this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2021
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Privacy

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Unfortunately, almost all the group projects at my university require Google Docs, so I have to use it to complete assignments. Is it possible to use Google Docs without using Google's own client?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago)

Of course, they are OASIS, you only have to save them as ODF or the OASIS kind of file, edit offline and update or sync with LibreOffice https://www.libreoffice.org/ and others compatible https://code.google.com/archive/p/ooo2gd/

As they export/import to/from MSO, you can even use MSO, but some features are not compatible

Also, Collabora Office for Android and IOS compatible devices works, https://www.collaboraoffice.com/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 years ago (1 children)

No. Google Docs format is proprietary. You'd have to export it and then reupload it and that would create a bunch of track syncing issues.

You could suggest to your Universities IT department that they use Nextcloud and OnlyOffice (both Open Source) instead of Google Docs, offer to show them a demo and tell them it would save them millions in licensing costs. But I imagine if it's a Canadian University IT department they're lazy AF. Mine switched everything over to Microsoft Office and then tried to cut professor wages to make up for the cost increase. Garbage.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago) (1 children)

But I imagine if it’s a Canadian University IT department they’re lazy AF.

Fuck man that hit home. Also speaking from experience?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago (1 children)

Oh yeah. My university was quite garbage.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago (1 children)

Might I ask which one? I'm currently at UBC.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago

Don't feel comfortable for privacy reasons but it was out in the prairies.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 years ago

I have not heard of anyone making a FOSS or third party client for Google Suite or such online services. Google does not allow working on documents from a guest or visitor/anonymous mode either. Might be a hard find.

This might not be a much helpful comment.