Google Docs may have facilitated online, on-the-go editing by users within the web browser, but easy accessibility and file management can be a pain. Especially if you regularly deal with PDF and other file formats.

If you don’t do this right, your documents may be tricky to open and sending the wrong document format to your colleagues might seem unprofessional.

As a free online word processor, Google Drawings, slides, spreadsheets and text can be saved and formatted and converted through a secure networked system to meet your designated digital pursuits.

Thankfully, within the Google Doc interface lies advanced options set to cater to your professional needs. Whether you need to save your document as PDF, TXT, HTML, or any other text format, in just a few clicks, the intricate details within the software can easily help you convert your files to the right format.

Below, we’ll cover a step-by-step guide to converting and saving your Google Doc file into other document file or text formats such as;

• PDF Document (.pdf)
• Microsoft Word (.docx)
• Open document Format (.odt) 
• HTML or Webpage format (.html)
• Plain Text (.txt)
• Rich Text Format (.rtf)
• E Publication (.epub)

We'll cover:

• What File Formats Can I Save My Google Doc Content As?
• How To Save Or Upload A PDF File To Google Drive
• How to Upload A Google Doc File Onto Google Drive
• Uploading a Shared Google Docs Document To Your Google Drive
• Uploading A File To Google Drive From The Print Icon
• Why Save Your Google Doc File As A PDF

What File Formats Can I Save My Google Doc Content As?

Here’s how to convert your Google Doc content into other formats:

1. Select the Google Doc you wish to download, save or share.
2. Click on “File” icon located at the top left corner of your screen, this icon would further bring up a “Download as” option which you should click on.
3. Choose the format of the document you wish to save. Another format of the exact copy of your Google Doc would be found in your downloads folder.

From there, as you can see, you can convert your document into a few different formats. 

Let’s take a look at what the different file formats you can save your Google Docs as and what they mean.

PDF Document (.pdf)

The Portable document file format ensures that your document maintains its original structure and is untampered with when shared. 

Other file types such as Excel spreadsheets, images, videos, PowerPoint presentations could also be viewed in pdf file. 

Also, you have complete control over its visibility as alterations or edits cannot be made on said document.

Unlike other MS Word documents, PDF files are created mainly for viewing and not editing. Which is why they’re often the go-to file format for sending in emails

Microsoft Word (.docx)

Microsoft word document format aids its users in modifying the original document and allows for alteration of structure. 

The MS word application provides functionalities that aid the editing and formatting of your document with its inbuilt design tools. 

You could correct grammatical errors, change font, insert images, tables, videos and perform other clerical tasks offline. Documents could also be edited on other devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers.

Open document Format (.odt) 

The multifaceted nature of the OpenDocument Format accommodates texts, images, graphs and spreadsheets within its program and makes conversion to other formats easy with its programmed Open XML-based document text structure. 

You could open ODF files with a number of OpenOffice compatible programs such as KWord (Unix like), Abi Source AbiWord (Windows version), Doxillion, NeoOffice (Mac), and more.

Rich Text Format (.rtf)

RTF documents have Smaller File Size that makes its sharing and export easier between people who use Word and people who don’t. 

It would be better suited as email attachments and could be opened with programs with different word processors, thereby retaining key formatting elements like color, font style, images, links, spacing and so on.

Plain Text (.txt)

As its name implies, the plain text (.txt) format ensures that documents are viewed as they are in plain text, without any formatting elements and styles applied. 

Features such as font size and type, italics, image viewing as well as other features cannot be used. Texts are presented in basic, portable text modes, that could be opened by applications such as WordPad, Microsoft Office or Open Office. 

You could find plain texts in websites and apps. It is portable and can be easily accessed just about any document software.

HTML or Webpage format (.html)

Hypertext Markup language is mostly used by tech professionals such as Web developers, coders and programmers as it is the core of any web page layout.

It is mainly used as the language of the world wide web; every web-based application, website or program has HTML code written in its basic setting. 

