Google Apps has a number of useful tools. While I don’t feel that Google Docs is ready to be the replacement for Microsoft Office at this time it has a number of great tools. Google Docs is a making great stride to replace the need to have Microsoft Office installed on ones computer. The tool that I am going to discuss in this Blog is Google Docs Forms.
Google Docs Forms allows you to quickly create, publish and receive data. A couple of practical uses are timesheets and surveys. Google Docs Forms does not require one to understand how to program any HTML or database repository. A proficient programmer can quickly punch out the code or reuse old code and make a form very quickly. With Google Forms a person without programming skills can also quickly create public or private online forms without the need to be proficient in web programming.
To create your own form simply go to Google Documents > New > Form.
Simply fill out the information that they wish to gather. You can play around with the different fields and form types that are available. Once you have created your form you have the ability to publish and email people to come visit your form. Once someone has filled out your form you can view the data in a Google Docs Spreadsheet or you can view a summary by going to form > show summary. One of my favorite features is the background color rules in the spreadsheet you can select a column and choose that if it has specific text to highlight that data in a specific color. As data is being entered it is automatically highlighted based on your rules.
As you work with Google Docs Forms you will find many uses for this tool. I personally use it for surveys and as an online Timesheet. I hope that you find it as useful as I do. The other great thing about Google Apps is that it is free. You don’t have to get the paid for version unless you are seeking the advanced features.
Adam Bell
Sublime Computer Services
We make your technology work
615-942-0850
www.sublimecomp.com
adam@sublimecomp.com
