Save Time With Bookmarks: Document Templates

I don't know about you, but I use Google Slides for #allthethings.  I am constantly opening Google Slides and then changing the size of my slides.  I realized, with a simple two minute investment, I can save time and clicks each time I need a Google Slides file sized a certain way.

You can do this with any size, but I am going to show it with the three documents I use the most, 8.5 x 11 portrait and landscape slides as well as a landscape document.  Portrait documents are default so I didn't need a shortcut for that.

Step 1:  Create a folder in your Google Drive and call it something like Templates or Shortcut Templates.  This will give you a place to store these template documents you are about to create so that you remember what they are for.

Step 2:  Create a folder in your bookmarks bar.  You can do this by right clicking on the bookmarks bar and choosing "Add folder".  Name the folder "Templates" or whatever you wish to call it.

Step 3:  Inside the folder in your Google Drive that you designated for the templates, create a new Google Slides file.  Rename the file to be "Portrait Slide" (or whatever you want to call it).

Step 4:  Change the slide size to be 8.5 x 11 to make a portrait slide set.  You can do this by going to File --> Page Setup and choosing Custom.  Then change the units to inches and set it to 8.5 x 11.

Step 5:  Now that you have your portrait sized slides file, click on the little star to the right of the web address in the address bar to create a bookmark for this page.

Step 6: Change the Folder option to be the Templates folder you created in step 2.  Then before you save, click on the "More" button to get more options.

Step 7: Name the bookmark whatever you wish.  Then look at the URL (web address).  At the end of the URL, there will be something that says "/edit...".  It might have some other characters after it, but that is ok.  Change the /edit and everything after it to say "/copy" and then click "Save". See the pictures below.  

Step 8: Now repeat steps 3-7 to create bookmarks for a Slides file that is landscape and a Google Doc that is landscape.

There you have it!  Now whenever you want a Google Slides or Document file that is one of those sizes, you just click on your templates folder on the bookmark bar.

When you click on one of your template shortcut bookmarks, it will prompt you to make a copy of your template. 

Now you'll have your already resized document and be ready to go.  It took a little bit of set up, but so many clicks are saved each time you do this.  Enjoy all your extra seconds.  :)

Creating and Managing Bookmarks in Google Chrome

One way to make your internet browsing experience easier is to make bookmarks for the sites you visit most frequently and have them readily available in your bookmarks bar.

To check and see if your bookmarks bar is showing, look under the address bar.  Do you have a bar there with some links on it?  If so, your bookmarks bar is on.  If not, it is off.

Bookmarks bar off:

Bookmarks bar on:

If your bookmarks bar is off, you can turn it on with just a few clicks.  Click on the hotdog menu (with the three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner of your screen.  Choose "Bookmarks" from the menu and then choose "Show Bookmarks Bar" in the second menu.  Your bookmarks bar will now appear.  You can also use the keyboard shortcut to toggle the bookmarks bar off and on, which is Control+Shift+B on a PC and Command+Shift+B on a Mac.

To add a bookmark to your bar, browse to the site that you'd like to add.  Then look at the address bar and click on the star you see on the far right hand side.  A box will pop up so that you can name your bookmark and then click "Done" at the bottom.

Your bookmark will now show up on your bookmarks bar.

If you'd like to edit the title of your bookmarks, you can do so easily.  Right click on the bookmark you wish to edit, and then click "edit" from the menu.

You can now change the name to whatever you'd like it to be and then press "Save" at the bottom of the window.  Shorter is better because it will take up less space, allowing you to fit more bookmarks on the bar.

If the icons are distinct enough, like Google Drive, Gmail, Twitter, Google+, etc., you can delete the name altogether and just have the icon on the bar.  Edit the bookmark the same way you change the name, except you delete all the text in the "Name" box and then click "Save" at the bottom.

Deleting the names saves so much space, and I personally think it is easier on the eye.

Happy bookmarking!