Tag Archives: Google Sheets

Minor updates related to the Activity Dashboard in Editors and the Admin console

Quick launch summary 

We’re making two minor updates to verbiage found in the Activity Dashboard in Editors and related settings within the Admin console. As we launch more features to the Activity Dashboard, these updates will help keep things clear for both admins and end users.

In the Admin console: 
In the Activity dashboard settings, where it previously read “Access to activity dashboard” on the left hand navigation, it will now read “Access to view history.”



From here, Admins can set the ability for users to access Viewers and Viewer trend activity in the dashboard to ON/OFF. To learn more about file activity visibility, see this article in the Help Center.

In Editors: 
Within the Activity dashboard, the “View time” tab has been renamed to “Viewers.” From this tab, document owners can see the last time users with Edit access viewed the file and take action to follow-up. To learn more about view history in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, see this Help Center article. 

We’re also changing the icon for the Viewers tab — previously it was a clock, now it will be a person. This change is to better indicate the purpose of this tab, which is viewer history, not time viewers spent in the document.



Availability 

Rollout details
G Suite editions 
  • Available to all G Suite Editions.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

It’s now easier to insert images in cells in Google Sheets

What’s changing  

We’ve made it simpler to add images inside of cells in Google Sheets. Previously, it was only possible to insert publicly hosted images into a cell using the IMAGE function.

Now, you can insert any image, like those saved on your desktop or mobile device, into a cell by using the IMAGE function or the new option found inside the Insert menu.


Who’s impacted 

End users

Why you’d use it 

  • You’ve told us this feature would be helpful for many tasks like: 
  • Adding receipts to expense-tracking spreadsheets 
  • Adding icons to icon libraries 
  • Adding logos to better brand your resources 
  • Adding product images to inventory lists, and more. 

How to get started 

  • Admins: No action needed. 
  • End users: You can add images directly to cells in two ways on Desktop: 
    • Use the IMAGE() function 
    • Via the menu bar at the top of a Sheet: Insert > Image > Image in cell 
      • Select image from Drive or upload one. 

  • On Mobile: 
    • Tap once on a cell to select 
    • Tap again to bring up menu: Insert > Tap the “+” at the top of the screen > Image > Image in cell 
    • Select an image from the options presented to you. 

Additional details 

You can have multiple cells containing an image in a Sheet, but note that only one image per cell is possible at the moment. 

Images inside cells will be associated with a row and move along with the data—so, if you move rows, filter or sort them, the images will move with the content in the row, unlike previously when images would sit on top of the grid. 

Using the formatting and alignment tools, you can pin the image to a specific corner of the cell or set the alignment how you’d like. By default, images will align to the bottom left corner of the cell.

Helpful links 


Availability 

Rollout details 
G Suite editions 
  • Available to all G Suite Editions. 

On/off by default? 
  • This feature will be ON by default 

Accessibility settings are now easier to access on Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Quick launch summary

It’s now easier to discover accessibility features like screen reader support, braille support, and screen magnifier support in Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

While these accessibility features were previously available, they required additional steps to access the accessibility menu. This change will make these settings more readily available by placing the Accessibility settings in the Tools menu.

Access the Accessibility menu by selecting Tools > Accessibility settings.

The accessibility settings dialog showing screen reader, braille, and screen magnifier support options.
If the screen reader option is selected from the accessibility settings dialog, an Accessibility menu will be displayed at the top of Docs, Sheets, and Slides for easy access.

Availability 

Rollout details 

G Suite editions 
Available to all G Suite editions.

On/off by default? 
This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Easily refresh Salesforce data in Sheets

What’s changing 

You now have the option to refresh the Salesforce data populated in Sheets using the Salesforce data connector. You can refresh this data manually or schedule the data to be refreshed.

Currently, the Salesforce data connector for Sheets gets data from reports or imports when the sidebar is opened and has been configured. In order to get updated data, users would need to go through the same configuration steps in the sidebar.

Who’s impacted 

End Users

Why you’d use it 

If you use Salesforce to track important conversations with key leads, you can make sure this data is consistently fresh by scheduling a refresh rather than reimporting the Salesforce data.

