What are smart chips in Google Docs? How to use them
Key things
- Smart chips in Google Docs make it easy to insert people, files, data and places for efficient collaboration.
- Benefits include better organization, better collaboration and time-saving access to information.
- Inserting smart chips is simple, using the Insert menu or typing the “@” symbol, which increases the efficiency of the workflow.
Want to make your Google Docs smarter and more efficient? Smart chips let you easily embed people, files, data and even places right into your documents, changing the way you collaborate and organize.
What are smart chips in Google Docs?
Smart Chips are interactive elements that you can insert into Google Sheets and Google Docs that provide additional context without overwhelming the document with additional details. Think of them as dynamic snippets that deliver useful data right where you need it. Here’s a quick look at some smart chips you can add to Google Docs:
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People |
Tag team members or contacts by linking to their Google Accounts. |
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Files |
Connect to other Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides for easy viewing. |
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Dates |
Insert calendar events or deadlines to keep track of important timelines. |
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Places |
Place links, add routes or map information right in your document. |
The best part? Smart chips are interactive. You can hover or click on them to get more details, turning your document into an organized, clickable hub of information. As someone who often juggles multiple projects, I found this feature invaluable for keeping everything connected in a neat and accessible way.
Incorporating smart chips into your Google Docs not only keeps things organized, but also increases productivity and improves collaboration. Linking people and related files directly in the document makes teamwork easier as team members can be assigned tasks or linked to specific areas of responsibility Smart chips also save time by eliminating the need to switch between tabs or search for important files – everything is just a click away.
How to insert and use smart chips
Adding smart chips to Google Docs is as easy as it gets – similar to putting smart chips into Google Sheets. Here are two quick ways to do it:
- Place the cursor where you want the smart chip.
- Click Insert at the top of the page.
- Choose Smart chips from the drop-down menu.
- Select the type of chip you want – whether it’s a person, a file or a date.
Method 2: Using the “@” symbol.
- In your document, enter @ symbol.
- A menu with options for smart chips will appear.
- Select the one you need (eg person, file or date) and press Enter.
To remove the smart chip, simply delete it like any other text. This ease of use makes smart chips a natural part of my workflow, and once you start using them, you’ll find them indispensable.
How I use smart chips in Google Docs
As someone who juggles multiple projects and works with different teams, Smart Chips have become a cornerstone of my document management.
While working on a cross-team research project, I used File Smart Chips to embed links to datasheets and research documents. This allowed my colleagues to dive right into specific statistics without having to sift through footnotes in Google Docs. I also tagged other analysts with People Smart Chips to ensure effective feedback sharing
For managing meeting notes, Smart Chips are a lifesaver. I insert chips for key dates and previous agendas so the team can quickly catch up on what was covered during our weekly syncs. I also add term chips for project milestones so everyone has a clear timeline without having to switch to another app. This came in handy during a recent touchpoint where the embedded data chips helped us stay on top of our sprints.
Smart chips also allow seamless assignment of tasks. I recently supervised a series of blog posts and used smart chips to tag each author and link their concepts. This made the review process efficient because everyone could see where the drafts were, who was responsible, and what was in the works, all without sending out more emails. You can basically forget about using task management apps and have everything in Google Docs.
Smart Chips in Google Docs are a simple yet powerful feature that can take your document management and collaboration to the next level. Whether you are solving complex projects, managing research or just want to have everything organized in one place, smart chips have something to offer. Choose one of the many Google Docs templates or create your own document and try out the smart chips.