Google Cloud Connect: a step-by-step guide

Google has launched a public beta of Google Cloud Connect, a plug-in that gives the user a direct link to sync and share Microsoft Office documents with Google Docs.

The testing programme began on Monday in the US, with other regions such as the UK to be added in early 2011. However, the beta has now been closed due to huge demand, the company said in a blog post.

This screenshot shows the plug-in being downloaded.

The plug-in allows documents in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to be available for collaboration in Google Docs, without reformatting them and without leaving Microsoft Office.

This image shows the display after the plug-in has been installed and before login using Google credentials.

The plug-in, developed via Google's acquisition of DocVerse, allows users the choice of automatically or manually syncing documents.

The last step is to log in using a Google Apps account, syncing the file to Google Docs with a click.

The successfully shared document appears in the display bar.

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see Google launches Microsoft Office connector: Keep your legacy Office, use our cloud on ZDNet.com.