Waffle Bytes

If you need to share a file that is located in your Google Drive, you can attach it via your email message.  Here are the steps to do this. Begin composing your email message.  When you are ready to attach the Google Drive file (or multiple files), click on the Drive icon at the bottom of the compose window A window will pop up saying 'Insert files using Google Drive.'  You can find what you want to attach by using any of these methods: using the search within your whole drive select something from a shared drive selecting a file that was shared with you looking at recently modified files upload a file (you can do this instead of attaching the file as previously shared) Once you have found the file, 1) select the file, and 2) choose to share it as a link or attachment Click on insert The attachment will show up where your cursor was within the email.  It will have a little icon to indicate what kind of file it is.  Finish co...

(Today's blog will wrap up the Classwork section in your Google Classroom.)  Sometimes you want to access materials - including assignments turned in by students - in your Drive instead of in Classroom.  This is possible, but it is really important to understand where this folder is located and NOT DELETE certain parts so that your Classroom can continue to run smoothly. To access your Class Drive Folder: When in your classroom, click on Classwork - Look in the upper right corner for the Class Drive folder, click on it - This will open up your Google Drive into the class folder.  The name of the class will be the final listing within the breadcrumb trail - All resources and assignments shared within the course will be within this folder.  Those that are assignments and students are turning in work will be in a folder.  Resources will be listed at the bottom.  Additionally, there will a Templates folder - this folder contains any of the ite...

This is just changing in my accounts today.  This could help making searching your Google Drive more productive than a general search.  It definitely points out that there is an Advanced Search available to use - which in many cases definitely helps you search better. For me, through the last couple checks, it has moved from this: to this: to this:

Once students have turned in coursework that is not collaborative (ie. attachments, copied template documents, etc), you can access them in a G Drive Folder that is specific for that assignment if wanted.   (There are multiple ways to get to this - this is just one.) When in Classroom, first click on the Classwork tab at the top Click on the assignment you want to access - Once the assignment detail shows, click on View Assignment - Look for a folder icon on the left window, below the notifications about numbers turned in - It will open another tab with your Google Drive, and take you into the folder created for that assignment - you will notice the folder name matches the assignment making it also easy to find as a search of Drive -

You may notice a new, fresher look to Google Drive that matches the look of the updated email.  Some changes: The font used the breadcrumb trail is updated The New button is updated My guess from a updates blog post is the logo for our G Suite for EDU will be moved over as part of the user account graphic soon, and be replaced with Google's standard logo.  (Similar to the change that has already been made in the updated Mail.)

Another new feature is available in my Google Drive this week.  It is the ability to email the members of a Team Drive.  This has long been a request at my organization, as otherwise we have the dual work of creating a group for those on the team drive as well as the drive itself...which then means that both have to be updated if a member goes off the team or is added to the team.  When in a Team Drive, now under the "More" menu there is an option to Email members - A pop-up will appear with the members of the team drive listed, and an area to add the subject line of the email as well as the content - If you do not want the message to go to all members, you can use the "x" next to people's names to delete them from the email - Here is an example of the email I got from Team Drive -

A new feature showed up in my Drive this week - the ability to comment on non-GDrive files!  This is a great new feature in making additional files collaborative in nature.  It will work with MS Office files, PDFs and images.  The document must be in preview mode for the feature to be available.  This is the previous view of options when in preview mode -  This is the new view for a files that has NOT been added to your Drive yet - And here is the new view for the files that HAVE been added to your Drive - When viewing the document, clicking on the comment icon, highlight the part or sentence you wish to comment on, then add your comment - Additionally there is a new setting option of Manage comment notifications - You can choose the conditions for which you would like to be notified of comments on this particular file -

Recently there was an update making it easier to add Images in Google Docs, Slides and Drawings.  Here are some screenshots of the new drop-down menu and what each option results in. Upload from computer When you select this: You get the standard pop-up window where you can select the image from a location on your computer. Search the web When you select this: A sidebar opens on the right side of the window, with a search bar at the top for you to find an image without leaving your document/drawing/slideshow.  Drive When you select this: You again get a sidebar in the right side of the window with direct connection to your Google Drive, so you can easily find and use the image.  Photos When you select this: You again get a sidebar in the right side of the window with direct connection to your Google Photos, so you can easily find and use the image. By URL When you select this: You get a pop-up window where you can paste in th...