more information, cheat sheets, tips, and help. Please see this link.