How-to: Easily turn a spreadsheet attachment into a public Google Doc spreadsheet

I love open source/skill share resources, so here are step-by-step instructions on how to easily transform any spreadsheet into a Google Doc spreadsheet that you can share on the web as a public webpage.

In this case, I’m using the LGBT Employment Pipeline doc as an example, which is normally sent to The Queer Commons‘ google groups email as an attachment. I’ve turned it into a public spreadsheet several times and created this list of steps so that these orgs (and anyone who finds this) can do this themselves.

If you’re a non-profit, consider making alerts like these available as shareable public documents because no one reads attachments these days. It also makes it easier for people to share your content on Facebook and Twitter (if it’s an attachment they can’t do that!)

This was once a lonely email attachment -- now the whole world can see it

Step 1. Email yourself your spreadsheet to your gmail account.

Step 2. Once it’s in your gmail inbox, click on the “Open as a Google spreadsheet” option at the bottom of the email.

Step 3. This transforms your spreadsheet into a Google Doc spreadsheet that will automatically open in Google Docs.

Step 4. Change the file name by clicking on the automatically created name in the upper left corner and place this in that RENAME SPREADSHEET field:

[QUEER COMMONS] [JOB OPPS] LGBT Employment Pipeline – October 7, 2011 <— [ADD THE NEW DATE HERE]

Step 5. Add a new tab to the spreadsheet that includes info about the pipeline. You can use the one I created by copying it over. – to add a new tab: click the “+” icon at the bottom of the spreadsheet. That will create a new tab. – rename that tab “READ THIS” by right clicking the tab and clicking on “RENAME” – Have the google doc I made last time open in another browser tab for reference. Simply copy the entire contents of that tab and paste it into your new tab by clicking the upper left grey square of that spreadsheet page, which copies the entire page. Then, go into the new tab you created and click on that grey square and click on Edit>paste.

Here is a link to the latest spreadsheet I made for this group as an example to access that tab:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnZvFGOzgbTtdFo1bXUtRzNGd1BrWnFJUU5WNE5qQVE&hl=en_US

Step 6. Modify your new spreadsheet any way you like — I suggest updating the field that says “The next email blast will be sent Friday, October 21, 2011.” and update that date.

Step 7. Now make the new spreadsheet you just made public so you can share the link. To do this, click the blue “SHARE” button in the upper right corner of your spreadsheet.
– Where it says “Private – Only the people listed below can access” click CHANGE
– Select the “Public on the web” option and then click SAVE
– A field called “Link to share” will appear with the new link to your public spreadsheet.

Step 8. Copy that link to email. You can also shorten that link for social media use by going to bit.ly and pasting that long link into the shortening field. It will generate a bit.ly shortened URL for you to share.

IMPORTANT: If you’re a non-profit or just don’t want all these public docs associated with your personal gmail account, you can create a new gmail account just for sharing public docs or work with Googles Apps for Businesses so that your official business email is associated with your Google Doc creation. Additionally, take the time to consider whether or not you want something to be public to the world (there are various privacy settings) and editable by everyone.

This is just one way to easily transform your existing spreadsheet into a Google Doc spreadsheet. For those unfamiliar with Google Docs, emailing it to yourself and the one-click process is fastest/easiest, but you can also go to https://docs.google.com/ (when you’re logged in) and upload the spreadsheet from there.

HOWEVER! TAKE NOTE! Uploading an Excel spreadsheet attachment directly into Google Docs may not format the way you want it to after it’s converted. I’ve found that the step-by-step process I just covered preserves the original formatting (ability to sort, column widths, etc.). Try both methods and see what works for you on a case by case basis.

5 Rad Things: YouTube’s new editing tools, how to hide yo kids, hide yo wife, Instagram news, Cinemagraphs and The Queer Commons

In my last edition of 5 Rad Things, I raved about Sonic editions for iPhone. I’m happy to announce that as I approach my 30th birthday (9/29), I have yet to put away childish things and am still inspired by the same ‘ole stuff the kids love: productivity enhancements! 😀

Here are 5 rad things that I’m going to obsess over today:

1. YouTube’s new editing tools

Last week YouTube rolled out some great new features, including a marvelously addictive “fast little kid” version of YouTube Editor. This was a natural step for a video portal that sees more traffic than all other video sites. As the NYTimes.com article pointed out, YouTube Editor had some limitations that more than likely prevented people from uploading certain kinds of clips on the fly. Before, online editing would result in a new video with a new address; now, old uploads can be made new in the same place.

I would have uploaded more clips from Paris if this feature had been available last fall

According to YouTube engineers, the vast majority of uploads were unpolished clips straight from phones and point-and-shoot cameras. They realized people might not want to post-produce using video software or the existing YouTube Editor, which would result in a new upload and address. These new features make it easier to publish, edit, polish and share your clips through your phone and browser. YouTube Editor, which allows combining trimmed clips with transitions and other elements, isn’t going away. The Edit Video button just offers needed one-click improvements. Click here for more from the NYTimes.com review of YouTube’s new editing tools.

Minor but significant improvements like the ability to retain your original link after editing definitely augment any social justice activity — something that excites me. For example, the #takebackwallstreet events in lower Manhattan — more people can document and share police activity and events. At some point, YouTube will allow more than just their Partner Program folks to livestream video and then I think that’s when YouTube is really going to see a wider breadth of content and engagement. In the meantime, there are a ton of existing livestream options for your mobile phone, like USTREAM. You can watch what is happening on Wall Street right now. YouTube is missing out on a big opportunity right now to support activists but I’m sure that will change.

2. How to hide yo kids, hide yo wife on YouTube

It’s really easy. If you don’t want everyone oogling anything that should remain private (like minors in various states of undress, private functions, etc.), follow these simple steps:

Go to your video on YouTube and click “edit info” button in the upper left corner, then at the bottom of that page there is a section called “broadcasting and sharing options.”

OPTIONS:
– Public (anyone can search for and view)

– Unlisted (anyone with the link can view)

– Private (only people you choose can view — you can select by email address or YouTube username)

If you are uploading videos of your own children, it’s up to you to decide what the best option is for your family. However, if you’re uploading videos of other people’s kids, please do yourself a favor and ask permission first. If you forget to do that, at least change the video privacy setting to PRIVATE and add the parents email address or YouTube name so they can watch it and give you instructions on whether to make it public or take it down.
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