Overview and Accessibility:
Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet application which accessible through a web browser, Android, iOS devices, and as a desktop app on Chrome OS. Google Sheets allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time in which Google Drive acts as the cloud storage service where all Google Sheets files data are saved automatically which data is securely backed up and accessible from any device by internet enabled location. It is compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats.
Cloud-based spreadsheet is an emerging technology in today life that almost every company or service provider is being switched to from its on-premises technologies. Google Sheets offers unique formulas that make collaboration and real-time data handling easy, making it a strong alternative to Excel.
As a press release on June 14, 2021, Google has announced the expansion of its Google Workspace experience to over three billion users worldwide. This update allows individuals, businesses, and educators to access a fully integrated suite of tools, including Gmail, Chat, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Meet. With this milestone, Google continues its mission to provide seamless communication and collaboration solutions for all.
Functions like IMPORTRANGE and QUERY simplify sharing and analyzing data across files, while GOOGLEFINANCE provides real-time stock data. Tools like ARRAYFORMULA, FILTER, UNIQUE, and SPARKLINE streamline tasks and make organizing data simpler than in Excel.
What sets Google Sheets apart is its cloud-based design, allowing real-time updates and seamless collaboration. It integrates well with Google Drive, supports live teamwork, and includes features like NOW and GOOGLETRANSLATE for dynamic workflows, making it ideal for shared projects.
An example of the syntax for the IMPORTRANGE formula is:
IMPORTRANGE(spreadsheet_url, range_string)
Example of cloud based data to import in the other sheets
=IMPORTRANGE(“https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JkP5t_8L648ueEduAfsjUBIE8eojXLffw-0BH6l3IEk/edit?gid=1066602689#gid=1066602689“,”May-2024′!A2:P12″)
In Importrange function first you need to copy or type the URL which you want to import from the other spreadsheet_url
(The URL of the spreadsheet from where data will be imported.)
Range_string – A string, of the format “[sheet_name!]range” (e.g. “May-2024′!A2:P12“ ) specifying the range to import.
Google Sheets offer a wide range of formulas (approx.513) (also known as functions) to perform various calculations, data manipulations, and analysis tasks. While the exact number of functions may vary depending on updates and versions, here’s an overview of the scope of functions available:
Historical Development, Acquisitions: Google Sheets
Google Sheets, initial release date 9 March 2006, which available in 83 languages, used today in many fields and tasks, founded by Jonathan Rochelle and Farzad “Fuzzy” Khosrowshahi which originated from XL2Web, a web-based spreadsheet application developed by 2Web Technologies, which acquired in 2006 by Google and transformed it into Google Labs Spreadsheets.
In March 2010, Google further enhanced its collaboration features by acquiring DocVerse, a company that allowed multiple users to work together on Excel and other Microsoft Office documents online. Updates influenced by DocVerse were released in April 2010. Later, in June 2012, Google acquired Quickoffice, a productivity suite for mobile devices, further expanding its capabilities. In October 2012, Google rebranded Google Spreadsheets as Google Sheets and introduced a Chrome app that provided quick access to Sheets from the browser’s new tab page.
Multiple Users work together
Google introduced a dedicated homepage for Google Sheets, showcasing only files created with Sheets on June, 2014 and now its one of the most important programs for spreadsheets users which available without any subscriptions for free access through online. It supports collaboration by enabling multiple users to work on the same sheet simultaneously, with each user’s contributions tracked through a revision history and highlighted with unique colors.
- 2014: A dedicated Google Sheets mobile app was launched for Android and iOS and also introduced add-ons new tools from third-party developers where users can access more features through Google Sheets.
- 2015: The mobile website for Sheets was updated for a simpler, more uniform interface. Editing via mobile web was removed, directing users to the mobile app instead.
- 2017: add new feature to build automatically charts and visualize data which attracted the users.
Compatible with Microsoft Excel
Google Sheets is compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats, making it easy to work with files across different platforms. It includes various features that leverage machine learning, such as the “Explore” tool, which allows users to ask natural language questions about their data and receive answers, visualizations, or summaries.
Google Sheets also provides robust sharing and permission controls, enabling users to manage who can view or edit their documents. As a cloud-based service, Google Sheets automatically saves changes, ensuring that the latest version is always available and accessible from any device with an internet connection.
- Office Editing Extension: Google provided a Chrome extension called “Office Editing for Docs, Sheets, and Slides” for viewing and editing Microsoft Excel documents in Google Sheets.
- File Access: The extension allowed users to open Excel files from their computer or directly from the web (e.g., email attachments) without downloading them.
- Default Installation: The extension was pre-installed on ChromeOS devices.
- Update (June 2019): As of June 2019, the extension was no longer needed because the functionality became available natively in Google Sheets.
Google Drive and Spreadsheets
Google Drive is the central hub for Google Sheets, including Google Docs. It allows users to create, edit, and share documents online from any device. With Google Drive, you can manage spreadsheets, presentations, and other files in one place after sign in to your Google account or drive.google.com which stored securely online, eliminating the need for local storage. This ensures that even if your local hard drive fails, your data remains safe. Google Sheets not only online mode but also it can view and edit by offline on a computer by using Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge also.
As a press release on October 09, 2024, by a global digital marketing leader, Gemini, Google’s AI-powered assistant, is now integrated into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more. This innovative tool enhances productivity while ensuring enterprise-grade security and privacy, empowering users to collaborate and create smarter within Google Workspace.
