You mean people don’t need to spend vast amounts of money on Microsoft Office?

You mean people don’t need to spend vast amounts of money on Microsoft Office?

Nice updates for Google Drive.

Originally shared by Google Drive

We realize that as a Docs user, you still sometimes have to work with different file types, so we often launch updates to make it a little smoother for you. It’s now even easier for you to edit Office files where you often come across them—as attachments in your email. 

With just one click on the new edit icon in Gmail attachments, you can automatically convert Office documents — giving you the additional benefits of a single document to keep track of, access from anywhere (even offline!), and revision history.

And while we’re on the topic of conversion, you can now import 15 new Office formats — including presentation show files (pps, ppsx), macro-enabled files, and template files — all with improved charts, images, and tables support!

Pro tip: we realize that sometimes you need to open and edit an Office file without converting it to Google formats, so to have that choice, just install the Chrome extension: http://goo.gl/FgMfk9. Once it’s in place, you’ll have the option to convert the file by clicking on the pencil icon, or edit the file as is by clicking on the attachment card and selecting open from the top of the file preview. 

More info about all of the options above is available in the help center: http://goo.gl/X8bgB6.