How to Use PowerGDocs

PowerGDocs is a free tool for importing and exporting Google Documents.  It provides an easy to use interface and web service to Google Docs™ right from Windows. To download the latest version visit this safe download site.  Other safe download sites are Softpedia and CNET.
PowerGDocs and its supporting application PShellExec are certified to be 100% virus free by the above sites. Users can quickly check for possible threats posed by any application by visiting the McAfee or Symantec Threat Centers.

Click here for more information on PowerGDocs. You can also check for new product announcements at the bottom of the page.

Feel free to make a small donation to help us improve PowerGDocs  . As our thank you note, you will receive free enhancements to the web service API.

Prerequisites

PowerGDocs uses PShellExec and requires PowerShell Version 2.0.  It runs under the following Windows Systems:

- Windows XP
   - Windows Vista
   - Windows 7
   - Windows Server 2003 and 2008

To save space and to provide better security options for users, PowerGDocs uses the free 7-Zip  utility. To use this option, first download it and then place the 7za.exe in PowerGDocs directory.

Installation


PowerGDocs is distributed as zip file, containing all the required files plus the licence.txt and this HowTo file. Unzip the files in a <directory> and you are ready to start using it:  Just run the PowerGDocs.cmd in your <directory>.
PowerGDocs does NOT require any separate install/uninstall procedures and it does not modify the Windows Registry. All claims to the contrary are bogus.

Release notes

Upgrading from versions prior to 1.4.5 requires a full PowerGDocs download and reinstallation. Users of later versions can check for updates from PowerGDocs Options tab.
 Version 1.0 - Initial Release
 Version 1.1 - Adds document browsing and searching Twitter.
 Version 1.2 - Adds Trash Bin and Starred documents browsing.
 Version 1.3 - Adds document update and local GDocs folder options. Needs a full PowerGDocs download and reinstallation.
 Version 1.3.5 - Adds automatic login, saving of user options and multiple files selection for upload.
 Version 1.3.6 - Adds folder creation and removal.
 Version 1.4 - Allows users to drag local folders and files into the Documents List.
 Version 1.4.1 - Adds one-way synchronization (mirroring) whereby updated files are copied to a local GDocs folder.
 Version 1.4.2 - Adds Document Search and a fix for Revisions
 Version 1.4.3 - Allows users to move documents between folders
 Version 1.4.4 - Adds a Time Service to check Atomic Clock & update the local system time
 Version 1.4.5 - Fixes file uploads using Drag-and-Drop; Requires full install (PowerGDocs.zip).
 Version 1.5   - Adds RESTful Web Services; Fixes document full text search.
 Version 1.5.1 - Lets users keep multiple configurations with logon, options and services information.
 Version 1.5.2 - Fixes compressed files passwords and upload handling.
 

Running PowerGDocs

Use the PowerGDocs.cmd file in the install <directory> or edit (right-click/Properties) and use the PowerGDocs shortcut.
PowerGDocs uses a configuration file default.config to keep user selected options and services settings described below. Users can save different configurations by copying and renaming the .config files in the install <directory> directory. PowerGDocs can be started using a specified configuration as:

          PowerGDocs   [uses the default.config settings]
          PowerGDocs myName.config   [uses the settings in myName.config for login, options and services]
          PowerGDocs myName.config -s  [uses the myName.config settings and the -s switch starts the web service, when the auto-login option is selected]
          

Login to Google Docs™

Enter your Google provided name and password to login to Google Docs™.

How to Upload Files and Folders

For a single file, select a folder from the list by clicking on its name, then click the Upload button and select a local file. Users can also select and drag folders and files from your Windows Explorer to a folder on the list. The number of items queued to upload is shown in the lower left window corner.

NOTE: In order to save space select the Compressed box on the Options tab.

How to Download a Google Documents Item

Select an item from the list by clicking on its name, then click the Download button and select a name for the local file. You can also right-click an item on the list and select Download from the menu list. Depending on your selection, you will get an option to convert the item and choose from a list of document types.

How to Remove a Google Documents Item

Right-click an item on the list, then select Remove from the menu list. You will be prompted to confirm the removal.

How to Browse and Edit Google Documents Items

Right-click an item on the list, then select Browse from the menu list to open the item using your internet browser.

How to Update a Google Documents Item

Right-click an item on the list, then choose Update from the menu list to select a local file with the same name.

How to Create or Remove a Folder

Right-click a folder on the list, then select New Folder or Remove from the menu list. You will be prompted to enter a new folder name or confirm the removal. Please note that folder removal may take some time and for the Documents List to reflect this.

How to Move/Copy Documents and Folders

Drag-and-Drop a document from the list to a folder in the tree list (highlighted green). Drop in the same folder to create a document copy. Top level folders, but not sub-folders, can also be moved to other folders.  Please note that any item can be moved from the root to a folder, but only Google type documents can be moved between other folders. Moving folders may take some time to complete and require refreshing the list.

What's Newsfeeds?

Lets users browse RSS news feeds and Twitter items while uploading or downloading. New RSS entries are saved automatically in the list. Users can also remove or edit the RSS list entries with their preferences in the default.config file located in the install <directory> (take care that all Rss entries remain consecutively numbered).

What are the Options?

The Options tab includes several user choices that remain in effect only while selected:

Encrypt local files Uses Windows Encryption to limit uploaded and downloaded local file access to the current Windows user.
Compress local files Compress local files with the 7Zip utility before Upload to Google Docs™. Users can enter their own file name extension and can also password protect the compressed file.
Launch file after each download Open downloaded files in Windows according to the assigned application type.
Select a local GDocs folder Designates a local folder for uploading and downloading of documents. When checked, the document view lists newer local documents in italics and older local documents in bold.
Auto Login Option to save user name and password for automatic login when PowerGDocs starts.

The options, logon and services settings are saved in a configuration file default.config when users exit PowerGDocs. Users can maintain multiple configurations by copying and renaming the .config files in the install directory. The Load Configuration option lets users logout and start PowerGDocs with a newly selected configuration.

What are the Services?

The Services tab includes the following future and current features:

Web Services Provides a RESTful Web Services for accessing Google Docs™. See more details here.
One-Way Synchronization In one-way file synchronization, or the mirroring service, new and updated files are copied from Google Docs™ to the selected local folder (in Options Tab). No files are copied back to Google Docs and no files are deleted from the local GDocs folder.
Time Service The service can check the Atomic Clock time and when it differs from the local system time, it can synchronize them.
 

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