{"id":96503,"date":"2023-06-20T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/?p=96503"},"modified":"2024-10-23T15:19:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T19:19:31","slug":"10-ways-to-organize-documents-in-google-docs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/10-ways-to-organize-documents-in-google-docs\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Organize Documents in Google Docs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Effectively organizing documents, especially lengthy ones, can be challenging. With the built-in features in Google Docs<\/a>, you have several ways to compose reports, articles, essays, proposals, team documents, and more in an efficient way.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to structure the document so it\u2019s easy to display information and scan for details. So, let\u2019s look at several key features for organizing your next Google Doc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"10<\/a>
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 26, 2019: Google Docs logo and app on a home page. Google is an American multinational technology company that specializes on Internet services and products.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Scan the Document With a Summary and Outline\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the simplest ways to create an overview of your document details is with the summary and outline features. These handy tools sit outside the content so they don\u2019t distract and can be shown or hidden with a click.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These organizational features let you summarize the contents of your document and skip to the section you need with the automatically generated outline.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show and Close the Summary and Outline\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To display the summary and outline, head to the View<\/span> tab and select Show outline<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You\u2019ll then see the Show document outline<\/span> icon on the top left of the document space. Select it to expand it.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When you finish with the summary and outline, use the Close document outline<\/span> arrow to hide it and display the Show document outline<\/span> icon again.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Add a Summary and Outline\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To add a summary, use the plus sign<\/span> to open the box and enter your text. \n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

To change it later, just select the Edit<\/span> icon (pencil).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use the outline, add headings to your document (explained below), and they\u2019ll appear in the outline automatically. You can then select a heading to jump to that section of the document. \n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You can remove a particular heading from the outline if needed by selecting the X<\/span> to the right of it in the outline.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Include and Customize a Table of Contents\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want something within the content that your readers can use to navigate your document, you can insert a table of contents in Google Docs. This feature was basic, but Google has enhanced it over time to make it customizable and attractive.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insert a Table of Contents\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To create a table of contents, structure your document section with headings. Enter text for a heading, select it, and then pick a heading level from the Styles<\/span> drop-down box in the toolbar. These headings automatically appear in the table for you.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Include<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to insert the table, place your cursor in the document where you want it. Then, open the Insert<\/span> menu, move to Table of contents<\/span>, and pick a style from Plain Text, Dotted, and Linked. \n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Include<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Choose the design you want to use, and you\u2019ll see the table appear. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Include<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Customize a Table of Contents\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can adjust how your table of contents looks and works in Google Docs, which is a nice feature. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To open the editing tools, select the table to display the small toolbar. Then, use the three dots<\/span> on the toolbar to pick More Options<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Include<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When the sidebar opens, you\u2019ll see two sections for Formatting and Heading Levels.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n