Create and edit documents
In the Editor you can create new files or carry on working on files that already exist in Drive. Changes are saved automatically, and you can export any file to PDF when you need to share it.
Create a new file
To start a file from scratch, go to Drive and use the create button:
- Open Drive and select the Office tab.
- Click + New and choose the type:
- Text Document — for text, letters and reports.
- Spreadsheet — for tables, calculations and lists.
- Presentation — for slides.
- The file opens straight away in the Editor, in a new tab, ready to edit.
Open an existing file
To edit a file you already have in Drive, double-click it. Office documents open in the Editor in a new tab — Drive is never replaced, so you can carry on browsing while you edit.
Automatic saving
You do not need to save manually. As you type, the Editor saves your changes automatically. Each save also creates a version in the file’s history, so you can review or restore an earlier state from the version history.
Export to PDF
When you want a PDF copy — to send by email or to print, for example — use the Export PDF option in the editor’s File menu. The PDF is generated from the file and downloaded to your computer. The original file stays in its editable format.
Supported formats
The Editor opens and saves both Microsoft Office and LibreOffice formats:
| Type | Formats |
|---|---|
| Documents | DOCX, DOC, ODT, RTF, TXT |
| Spreadsheets | XLSX, XLS, ODS, CSV |
| Presentations | PPTX, PPT, ODP |
You can open a DOCX, XLSX or PPTX file, edit it and save it back in the same format, keeping compatibility with anyone using Microsoft Office.