Google cloud. Google Drive (google cloud)
Hello, dear readers of the blog site! I am opening a series of publications dedicated to cloud storage, which allow you to store files on disk space and work with your documents not only from your home computer, but also from any suitable electronic device (for example, from a tablet). This is very convenient when you are away from home and do not have access to your main computer.
Perhaps I'll start with a cloud Google Drivewhich is one of the many products of the almighty Google. Of course, the Google service has quite worthy and real competitors in the person of the same Yandex Disk, Dropbox, Skydrive, which we will certainly talk about in more detail.
Perhaps a comparison of their capabilities will help orient your choice in favor of one of these cloud storages according to your preferences. As you know, there is no ideal in the world, each of them has both pluses and minuses. This is no exception.
Login to Google Drive and an overview of the services provided
First, let's see how you can go to your Google Drive account. Login is easy and simple by going to the page drive.google.com... However, beforehand, you must enter your. You can also navigate to Google Drive by clicking on the corresponding icon in the upper right corner after logging into your account:
To determine the opportunities that cloud storage from Google provides us, we find in the lower left corner home page drive.google.com link "Settings". If you move the cursor to it, a tooltip will appear with brief information about the total use of free space at the moment:
If you click on this link, you will be redirected to a page where more detailed information on this issue is given and you can choose tariff plans:
The total disk space provided in Google Drive for the free plan is quite solid, and equals 15 GB... But keep in mind that the proposed space is divided for files that will be stored on three services: Google Drive, and Google photos.
True, judging by the information below, the restriction does not apply to all files. For example, spreadsheets, documents, and presentations don't take up Disk space. The same applies to photos located in Google + Photos. Space is limited only for images larger than 2048x2048 pixels.
If you need more space to store your folders, emails, photos and free tariff is not enough, then at your service several paid tariff plansfrom which you can choose the appropriate one. You can learn more about the rules for storing files on Google Drive on this support page. A small video will supplement the information:
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Working in the online version of Google Drive
Now let's see what actions you can perform in your google account Drive using work functions. On the left side, after logging into your account, there is a menu that offers to carry out various useful promotions directly online. For example, by clicking on the red button with an upward arrow, we download files or even entire folders from the computer.
By clicking on the "Create" button next to it, which is also red, select the type of future object you need from the drop-down list (folder, document, presentation, table, form, picture):
Note that, if necessary, it is possible to connect additional annex, I will talk about this below. So, select the desired item from the menu and start creating your creation. For example, in Drive Google it is easy to create an Excel-like spreadsheet, albeit not as fancy as in the original program:
After you create documents and upload required files, the account view will look like this:
The All Items tab will display the files included in the My Drive folder and others, including those that are shared. Also, using the menu, you can filter them and select those available only to you, marked as important, recently created and placed in the trash. By going to the trash can, you can empty it, permanently deleting unnecessary files.
To mark a document as important, simply click on the star next to it. If you check the box of any of the elements (to select all the elements, you must check the Title option), then a panel with options will appear at the top that allows you to perform certain actions with the selected file or document.
When you click on the picture depicting a man with a plus, the settings for sharing this object are made:
If you check the second option, then the above link to the file with the document will be used by those to whom you provide it. Here you can also define the actions that will be allowed. In this case, select the required settings from the menu (editing, commenting, reading). Then everyone who received the link will have access to the file, but first they will have to log in to Google.
If you want to open some file for downloading or review ( share from English share - share, share), then check the box next to the option "To everyone on the Internet"... Then all users, without exception, will be able to get to it, and authorization is not needed in this case.
In addition to the above, it is possible to invite certain individuals as editors by entering their names or addresses. email... If you click on the bottom link "Change", you can determine whether they have the right to change the access settings:
In the same menu that appears after putting a checkmark, you can move the marked file to another folder, delete it by throwing it into the trash, and view its contents. Move to the right side of the Google Drive window interface, where there is another panel with settings:
If any object is marked, an icon with the Latin letter "i" appears, clicking on which, you get full information about this file or document, including its description, location (in which folder it is located), access rights, as well as the history of editing by time and date.
