U-M Google Updates

U-M Google April Monthly Summary

5/23/2022

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

Updates:

You can now add emoji reactions to content in Google Docs. This feature will be on by default and cannot be turned off. To access emoji reactions in Docs, hover over any highlighted content or line of text (similar to how you would add a comment) and click the Add emoji reaction icon (smiley face). Additionally, emoji preferences are shared with Google Chat, so any preferences set in one app will be reflected in the other. Learn more about using emoji reactions in Google Docs.

Google has made two improvements to Google Meet: 

  • Prompts to exit meetings when you’re the only person in a meeting - if you don’t answer the prompt within two minutes, the meeting will end. 
  • A centralized location for host management controls.
  • Smart Reply in Google Slides

Google’s Smart Reply feature has come to Google Slides. Smart Reply provides you with response suggestions below the reply box on comment threads in English.

  • Japanese grammar suggestions for Gmail

You'll now see grammar suggestions as you type in Japanese in Gmail.

You can now specify which Google Chat and Gmail contacts you still want notifications from when your iOS device is in Focus mode. Learn more about turning Google Chat notifications on or off for iOS. 

Google will now suggest formula corrections in Google Sheets. Whenever you insert a formula that Sheets detects may need improvement, a suggestion box will appear with details on a new version that can replace the current formula, including the ability to accept or reject it.

Animated GIF of cursor typing a formula in a cell in Google Sheets and Google suggesting a formula edit.

This feature is on by default and can be turned off by going to Tools > Enable formula corrections or from the three-dot menu of the suggestion dialog box. Learn more about using formulas and functions in Google Sheets. 

Meeting organizers of Google Meet sessions created in Google Calendar can now: 

  • Turn meeting safety features on or off, such as chat lock, present lock, and more before the meeting. 
  • Designate co-hosts before the meeting.

To configure host control and co-host options when scheduling a meeting in Google Calendar, click Add video conferencing > Google Meet > Video call options (gear icon) > Host controls or Co-hosts. 

When using Google Chat on iOS, you’ll soon be able to take additional actions, such as sharing a Google Meet link or accessing Google Drive, by hovering over the plus (“+”) icon next to the compose bar.

Previously Communicated:

U-M Google March Monthly Summary

4/25/2022

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

Updates:

Google has added two additional features to Google Docs:

You can now embed linked response charts from Google Forms into a Doc, Slides presentation, or Drawing. When new form responses are received, anyone with the right permissions can refresh an embedded chart by clicking the Update button.

Animated GIF, zoomed in view of a Google Doc where a cursor is adding and updating a Form chart.

When someone mentions you in a comment in a Google Workspace document, Google sends you an email notification with the comment and the commenter's name. With this update, Google has added the commenter's email address to the notification.

Google has increased the cell limit in Google Sheets from five million cells up to ten million cells. This limit applies to new, existing, and imported files.

In addition to seeing when someone is out of office, you can now see additional Google Calendar statuses like “In a meeting” or “In focus time” in Google Chat.

Google has added a way to collaborate on email drafts in Docs with the new email draft template. When ready to send, simply click the button that is shown alongside an email draft. A Gmail compose window will pop up, with email fields (subject, to, cc, bcc, and body) automatically populated based on the email draft in the document. To insert an email template, go to Insert > Building Blocks > Email draft.

Animated GIF, cursor in a new Google Doc walks through adding the new email draft template and filling it in to send an email via Gmail.

This change makes it easier for users of assistive technology, including screen readers and refreshable braille displays, to interact with comments in documents and identify text with background colors. When reading the document, you’ll now hear start and end indications for comments and highlights alongside the rest of the text.

In Docs, you can now select “Automatically detect Markdown” from Tools > Preferences to enable autocorrecting for Markdown syntax. This feature will be OFF by default. Learn more about using Markdown syntax in Google Docs.

You can now create Google Chat spaces that are joinable by others at U-M via link. A few keys things to note:

  • You can only enable a space to be shareable within U-M at its creation.
  • You cannot enable discovery for existing spaces and share them via link.
  • Users external to U-M will not be able to join such a space, even with the shared link.

Finally, Chat spaces are not automatically discoverable by anyone at U-M and must be created that way. Learn more about creating Google Chat spaces with different access levels.

Previously Communicated:

Create new appointment scheduling pages in Google Calendar

4/21/2022

Google recently introduced a new appointment scheduling feature in Google Calendar. The appointment scheduling feature allows you to share your availability via a booking page, which can be used by U-M and external individuals, including those without a Google account, to schedule meetings with you. Additionally, this feature includes automatic conflict detection with existing Calendar events to help reduce time spent finding and rescheduling appointments.

Animated GIF depicting a cursor walking through the creation of a Google Calendar appointment scheduling page.

Example of a Google Calendar appointment scheduling page.

Some important things to know, to get started:

Visit the Google Help Center to learn more about creating appointment schedules in Google Calendar.

According to Google, this feature began showing up in U-M Google on April 6, 2022 and should be available now.

Reminder: Classic Google Sites editing ends June 1, convert to new Google Sites ASAP

4/5/2022

As a reminder, the ability to edit your classic Google Sites ends on June 1, 2022, and Google will begin deactivating classic sites on July 1, 2022.

Convert 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 when Google begins the deactivations. 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 Sites to new Sites.

Caution: Key classic Google Sites features and functionality are still missing in new Google Sites. As a result, the conversion process is not one-to-one, and it will likely break parts of your site. Until Google brings these key features over to new Sites, you will need to adjust your sites accordingly post-conversion. Visit the Google Sites Help Center to learn more about what to expect when you convert a classic Site to a new Site.

Additional resources:

Reminder: New Gmail integrated view becomes default in April

3/29/2022

According to Google, your Gmail experience will automatically switch to the new “integrated view” in April. They have not provided us with a specific date for this change, only that it is expected to take place in April.

Minimalistic artist rendition of the new Gmail integrated view. There are lines connected to text that state what each new feature is

You should be able to switch back to the original Gmail view from your settings. However, we recommend that you remain in the new view as it will be irreversible later in 2022. For more information on the new view, including the entire proposed timeline and common issues, refer to New Gmail Integrated View Information and Timeline.

To learn more about how to use the new view, visit the Google Help Center.