Google docs/file share -for small files only?

[hattyyellow]

I'm working with a local charity where we are sharing lots of documents.

I've been trying to use google file share/google docs for sharing word and excel files so that we can all edit as necessary.

It keeps refusing to upload them - is google file share not good for larger documents? The excel spreadsheet I am currently trying to upload is 47kb.

Are there any similar programmes that are free that I could try? Or do I need to do something to the spreadsheet before uploading? I am literally clicking on upload and then being refused.

Would hugely welcome any help.

Why not sign up for dropbox? Dropbox

it's much better than googledocs, because it still leaves the files in their orginal format (Word, Excel etc)

You get plenty of space on the "free" version - and can get more by getting others to sign up (pity I don't have your email address!)

Once you have downloaded it, you can then set up a folder for "public" access and then invite your colleagues to join Dropbox - thereby increasing your won space avaialble :) and give them access to that folder.

Regarding the Excel spreadsheet - I think there's a limit to how many rows of data can be accepted.

If the spreadsheet is larger, I guess you would need a different method (however I've not seen anything yet which allows you to put similar documents online and then allow either read-only (viewing) access or allow full edit for other people, in quite the same way as Google Docs).

If you find you need to swap documents to and fro, you might find it useful to install a bit of free software from DriveHQ.com (it makes the space on DriveHQ - 1 or 2 GB - available as if it is a separate drive letter, even though it is disk space on a server miles away). Of course you'd need it on a machine in each location.

There are some limits (400 MB a month, I think) of how much you can transfer but unless you get onto bigger documents or thousands of transfers, you won't hit that limit.

I'm with prettybird, dropbox is file sharing done right.

Thanks so much for all these answers, they are incredibly helpful. We are mainly sharing bids to funders for the charity as well as other docs such as minutes from trustee meetings.

I have downloaded Dropbox and have suggested my colleagues do the same. Two of the Trustees are quite elderly and are a bit worried about installing something "mysterious" on their computers. Is there any reassurance I can give them? Is it safe? I think it's because it's not widely known as a brand name so they are more scared than when it was Google..

I've looked up some reviews of Drop Box (for example here, here or here

Essentially, it has been going for about 2 years and I can't find any negative comments about security. If it helps, they use the "cloud" programming developed by amazon.com - that should be a reputable name that would be recognised by your trustees.

That's so kind of you thank you! I'm seeing the Trustees tonight so I will print off the reviews and take them with me - hopefully that will put their minds at rest!

Thanks!

Dh introduced my dad to dropbox - and he is now using it for work he is doing with the head injury charity he is involved with.

Dad is 73 :)

If they are still keen to use Googledocs, you can copy and paste into a spreadsheet in Googledocs I think, 100 lines at a time, if your sheet is too long to upload.

Thanks so much all, I mentioned dropbox to the committee last night and showed them the reviews -they were a bit nervous but have agreed to look at the website which is progress! Will also try copying docs 100 lines at a time - good plan!

Will keep you posted! Thanks so much again :)

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