Upload multiple documents to Google Docs

I’m a HEAVY user of Google Docs and like having access to my documents, spreadsheets, forms and presentations from any place – even my iPhone. One of my current projects is to begin moving the many documents that have been created in Word or Open Office into Google Docs. The Google Docs page provides a way to upload compatible files one at a time. This can be time consuming and I have entire folders full of documents to move. So what’s a Doc to do?

Well, a quick search led me to a Google Code page with just the Mac app I needed – gdocsuploader. This app can be used in two ways.  You can open the app and then select a file to upload (single files only), or you can upload multiple documents using drag and drop. I didn't find the first option any more useful than manually uploading files using the Google Docs tools. Here's my preferred way to use this app.

Download, Decompress and Install (Already know how? Skip to the next section):

• Download gdocsuploader
• Locate the downloaded file (probably in your Downloads folder or on your Desktop)
• Double-click to decompress the file – the gdocsuploader app will be placed in the same folder as the downloaded file
• Drag the gdocsuploder.app into the Applications folder
• Trash the downloaded file

The app can now be used like any other app, but again, it only allows for single file uploads and is not very accessible. You can create a shortcut on the Dock, use a Finder window to locate the files to be uploaded, select them and then drag them to the Dock, but I have another method that I think provides quicker access to gdocsuploader.

Add gdocsuploader to Finder windows:

• Using a Finder window, locate the gdocsuploader in the Applications folder
• Double-click to load the application – a dialog box will appear asking for your Google account information
• Enter your Google account information – this step only has to be completed once
• Close the gdocsuploader app
• From the Applications folder, drag gdocsuploader to the Finder window menu bar as shown in the image below – a shortcut is now created that will appear in all Finder windows

Upload files to Google Docs:

• Open a Finder window
• Locate the files to upload – ensure they meet the compatibility requirements as described on the Google Docs page
• Using Finder selection tools, select the files to be uploaded
• Once selected, drag the files to the gdocsuploader icon you placed in the Finder window menu bar – the files will be uploaded to Google Docs
• Open Google Docs in a browser – the documents are now uploaded and a part of your Google Docs library

Anyone else using Google Docs as much as I am? Anyone have a Windows or Linux solution? Leave a comment or drop me an e-mail and share your Google Doc tips and tricks. Life in the Cloud is good!