This new Google Docs feature is exactly what I've always wanted.
Google Docs has introduced a new feature called Document Tabs, which is significantly enhancing my experience.
As a writer with considerable experience, much of my journey has been linked to Google Docs, which has been the place where I store my initial drafts, crazy ideas, brainstorming sessions, and research. Although Google Docs offers many features that make it my preferred tool for word processing, it remains somewhat limited, especially regarding file organization and management within Google Drive. However, a new functionality considerably simplifies these tasks, allowing everything to stay within Docs.
This feature, known as Document Tabs, allows users to create multiple documents within a single Google Docs file. Users can generate as many "tabs" as their project requires and switch between them quickly, which is particularly useful. Forget about having to switch among various browser tabs; on mobile devices, where app-switching is even more complicated, these tabs appear at the bottom of the screen, with arrows that enable navigation between them. It would be ideal to include a simple gesture to switch between tabs even more smoothly.
Document Tabs replaces the old outline system, which used headings to automatically create an index. While it was a tool I used to employ, it was impractical and resulted in excessively long documents that I ended up scrolling through endlessly. This new feature offers a sleek solution, allowing users to segment chapters in a book, different aspects of a project, or various sections of an article. Additionally, converting tabs when exporting is quite straightforward; they are combined into a single document but organized with titles and basic formatting. However, it won't always be the best option, so it's something to keep in mind if you need to share the file outside of Docs.
For any Google Docs enthusiast, like myself, this functionality promises to be very beneficial.
Moreover, Google is updating its suite with a new design for Google Docs, Slides, Drive, and Sheets, which includes enhancements in line with Material Design 3 introduced the previous year. Users of personal accounts and Google Workspace will be able to experience these changes that make using these tools more appealing.
Among the recent updates are the ability to assign tasks directly within Google Docs, simplifying the tracking of edits and updates in a document, as well as the implementation of an electronic signature tool for business users. This feature will allow for easy addition of signatures and dates to documents, along with the option to request signatures in a manner similar to how a file is currently shared.