The next two buttons allow you to determine how files are displayed in your Google Drive account (in the form of a list or table), similar to how it is done in the Windows interface. Finally, if you call the drop-down menu from the bowels of the button with the gear image, you can customize the document interface by selecting the appropriate item, configure the download and shortcuts.
I would also like to dwell on application management, which I mentioned at the beginning of this section. By clicking on the corresponding line, get a list of applications installed by default (the same list, if you remember, can be found in the left menu):
For each application, there is a button that can be used to view its parameters. But it so happens that you need to add to the already existing functionality additional features... In this case, click on the "Connect other applications" link, then choose from the provided list:
If you know the name of the app, you can try searching for it. You enter the desired combination of letters into the search line, press the "Enter" button on the keyboard and experience a surge of satisfaction that the required program has been found. For example, when working with the site I use it heavily, so I decided to apply it to Google Drive as well.
To connect the application to Google Drive, press the button of the same name and, voila, the procedure is over, which you will immediately be aware of:
Note that a checkbox will be checked by default, which activates the option that sets Pixlr as the default application for files that are opened with it. In principle, this checkbox may not be checked. Simply, if any image is created using this program, it is quite logical to assume that its editing will be done in it.
How to install Google Drive on your computer
As you probably noticed, online version it is completely self-sufficient and provides a fairly wide range of possible actions. However, in order to use the functionality to the maximum and view the contents of folders created in Drive on your computer, which will be synchronized with Google Drive, it will not hurt to install the program. To do this, click on the corresponding icon at the very bottom of the left menu:
Immediately after that, a beautiful picture will appear with the "Install on PC" button. Click on it and download the installation file to your computer. The installation will proceed quickly, after which you will receive a message that it is complete. Then you need to move on to the next steps. First of all, find the "Google Drive" folder from the list of programs. Let's say for the Windows7 operating system, this list is in the Start menu:
As you can see, the folder contains 4 items (Docs, Drive, Sheets and Slides). Click on the "Drive" line and log in to the corresponding Google account by entering your username and password:
I have been using two-step authentication for a long time when logging into my account, if you also use this effective security tool, you will have to enter the security code you received via SMS:
Personally, I try not to place third-party software folders on the C drive, where I have the operating system files. Therefore, I used the "Advanced Settings" option and selected the D drive:
Now click on the "Synchronize" button to complete the process. As a result, the "Google Drive" folder will open, where all folders and files created by you in the online service and uploaded there will be duplicated:
Needless to say, once the sync is complete, any changes to files or folders you make on your computer will be reflected in your cloud storage account as well. Let's say you can edit the access settings in the same way as you do in your Google Drive cloud account. To do this, you just need to click on the selected file and click "Share Access" from the context menu:
As a result, you either block access to this file or folder for strangers, or, conversely, share it for downloading or reading. In general, I have already described in detail the process of setting up access above in the text. When working with objects on a computer, it is completely identical. After installing the application and finishing the synchronization, the Google Drive logo will immediately appear in the notification panel (tray):
To open the context menu, simply click on the logo once with the left mouse button. In this case, you can choose the action you want, including editing settings and opening the Google Drive folder.
In conclusion, I note that the program provides for some system requirements: this application available for operating rooms windows systems and Mac OC, for iPhone and iPad (iOS 5.0 and later), and devices on android base... Help videos (with titles in Russian).
Anyone who has even a little knowledge in the field of personal computers (PCs) came across expressions such as “ hDD"," Flash drive "," CD or DVD - disk ". So, all of the listed attributes are inherently carriers of any information. If you are tired of running between school and home with a flash drive, and if you have to make a document together with classmates - to stay after school at school, then cloud data storage can come to the rescue.
