The OIT recommends Google Drive as the storage service for campus.

To assist, OIT offers a variety of training courses, guides, and resources for Google Drive. Additionally, we recommend installing Google's streaming app - Drive for Desktop - on your work computer. This app allows you to work with non-Google file types stored in Drive. See below for more details.

For help from Google's support site:

For a brief overview of Google Drive functionality, please see this link from Google's G Suite Learning Center. You can also learn more about working with Docs, Sheets, and Slides by clicking on the 'Learn by Product' tab and exploring those features. 

Google Drive Guides & Resources

• Intro to Google Drive QRG
• Google Drive - More Features QRG
• Tips for Organizing Your Google My Drive Space
• Google Shared Drives Permissions Matrix
• Google Shared Drives QRG
• Google Docs, Sheets, Slides QRG
  Note: For more Google Sheets resources, see this article.

Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Google Drive File Stream)

Google's Drive for desktop tool is for working with non-Google file types stored in Drive. Example non-Google file types include Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.), Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, etc.), images, and PDFs. Once you install Drive for desktop, you can access your non-Google files through Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder.

How it Works:

1. In Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder, locate and open the file.
2. The file will open in its native app ( i.e., MS Word files open in MS Word) for you to make your changes.
3. Save and close the file. The file will automatically upload to Drive as a new version.

This mimics the experience of connecting and working with a mapped drive such as your N: drive. Note that Drive for desktop allows you to access files stored in your My Drive and Shared drives spaces. To access content from Share with me, you need to add a Shortcut.

For instructions on how to install Drive for desktop, see this article.

Google Drive Training

The OIT offers the below Google Drive training courses. View the latest Discover IT for this semester's instructor-led offerings. Registration is via Endeavor (see course descriptions below for registration links). For questions or help registering, contact training@nd.edu.

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

Google Drive, Level I: Introduction to Drive

Instructor-Led Class: View offerings and register in Endeavor.

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

Working in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides at Notre Dame

Udemy On-Demand Class: Register in Endeavor.

This OIT Training course is designed for users new to working with Google file types at Notre Dame. It is assumed that participants have some familiarity with documents, presentations, and spreadsheets from work in Microsoft Office, Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice, etc. This course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides allow you to seamlessly collaborate with your team. Learn how to navigate the menus, ask specific collaborators for feedback, track revisions, and explore the neat features in each application.

Course Outline:

1. Create & Share a Google File
2. Collaboration Features
3. Google Docs
   
   1. Interface & Menu Rundown
   2. Insert Charts from Sheets
   3. Collaborate with Suggested Edits
   4. (Use) Case Study: Meeting Notes
4. Google Slides
   
   1. Interface & Menu Rundown
   2. Insert Audio & Video
   3. Presenter Mode Q&A
5. Google Sheets
   
   1. Interface & Menu Rundown
   2. Translating from Excel to Sheets
   3. Filter, Format & Validate Your Data
   4. Get Answers Now with Explore

Google Drive, Level II: More Drive Features

Instructor-Led Class: View offerings and register in Endeavor.

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 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

Instructor-Led Class: View offerings and register in Endeavor.

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, you can explore the Google Workspace Learning Center for more information, cheat sheets, tips, and help.