If your Sales team uses the add-on to import details of their accounts from Salesforce into Sheets, they can schedule this data to refresh daily or even multiple times a day to stay on top of the current data.

How to get started 

Admins: No action needed.
End users: Here’s how to refresh your Salesforce Data in Sheets:

  1. Open the Data connector from Salesforce Add-On and select Refresh. 
  2. Select Manual Refresh to refresh the current data on your sheet or Auto Refresh to schedule a refresh every 4, 8, or 24 hours. 
  3. Review your selections and select Create. 

Helpful links 

Availability 

Rollout details 
G Suite editions 
  • Available to all G Suite Editions.

On/off by default? 
  • This feature will be ON by default.
Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Refresh BigQuery data in Sheets using Apps Script and Macros

What's changing

Recently we launched the BigQuery data connector to allow users to easily import data from larger datasets into Sheets. Now, you can use tools like Apps Script and the macro recorder to schedule automatic updates within Sheets to the connected BigQuery data.

Who’s impacted 

End Users

Why you’d use it 

Stay on top of the latest and greatest data critical to your business by automatically refreshing the BigQuery data in your sheet.

For example, you can set sales data to automatically refresh so that it’s ready for analysis at the beginning of each day. You can also auto-update data in preparation for key meetings or presentations that occur on a weekly or monthly basis. Or you could set a trigger to auto-update your data each time you open the spreadsheet.

How to get started 

  • Admins: No action required. 
  • End users: Here’s how to schedule a refresh on the data pulled in by the BigQuery data connector: 
    1. Record a macro to refresh your data 
      •  On your computer, open a spreadsheet that contains data connected to BigQuery in Google Sheets. 
      • Record a macro from a different tab then the one you want to refresh. 
      • After you start recording, switch to the tab you want to refresh. 
      • At the bottom left, click Refresh. 
      • Click Save.
    2. Schedule your macro 
      •  At the top, click Tools > Script editor. 
      • At the top, click Edit > Current project’s triggers. 
      • At the bottom right, click Add trigger and select your options. 
      • Click Save. 

Additional details 

For key permissions for the BigQuery data connector see here.
As always, use sharing permissions to control who can view, edit or share your data.

Helpful links 

Availability 

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 5, 2019. 
  • Scheduled Release domains: Full Rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on February 19, 2019. 
G Suite editions 
  • Available to G Suite Business, G Suite Enterprise, G Suite for Education, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and Drive Enterprise. 
  • Not available to G Suite Basic and G Suite for Nonprofits 

On/off by default? 
  • This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Additional Thai fonts available in Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Quick launch summary

We’ve expanded our font offerings for Thai users in Docs, Sheets, and Slides by adding several fonts that are part of the Thai “National Fonts” collection. This collection of fonts has been distributed and used by the Government of Thailand as public and official fonts since 2007. We updated the collection so that it could be part of Google Fonts in 2019.

The complete list of new fonts is below:
  • Bai Jamjuree 
  • Chakra Petch 
  • Charm 
  • Charmonman 
  • Fah Kwang 
  • K2D 
  • KoHo 
  • Kodchasan 
  • Krub 
  • Mali 
  • Niramit 
  • Sarabun 
  • Srisakdi 
These updated fonts are now available in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with modern OpenType technology, expanded weights and more harmonious designs between Latin and Thai scripts.

These fonts will be made default in the drop down menu for users who have their Google language preference set as Thai.

G Suite editions
Available to all G Suite Editions.
    Stay up to date with G Suite launches

    More language options available for the 2019 Calendar Template in Sheets

    Quick launch summary 

    We’ve expanded language options for creating a 2019 Calendar Template in Sheets. The new language options available are:

    • Brazilian Portuguese 
    • Chinese 
    • Danish 
    • Dutch 
    • Filipino 
    • French 
    • German 
    • Hindi 
    • Indonesian 
    • Italian 
    • Japanese 
    • Korean 
    • Latin American Spanish 
    • Polish 
    • Russian 
    • Spanish 
    • Swedish 
    • Thai 
    • Turkish 
    • Vietnamese 
    Note: The template was previously released in English languages.