Today, cloud storage (file hosting) data allows you not to carry around optical discs DVD-RW, CD-RW, flash drives or removable disks to work at home, at work and on the road with the same files or documents (from a computer, tablet or smartphone). By uploading the necessary information to the servers, you can always have access to it from a PC or from any other device (tablet, smartphone, phone) with Internet access
Now there are a lot of cloud storage facilities and this number is growing every day. Some (the most famous) of them are: Dropbox, Google Drive, disk.yandex, 4shared, OneDrive, iFolder. They differ in the size of the free disk space and the functionality of editing downloaded files.
The largest and most functional of all cloud data storage is Google Drive (GD). This advantage lies in the convenient online work with files (tests, tables, presentations, graphics, etc.). Much of Google Drive is indebted to tools inherited from Google Docs. Let's take Google Drive as an example how to store your data on servers in the cloud and share it with other users on the Internet.
To get started with GD, you must have an account (mail) on http://google.com. To do this, register on the portal or log into your account. We open the GD page (https://drive.google.com/) and get into the web interface of this online service. To re-enter GD, just enter your username and password from gmail mail and confirm the entry with the Enter command button. GD's interface is similar to that of Gmail, so there shouldn't be any special problems with mastering.
GD interface is similar to window Windows Explorer , located under the red Create button and represents the hierarchical system of My Disk folders (files) created by the content author. The Shared with Me section contains folders (files) that are shared and developed by the community. The Recent section and the Marked section contain files recently created or uploaded to the GD space, as well as files or folders containing some label. The Recycle Bin section, its functions are similar to those of the Recycle Bin in Windows, it contains deleted folders and files that can be either restored or deleted at the request of the account owner. The total number of file types (over 30), which can be viewed in the web interface from any device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone), is impressive. For those file types that Google Drive does not support, you can install a third-party application (see the picture below).
Using the red "Create" button located on the left side of the window, you can not only create a document, presentation, table, form, picture, folder, but also download all possible documents from external memory devices (including from a computer). Documents (text, tables, drawing or presentation) downloaded from a computer can be edited inside the disk without downloading the file to your computer. You can get help using GD at the following link: http://googledisk.ru/
Setting up file or folder sharing in GD.
After creating a document, as well as in the process of creating it, you can set up sharing. At the top of the settings window there is a link to edit access to the document, using which you can give the right to edit or read everyone. Also in the Add Users window, you can add your friends' email addresses, and they will have access to your document.
You can give them different rights to use the document: reading, editing or commenting. The difference between them is significant, therefore, for the correct setting of access rights, you need to read the instructions posted at the following URL (http://goo.gl/7KjGhF). You can also transfer the ownership of the file to another person, and leave yourself only the right to edit.
This option became necessary only in connection with the inclusion of the Google Docs service in the GD and the need for flexible settings for joint work with documents.
To summarize, on GD you can:
create and upload files;
easily find and add available files;
select files with one click of the mouse button, and double - open them;
drag and drop files and folders from your computer to GD (as easy as on your computer);
share files with other users and allow them to view, comment or edit these files;
work with files even without an Internet connection by installing GD on your computer (installation instructions are available at the following URL https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2374989?hl\u003den). Then a folder of the same name will appear on your computer, the contents of which will be automatically synchronized with the cloud.
A cloud storage called Google Drive, aka Google Drive in bourgeois, aka Google Docs, is located at drive.google.com and provides fifteen gigabytes for free. Since the most effective and visual method of cognition is comparison with analogues, then it is applicable. And at the same time we will explain everything to scrupulously inexperienced, novice computer users.
How to start
It all starts with the mail. I mean, with registration in Gmail. This is the starting point for using any Google services, without it in any way.
Then we go to a service called Disk. You can either find one in the list of products, if you do not see it in the bar above, or dial the address indicated in the preamble.
Since it is extremely inconvenient to dump fifteen gigabytes into one heap, we create folders. For this purpose, on the left there is a red button with an obvious name that expands the list. In which we select "Folder". It remains only to enter its name and enter it.
