U-M Google Updates

Google Chat rooms are now “Spaces”

9/13/2021

Google has announced that Google Chat rooms will be renamed to Google Chat “Spaces.” According to Google, this change began showing up in U-M Google on September 8, 2021, and could take 15 days or longer to become fully visible. Refer to the Google Help Center for more information on Google Chat Spaces.

In Gmail, the new user interface showing a Google Chat space, the new left sidebar, and new threading.

Additionally, over the coming months, spaces will gain a number of new features such as in-line message threading, searchable domainwide spaces, and enhanced user roles and moderation. Recently, Google added the ability to set custom statuses in Chat and to convert group conversations to rooms/spaces.

Small Google Chat box showing the ability to convert the group conversation to a room/space.

For more information on Google Chat, refer to Getting Started With Google Chat.

Final Reminder: Update for Google Drive shared links coming Sept. 13

9/9/2021

As a final reminder, on September 13, 2021, Google will apply an update to Google Drive that will change the links used to share some non-Google files (e.g., Word, Excel, PDF) created before November 2017. Built-in Google file types such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms will not be impacted. 

If you received an email from Google with the subject line, “Security update for Drive,” the week of July 26, please review the list of your files, provided by Google, that this update will impact. You can find more information and the steps you should take on the Update for Google Drive Shared Links FAQ.

Note: ITS does not recommend removing this update, even for files posted publicly.

Reminder: Convert your classic Google Sites to new Sites

9/9/2021

On May 15, 2021, Google ended classic Google Sites creation. Since then, new Google websites have only been created in new Google Sites. This change also applied to copying existing sites, creating sites using the Sites API, or any other form of site creation in classic Sites.

For further details on Google’s proposed timeline for classic Google Sites retirement, refer to Classic Google Sites Retirement Timeline.

We highly encourage you to begin converting your classic Google Sites to new Google Sites as soon as possible. The longer you wait to make the transition, the greater the possibility for data loss in 2022.

If you currently own a classic Google Site, refer to Convert Your Classic Google Sites to New Sites for more information on how to convert your classic Google Sites to new Google Sites.

Additional resources:

U-M Google July Monthly Summary

8/26/2021

The monthly U-M Google summaries inform the university community of new Google releases and previously communicated updates.

Updates:

You can now customize your Google Keep notes on Android and iOS by choosing a background from a set of Google-designed images.

You can now blur or replace your background with an image in Google Meet on iOS. Refer to the Google Help Center to learn more about how to change your background on Google Meet.

You can now create a theme in Google Slides and add image placeholders to your layouts. Refer to the Google Help Center to learn more about inserting or deleting images and videos in Google Slides.

Animated GIF, Google Slides slide, depicts new image placeholder with a cursor taking action and adding an image of a woman.

You can now select multiple tabs in Google Sheets and perform basic actions on the selection (e.g., moving, deleting, duplicating, copying, coloring, or hiding tabs).

In Google Chat for Gmail, you can now open and edit a Slide presentation in a side-by-side view. This functionality already exists for Google Docs and Sheets. Refer to the Google Help Center to learn more about opening and editing your files in Gmail Chat rooms.

Google Chat room open in Gmail. Chat on the left and an open Google Slides presentation on the right.

Google has announced the ability to block another user in Google Drive. A blocked user will not be able to share any Drive items with you, and items owned by the user cannot be shared with you or be shown when you’re browsing Google Drive. In addition, your files will not be available to the user you’ve blocked, even if you’ve previously shared items with them. Note that you can’t block users in the U-M Google domain (i.e., with @umich.edu email addresses), and blocking a user on Drive will also block them from interacting with you on other apps and services.

  • Spelling autocorrect is now available when you write comments in Sheets, Slides, and Drawings 

Misspelled words will automatically be corrected while typing and denoted with a grey dashed underline. This feature is already available in Google Docs and other Google products.

Previously Communicated:

Reminder: Update for Google Drive shared links coming Sept. 13

8/17/2021

On September 13, 2021, Google will apply an update to Google Drive that will change the links used to share some non-Google files (e.g., Word, Excel, PDF) created before November 2017. Built-in Google file types such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms will not be impacted. 

If you received an email from Google with the subject line, “Security update for Drive,” the week of July 26, please review the list of your files provided by Google that this update will impact. You can find more information and the steps you should take on the Update for Google Drive Shared Links FAQ.  

Note: ITS does not recommend removing this update, even for files posted publicly.