Converting files with Google docs and Zoho

I experienced how frustrating our patrons feel when they come to the library to print out files that can't be opened with the Microsoft Word software version installed on our public computers. I sent an OpenOffice.org file, but forgot to convert it to a Word document. Of course I couldn't open it. Then I remembered that you could import files into Zoho. I saved the file to the desktop, opened my Zoho account and imported the file. It worked like a dream. Some of the formatting was lost, but that is a small matter. The important thing is I could access the content. I tested this with Google docs and again it was easily done using the upload function in Google docs. There are other file converters on the web and some time I would like to try them out, For now, I am very satisfied with the results.

#16 Zoho Writer experiment

I am writing this post using Zoho Writer. It has quite powerful features and I would like to experiment with it. I have been using Google Docs and found that a convenient way of always having access to your documents - I used to either email documents or carry discs/memory sticks around. It looks like it saves your work automatically although it is not as obvious as with Google Docs. Google Docs is not as feature rich as Zoho Writer. The fact that you can import Word documents make this very versatile. I wonder if you can create a document and export it as a Word document. (You can do that with Google Docs, which is very convenient.) I am impressed by ZohoShow the presentation application - I still have to use the Google presentation application so that I can compare the two. The only complaint I have is that it is another account to open and use, but if it proves worthwhile I might switch to Zoho Writer.

One thing that bothered me was when I signed up using either my Google or Yahoo account Zoho Writer ask to have access to my contacts and data in the accounts. I felt very uncomfortable with that and denied permission with the result I couldn't sign up that way. When I signed up from scratch there was no such intrusive action, although I gave my Web 2.0 programme's gmail address to sign up. But any case, here I am now typing away on this blog post and am quite intriged by Zoho Writer.

I also looked at the other web-based applications. Thinkfree also looks good although it is not free. I don't understand what gOffice is about and at this stage don't have the time or interest to have a closer look at it. Up until now Google docs has served the purpose and now that I have a Zoho account I might use that for a while to see if it worth having two accounts. The sharing funtion (for both Google doc and Zoho writer) is very useful for collaboration.