Next to "Create" there is another button, also red, but slightly smaller. It shows an up arrow. Thus, uploading something to the discussed cloud storage is indicated. Don't believe me? Move the pointer over it - a hint "Download" will pop up.
Click, select files - and wait for the end of the process of uploading your data to the cloud.
Unlike the situation observed in Ubuntu One, the boot window does not disappear by itself when finished, you need to close it manually. But the scripts do not rage at the time of adding files to the list, do not warm up the computer and do not force the browser to slow down.
On Yandex.Disk, a fan at such a moment can roar like a wounded bear. But there, despite the already quite long service life, everything is still so crooked, not optimized, buggy and faulty that there is nothing to be surprised at.
In the web interface of Dropbox, only the so-called basic uploader really works, which allows you to upload one file at a time. However, there are only two free gigabytes.
Download
The first method, for several files: put a checkmark next to the desired objects - expand the list under the "More" button on the top panel (it appears after installing the checkboxes) - agree to download in a zip archive - wait for the archiving to complete - finally download.
Method two, the easiest for any file: right click on it - "Download".
The third method, if something was accidentally pressed: look at a darkened screen with a very informative message, they say, preview is impossible, there is nothing to open such a file, do not blame me, - find the button with an arrow down at the bottom right (this is how downloading is indicated) - click on it - get the desired result.
The fourth method, for one document: press, wait for the document to open in the online application - "File - Download".
SkyDrive has a clearer, more user-friendly interface with the highest level of intuitiveness. You can immediately see where to click what, so as not to open the document in the online editor, but immediately download it.
Well, Ubuntu One is just a repository, where the download is started by a banal click on the file. But in one fell swoop to pick up a few pieces through the web interface will not work. For the reason that several pieces cannot be selected. Although the service is developing, we will see further.
Let's go back to our Google Drive. Really missing the Download button next to View (with stylized eye).
Documents
As a matter of fact, documents open in SkyDrive as well. Moreover, the ODF format (* .odt) is supported there, which for some reason has not yet been implemented in Google Drive, despite Google's favor for Linux.
With regards to Google Drive, it's best to create documents from scratch rather than uploading any that were produced locally. It doesn't matter that the formatting gets lost. The trouble is that tabs are thrown out at the beginning of each paragraph. Both downloaded files created in LibreOffice Writer and copied text from LibreOffice.
In what format to download the results to disk, this also raises questions. Quite, completely without jambs, it seems, only in PDF.
Photos
These are best packed into archives and uploaded to the cloud as zip files. Since the social network Google+ is in a never-ending process of permanent development, photos can suddenly move to the albums there (formerly Google Picasa). And in those albums, according to eyewitnesses, confusion often arises.
However, when using mobile devices, of course, there is not much choice. Either the photos are uploaded to Google+ (using an application) or to Google Drive (using another application) along with other file types.
Moreover, it is rather difficult to predict further changes and nuances in the application for working with Google Drive. But, of course, you can install it in Android and try it.
How to share
Right click on the file - "Share" - again "Share". There are buttons to send to Gmail, as well as to social networks. But we are interested in a specific, precise and controlled setting. Therefore, in the section "Access levels" just below, click "Configure". Everything is obvious there.
You can make a whole bunch of files shared at once. We mark them with checkmarks and press the button that appears at the top with a little man and a plus at his left shoulder. Then you will be prompted to copy many links at once.
Documents on links that you copy and place anywhere on the network will not be loaded, but will open in the online editor. Therefore, the user will have to press "File - Download" to save them on a local disk (in a computer).
And you should also remember that the documents that you share will be indexed in the search engine (Google, which else) will certainly and inevitably.
For the writer
Is the service suitable for a writer intending to write something online, traveling the world and logging into Google Drive. The answer is clear: no.
For creative endeavors, only the online editor Microsoft SkyDrive in their cloud service is suitable.