    Availability 

    Rollout details 
    G Suite editions 
    • Available to all G Suite editions. 
    On/off by default? 
    • This feature will be ON by default. 

    Material Design for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites on Web

    What’s changing

    Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites will be getting a new look and feel on the web. While there are no functionality changes, users will notice some visual improvements, including:

    • Interface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces
    • Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are updated and consistent
    • Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel

    The four products in this update join other G Suite products like Gmail and Calendar in sharing a common design language.

    Before

    After


    Who’s impacted

    End users

    Why you’d use it

    This style change is part of a new, consistent design approach from Google. You can expect to see similar changes across other G Suite applications in the future.

    How to get started 


    • Admins: No action needed
    • End users: You’ll see the new look coming your way.


    Availability

    Rollout details

    • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 15, 2019
    • Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on February 11, 2019


    G Suite editions
    Available to G Suite Basic, G Suite Business, G Suite Enterprise, G Suite for Education, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and G Suite for Nonprofits

    On/off by default?
    This feature will be ON by default.

    Stay up to date with G Suite launches
    Notice the new format for these launch announcements? Give us feedback on it here.

    Analyze hefty data sets with BigQuery and Google Sheets

    What’s changing 

    We’re connecting Sheets and BigQuery to make it easier to analyze and share data. The Big Query data connector will help you:

    • Collaborate with partners, analysts or other stakeholders in a familiar spreadsheet interface
    • Ensure a single source of truth for data without having to create additional CSV exports
    • Streamline reporting and dashboarding workflows


    Who’s impacted 

    End users

    Why you’d use it 

    We built BigQuery to help analysts make sense of large datasets—now it’s easier for employees and team members outside of data analyst functions to access and analyze data. By bringing these two tools together, collaborators and other stakeholders can view up to 10,000 rows of data from BigQuery in an easy, familiar interface. This makes collaboration and insight sharing easier, enabling faster decision making.

    How to get started Admins: 


    To check key permissions for the BigQuery data connector see here.

    Additional details 

    Anyone you share the spreadsheet with will see the data contained in the sheet. Only those with edit access in Sheets and view access to the BigQuery table have the ability to refresh the dataset.

    For key permissions for the BigQuery data connector see here.
    As always, use share permissions to control who can view, edit or share your data.

    In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to use tools like Apps Script and the macro recorder to schedule automatic updates within Sheets to the connected BigQuery data. For example, you can automatically refresh sales data in your spreadsheet so the data is fresh and ready for analysis at the beginning of the day. To learn more about how to record or run macros in Sheets, check out this G Suite Pro Tip. 

    Helpful links Help Center: 

    Analyze BigQuery Data within Sheets 

    Availability

    Rollout Details
    • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 15, 2019. 
    • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 29 2019. 
    G Suite editions 
    • Available to G Suite Business, G Suite Enterprise, G Suite for Education, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and Drive Enterprise. 
    • Not available to G Suite Basic and G Suite for Nonprofits. 
    On/off by default? 
    • This feature will be ON by default.
    Stay up to date with G Suite launches
    Notice the new format for these launch announcements? Give us feedback on it here. 

    Assign unique colors to chart elements in Google Sheets

    What’s changing

    Now, when you’re working on a chart in Sheets, you can give a design element (such as a bar on a bar graph or a point or line on a line graph) a unique color, instead of all similar elements being the same color. This works for bar charts, column charts, line charts, scatter charts and for certain series in combination charts.


    Who’s impacted

    End users

    Why you’d use it

    You can emphasize a part of a chart by changing its color to a different one than the main color of the series, allowing you to tell a better story.

    How to get started


    • Admins: No action needed
    • End users: To learn more about this new feature, check out this Help Center article.

    Helpful links

    Help Center: Add & edit a chart or graph

    Availability

    Rollout details

    G Suite editions
    • Available to all G Suite editions 
    On/off by default?
    • This feature will be ON by default.


    Notice the new format for these launch announcements? Give us feedback on it here.