Google Docs: How to create an outline
When you draft or edit a lengthy document in Google Docs, navigating through sections and finding relevant headings can be cumbersome. you’re able to press Ctrl + F to filter through sections, but it doesn’t work if you don’t match the exact characters. Scrolling delays your progress. Here is where Google Docs' outline feature comes into play. It’s a lifesaver for your workflow.
Since early October 2024, Googlerolled out a documents tab featurein Google Docs to make finding relevant sections and headings easier. It works for Google Workspace and personal Google accounts. The feature supports up to three levels of nested subtabs. The tabs feature is integrated with the outline section in Docs.
In Docs, the outline featureorganizes the contentin one place. Whether editing on yourAndroid phone, tablet, or PC, you could switch between sections in seconds. More importantly, it’s automatic. All you do is insert headings to make the outline and create tabs as you go. Our guide covers the importance of creating a Google Docs outline and what you can do with it.
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What is the outline feature in Google Docs?
Google Docs' outline feature works like the Table of Contents (ToC) and serves as a blueprint for your writing. The difference is that the outline is automatic and doesn’t appear inside your document. Since it’s a product feature, anyone can use it regardless of whether they own the document. It’s tied to headings, so you only see it if your document contains them. Without headings, Docs doesn’t create an outline even if the document is a million characters long.
When youadd headings to your document, Docs detects them and adds them to a sidebar on the left side of your screen. You can remove them if you don’t want them there. Like anchor texts, clicking a heading takes you to the section of your document where they exist. When you remove or add characters to them, the changes are reflected in the sidebar. Customization settings like font styles and colors don’t apply. Outline is also smart enough to detect your heading 2 and heading 3 and make the required adjustments to reflect them on the sidebar. Check the screenshot below for reference.
On the other hand, the ToC doesn’t correct itself. If you make changes to headings, you’ll click the update button to refresh the ToC. However, it offers room for customization, including adjusting indents, heading size, and changing font styles and colors, which the outline doesn’t. These settings don’t affect your document’s content.
Integrating tabs with your Google Docs outline
While creating an outline is useful for keeping the document organized with proper headings, you’re able to use tabs to move between sections. The tabs feature specializes in organizing lengthy documents. Adding tabs allows users to navigate between subsections and save checkpoints within those sections. Imagine, as a reader, you’re navigating through an entire troubleshooting guide where 90% of the text is irrelevant to your issue. You can use tabs to jump to the exact problem and solution instead of skim-reading through three or more paragraphs to arrive at your answer. The tabs feature works in the Google Docs web editor and the mobile app.
If you want to navigate your document using tabs, you’re able to find the list of tabs at the bottom of the Google Docs mobile app. It’s only currently available if the document already has tabs, which can only be added through Docs' web version.
How to create an outline in Google Docs
Google Docs is available for computers and mobile devices, and you can create outlines on both platforms. The computer version is accessible via browsers and gives you an expansive view of its features. The mobile app offers a portable and simplified interface. You can use it to make quick last-minute edits when you need to share documents with someone.
Create a Google Docs outline on your browser
There you have it. Outline is a must-have feature for anyone working with long documents in Google Docs. It makes navigating the entire document much smoother.
Create a Google Docs outline on the mobile app
Create a Google Docs outline on a tablet
Like mobile, Google Docs has robust apps on iPad andtop Android tablets. If you use the company’s tablet app, use the steps below to create an outline in seconds. Let’s take Google Docs for iPad as an example. The steps are identical on an Android tablet.
Google Docs makes editing simple
The Google Docs outline and tabs ensure you can find a document’s content without scrolling. However, there’s plenty you can do with this free word editor. In Docs, youcan create illustrations, use voice typing, automate citations, and use add-ons to enhance its capabilities without leaving the interface.
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