Why? In order to understand this, it is enough to read and compare user agreements. Google gets the right to use all of your content literally (without exaggeration!) As they please. In fact, the user agreement cancels the entire set of copyrights, property and non-property. Fortunately, Microsoft does not allow anything like it.
The same applies to journalists, reporters, dissertation writers, etc. It is potentially unsafe to work on texts in the discussed Google service.
Let's summarize
So, we made a comparison with similar services. Now, without breaking the tradition, let's summarize.
Disadvantages of cloud storage Google Drive: lack of ODF support, not very intuitive interface, confusion with photo albums, user agreement gives Google rights to everything and everyone.
Advantages: fifteen gigabytes, it is convenient to share on Google+ and Twitter, it is convenient to send links by mail (Gmail), the software is optimized and does not make the computer warm up, slow down, or glitch.
That is, in other words, it is better to keep more or less confidential files in Ubuntu One, work with documents in Microsoft SkyDrive, and share anything with the world's population - in Google Drive.
Google Drive cloud storage allows users to store files on their disk space and access files online, from your computer or from a mobile device. Google Drive has replaced Google Docs, which is included in the repository, as an online application.
At the end of April 2012, Google officially launched the Google Drive cloud storage to store users' files on the Internet. Storage usage is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
The first 15 GB of Disk space is free. This size consists of the addition of Google Drive storage itself (5GB) and Gmail storage (10GB), which now use the total disk space. You will have to pay for an increase in disk space in Google Drive according to the tariffs.
After modifying a file on the Internet, the file is updated on every computer where Google Drive is installed: on your PC or on mobile device... Files will be synchronized, and your data will always be available to you from anywhere, from any device.
To start using the Google Drive cloud service, you will need to create an email mailbox in Google Mail. After you have created an e-mail box, or you already have one, you need to enter your mail.
After logging in to email, on the top panel, among Google services, you will see a new service - Drive. To enter the cloud storage, click on the "Disk" menu item.
Installing Google Drive
For a more convenient use of Google Drive, you can install on your computer special application - Google Drive client program.
Log into the cloud storage, and then follow the link where you will be prompted to "Install Google Drive" for a personal computer (application "Startup and sync from Google").
The program installer is being downloaded. Then run the installer, it will download and install Google Drive on your computer. In the window that appears, enter your email details in Gmail for authorization.
You can enter the repository through the web interface from email, or by entering the Google search engine under your account... From a computer, you can access Google Drive from the program shortcut or through the Explorer window.
After installing the application, the "Google Drive" folder appeared in Explorer, the program icon in the Notification Panel (tray), and the program shortcut on the Desktop also appeared.
Using Google Drive
When synchronization is enabled, files are simultaneously in the "cloud" and on your computer.
Files in the storage can be simply dragged with the mouse or moved in a standard way (copying or cutting). In this image, you can see that I have already dragged the file folder there.
You can delete files from the cloud storage through the web interface, or using an application installed on your computer.
Please note that deleted files are not immediately deleted from Disk; they first go to the Trash, where they take up a useful amount of disk space. For complete removal file from disk storage, you will need to empty the trash.
Documents posted on Google Drive can be shared with other users and collaborate on them at the same time from different places.
When you click on the icon in the Notification panel, the program settings appear in the context menu. The service supports file search, recognizes images and scanned text.
Conclusions of the article
Google Drive cloud storage is used to store files on the Internet and allows you to use data and work with documents stored in Drive at the same time from different places.
Google Cloud it is one of the best services on the Internet, which is convenient for storing, processing and managing digital photographs. It has two independent services on the basis of which this can be done at a high level - Google Drive and Google+ Photos.
Google drive Goggle is one of the largest digital cloud storage facilities on the Internet. It was first introduced to users in April 2012 as independent service 5 GB for free storage 30 different types of files.
Google+ Photos it is a worldwide service social network Google+, which was created along with the network in 2011. This service is not only a place for convenient storage photos in the Google cloud, but still a very handy photo editor that has many automatic functions.
