Offisync is currently the top rated application in the Google Apps Marketplace. 216 users have taken a second to say how much they like it. This is because Offisync let’s you do what may seem impossible at first: integrate Microsoft Office on your desktop with Google Docs in the cloud. Many users, forced to choose between the desktop and the cloud, could suddenly breathe a sigh of relief. Offisync gives you the best of both worlds.
Installation
Offisync was actually around before the Google Apps Marketplace even existed. Installation is a two step process depending on how you plan to use it. For users who just want to connect their desktop Office suite with their standard Google account, simply download the Offisync software and follow the installation instructions.
If you want to use Offisync with your custom domain on your Google Apps account, you will also need to install Offisync from the Google Apps Marketplace. It’s a quick process to install and activate it, only taking a few clicks of your mouse. After that, all users on your domain will have access to use it.
What To Do With It
Now that you’ve got everything installed, putting it to good use is easy. When you start up Office, you will find that you have a new Offisync toolbar (or menu, depending on your version of Office). Your first step will be to add your Google account. You can do so by navigating to the Offisync toolbar and choosing Settings. In the Accounts dialog, click Add and enter your Google email address and password. If you’re using Google Apps, be sure to enter the correct email address at your domain.
Now, you will have full access to your Google Docs folders. Simply choose Open on the Offisync toolbar. Perform web and image searches from the toolbar and insert the resulting content directly into your document. As you edit your documents locally, just be sure to use the Offisync Open/Save options to stay in sync with the cloud.
Other Features
If you opt for a premium account ($12 per year or a one-time payment of $30), you will have access to a few additional features:
- Edit your files stored on Google Sites.
- Co-authoring for your documents – This lets you see, in real-time, changes made by those you have shared the document with.
- Save your documents in native Office format – Offisync usually converts your document to Google Docs format in order to store it, but this feature lets you store your document in Google Docs without converting and without losing any important formatting.
Offisync should help ease the transition from Google Docs if you plan to switch to the new Office 2010. If you just like the feel of editing documents locally, but being able to access them from anywhere, this also works. Regardless of the situation, Offisync may be just what you need to make dealing with documents easier.
Do you use Offisync yet?