You might want to convert your text document into HTML format in order to integrate it into web design and code, as it is cost-free, portable, and of course accessible by any browser.

If you’re looking for an easy to organize and manage your HTML files, check out Inkit’s PDF Renderer to learn how to convert HTML to PDF at scale, with managed infrastructure.

E Publication (.epub)

Electronic publication files can store texts images, formatted font styles, links, images, videos and so on. 

Through e-book file formats, digital reading is encouraged as it provides ease in access as well as compatibility with different application software on smartphones, tablets and computers. 

Instruction manuals, novels and so many other documents can be flexibly integrated into an e-book, for steady flow of information and improved understanding of the reader.

Now that you know how to save your Google Doc content into different file formats, let’s take a look at another way you can use Google Drive to manage your documents.

How To Save Or Upload A PDF File To Google Drive

You could transfer your PDF documents into private or shared folders on your Google Drive in order to have future access to them. Google docs can also be saved as they are interconnected with other Google apps like your Drive to save you time and effort. These are a few steps to upload your files from your smartphone or desktop or personal computer.

1. Open Google Drive (desktop version or online).
2. Create a new folder, drag your PDF (or other format) files into the Google Drive folder.
3. Create shareable link if you want to share it to your colleagues (right click > share).
   

How to Upload A Google Doc File Onto Google Drive

1. Open Google Docs in your web browser. Log into your Google account by entering your email and password, you will be shown a list of your documents to click on. 
2. Open your document by double-clicking the existing document or create a new document by clicking Blank on the upper left side of the page.
3. Edit document if needed and save changes to your document.
4. Save your file in a different location by selecting the Folder icon on the upper left side of your page. Double click the selected folder you would like to move.
5. Select the Move Here icon on the bottom of your menu.

Uploading a Shared Google Docs Document To Your Google Drive

1. Open your Google doc file on your browser.
2. Select the shared document you want to download by double-clicking.
3. Select File in the top-left corner of your page, another menu would be displayed, click on the icon Make a copy.
4. Select the preferred file format and enter a new name to copy into your personal drive.
5. Click OK.

Uploading A File To Google Drive From The Print Icon

Transferring your PDF documents to your Google Drive can be simplified even by more through Google Chrome. PDFs sent to you through Gmail can easily be uploaded on your Drive without the prior hassle of initially saving on your computer or smartphone. 

1. Open Chrome on your computer or smartphone.
2. View to open a preview of your PDF file, image, or any other file you want to print.
3. Click on the File > Print icon on the top side of the screen; this would open up the Cloud Print screen
4. Then, select Save to Drive.
5. Confirm it has been saved.
6. Click Print.

Did you know you can use Google Chrome as your default PDF viewer?

Check out our full guide to opening a PDF document with Chrome for more info!

Why Save Your Google Doc File As A PDF

Saving your documents in Portable document Format has could help you capture and share documents with ease regardless of the device used in viewing said files. 

Imagery, videos and links embellished in the original document can be viewed in its intended formats on your smartphones, tablets or computers. 

In contrast to Microsoft Word, PDF files consistently display compressed documents and facilitates a form of clarity in viewers’ decoding of textualized data as they preserve document formatting so they don’t change on other devices. 

If you need to send official documents such as Resumes, letters, spreadsheets, and other office documents that require a consistent and static text display, you might want to consider converting your Google Doc into PDF. 

Conclusion

Converting Google docs to other file formats could be achieved with the simple steps stated above. Uncomplicate the performance of your clerical or office tasks by taking advantage of the icons on your screen. These other file formats could very much cater to your various digital and professional needs, with just a couple of taps on your screen.

With the steps above, you can now convert your Google Doc into formats such as PDF, HTML, Word format, TXT, RTF, EPUB, ODF. You can also upload your documents and files on your Google Drive for future accessibility and sharing. 

Your Google Docs documents could be uploaded straight from your Google account to your Drive and other offline documents such as your PDF files could also be uploaded as well.