What is the volume of the Google cloud
Following a change in disk space allocation policy, three separate Google Drive, Google+ and Gmail services were merged into a single cloud on May 13, 2013. Now, when you register an account in the Google cloud, you will forever receive 15 GB of free disk space for storing data from these three services (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Google cloud storage capacity.
If the amount of dedicated cloud space is not enough, you can purchase from 100 GB to 30 TB, but for an additional fee. Google cloud storage space monthly price for January 2015 is:
100 GB - $ 2
1 TB - $ 10
10 TB - $ 100
20 TB - 200 $
30 TB - 300 $
In the Google cloud, you can store mail, photos, and other types of files at the same time as you like. For example, you can store all these files in different volumes, or you can store only one photo or some other type of file.
The peculiarity of storing files of Google cloud services is that when calculating the occupied disk space, some files are not taken into account. For the user, this means that he can store an unlimited number of such files in the Google cloud.
Google Drive does not include files saved in Google format, for Gmail the contents of the Spam and Trash folders, and Google+ Photos, all photos are smaller than 2048 x 2048 pix and videos are less than 15 minutes.
Sign up in the Google cloud
In order to purchase part of your space in the Google cloud and get access to all of its services, you first need to register. On the page http://www.google.ru/ in the upper right corner, click on the "Login" button.
After that, a window for logging into a Google cloud account and registering a new account will appear (Fig. 2). Under the data entry panel, click the "Create an account" link and start registration.
In the registration window, you must correctly indicate your personal data. They will form the basis of your Google Cloud profile. After that, in the lower right corner, you need to click the "Next" button to go to the next window (Fig. 3). The button is not shown in the figure.
Fig. 3 Google cloud registration panel.
But first, Google will check that the data is correct. If you made a mistake, you will be prompted to eliminate it, if everything was done correctly, a window for creating a Google+ profile in the cloud will open (Fig. 4).
Fig.4 Window for creating a Google+ profile in the cloud.
In this window, you can add your photo, which will be visible in all Google cloud services, but you can do this after logging into your account. To complete registration in the Google cloud, you need to click on the "Create a profile" button, after which a final window will open, in which your e-mail address will be indicated (Fig. 5).
Fig.5 The window for completing registration in the Google cloud.
After that, all Google cloud services will be available, including Google Drive and Google+ Photos. In order to open them, you need to click the "Services" button in the upper right corner and select from the list (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6 List of selection of Google cloud services
To select the Google Drive service in the Google cloud, you need to select the "Drive" service, after which a window of this service will open (Fig. 7).
Fig. 7 Google Cloud - Google Drive service window.
To select the Google+ Photos service in the Google cloud, you need to find the “Photos” service in the list, after which a window of this service will open (Fig. 8).
Fig. 8 Google Cloud - Google+ Photos service window.
How to remove Google Cloud
There are situations when you may need to remove any services from the Google cloud or completely all data and your entire account. To do this, in the upper right corner of the screen, click on the profile avatar and follow the link "Account" (Fig. 9).
Fig. 9 Window for entering Google Cloud Account settings.
This will immediately open the Google Cloud Account Settings page. You need to scroll down to the bottom and select an item from the list that suits your purposes (Fig. 10), and then do everything according to the instructions.
Figure 10 Google Cloud Account Settings.
Google cloud capabilities
Google Cloud differs from most similar services on the Internet in its ability to work with photos. In it you can not only store a large amount of digital photos for free, but also do a lot with them, which cannot be done in other services.
This is possible because Google cloud services are closely related to each other, with google browser Chrome and Picasa. Each of them significantly increases the capabilities of Google cloud services and, in addition, they allow the photographer to do without installing many specialized programs on the computer.
Read about the main features of photo services in the Google cloud and their integration with other programs in the following chapters of the article:
Other cloud services and cloud storage principles are described in the following articles:
