Category: Formatting Tips & Tricks

Do you want to know how to use and edit JPG files? 

Approximately 69% of online content posted on social media are images. The second-most popular type of content posted on social media is updates or text posts.

It’s common to see JPG files, however, not everyone has the means to access them. Keep reading to find out what JPG means and the difference between JPEG. In this guide, we also have instructions on how to open, edit, and convert JPG files. 

1. What Are JPG Files?

Before we delve in, let’s first talk about what a JPG file is. As you know, you can save files on your computer in various file formats. JPG is one of the most common formats for saving image files.

JPG is one type of raster image extension. This means a series of pixels form the JPG file. They also have a defined proportion based on their resolution, which becomes blurry when stretched. 

You may also know of the JPEG extension, which is a format so similar it’s almost the same as JPG. Both JPG and JPEG reduce the size of the image file. However, JPEG can reduce the quality of the image too.

The reduce size makes it ideal to send, store, or display the image on websites. The other extensions for image files also include JPE and JFIF, but they are not common. The many other image file formats include TIFF, BMP, RAW, and more.

Both the terms JPG and JPEG stand for Joint Photographic Experts Group.

If you must use JPG files, make sure you save the file at the exact dimensions you need it for. If you plan to print something out on letter-sized paper, make sure the image file can fit it in real-life. Otherwise, you end up with a blurry or unclear image. 

2. Opening a JPG File

Out of all image formats, JPG is the one that’s most accepted by all viewing devices. This means all image viewers and image editors support the JPG file format. That includes the built-in image viewers on your PC, Mac, or smartphone.

If you’re on a computer, you’ll have a built-in program to view and open JPG files. On a Microsoft PC, you have programs like Paint, Microsoft Windows Photos, and/or Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer. On a Mac computer, the typical JPG file opener solutions are the Apple Preview and Apple Photos.

You can also use web browsers like Chrome or Firefox to open JPG files. Right-click on the image and select “Open with” to open it on your browser. You can also drag the file onto the browser window to access and view the JPG file.

If you have image-viewing and/or image-editing software, you can use them to access JPG files too. The typical programs include Adobe Photoshop and GIMP. You can also use online services like Google Drive to access JPG image files.

On mobile, it’s simple and easy to open a JPG file. You only need to use your built-in image-viewing app like the Gallery. Your smartphone also supports opening JPG files through email or text.

3. Editing JPG Files

Let’s say you want to post a photo of you taken via a camera on Instagram. However, you want to crop out a bystander in the background. Before you post the photo online, you can still edit it so it portrays your best look.

Before you go to Photoshop to edit your photo, remember that JPG files are difficult to edit. They are especially challenging to fix when they’re already saved in low resolution. If you want to edit JPG files, make sure it’s saved in the resolution for the final use.

Now, let’s talk about JPG file editors and how you can edit your JPG photo without losing quality.

You get various outputs depending on where you’re editing your JPG file. Making big edits on a computer versus editing on a smartphone give different results.

Built-in programs like Microsoft Paint have some of the most basic tools. Some of the most common actions done on MS Paint include cropping, resizing, and skewing an image. You can also add shapes, brush on the image, or add text.

On Mac, you need to update the Photos application. Photos, like Paint, is the built-in tool to edit images with on Mac computers. It has a few more features that Paint doesn’t have like Filters.

If you’re on mobile, your default photo-viewing application has photo-editing features too. You can do as much as use brushes and filters. However, the smaller screen makes editing more challenging.

4. Converting JPG Files

While they’re commonplace, JPG files aren’t always what you need in certain situations. There are also times when you need to use JPG files rather than other file formats for easier file storage. In this segment, we’ll teach you how to convert JPG files into other formats and vice versa.

JPG conversion is easy if you visit our main page. There, you’ll find various conversion tools for JPG to other file formats. At OffDrive, we present free online conversion for JPG, PPT, and more to JPG.

As an alternative, you can use image-editing programs to save a file as a JPG image.

If you want to convert certain JPG files into other file formats, we also offer that service. Check out our main page to find out a JPG to PDF converter.

5. Reasons to Convert Files to JPG

Do you remember how human beings are visual creatures? A study says that the collective global attention span is narrowing. This is because of the massive amount of information we receive and see every day. 

If you want to get a point across or highlight something, use images. They’re not only faster for us to digest, but they also present data in a more attention-grabbing and creative way.

Why be specific and bother converting image files to JPG?

Convenience is the answer. The JPG file format is one of the most common image formats in use. Thus, it’s more likely for you to encounter files in JPG than other image file formats.

Plus, JPG supports 24-bit color and up to 16 million colors. This is why it can compress and encode digital images with high resolutions.

Also, as we mentioned earlier, JPG files compress files so you end up with a file of a smaller size. It’s perfect for storing your files. Smaller file sizes also make it easier to upload and send image files via email.

Understand JPG Files Better

The JPG file format is one of the most useful, widely-used, and convenient formats to date. It’s also accessible on a wide array of programs and devices. Thus, you must know how you can use it.

We hope our guide on how to use and edit JPG files helped you understand them better. 

Do you want to learn how to convert pages to DOCX files? Check out our page and tools here for a variety of conversion tools for every file type. 

There are only 100 million people using Mac computers, compared to 400 million Windows 10 users. So, if you are one of the few who have switched to a Mac you might need some help navigating its features. 

Luckily, many of the applications are similar to Windows and are easy to learn. Read on to find out how to use Pages, Mac’s free document creator.

Using a Template

If you go through the Apple Pages tutorial using the help menu, the first option you will notice is the abundance of templates. 

You can also see these options when you open Pages and click on New Document. There are templates for letters, books, resumes, or a blank starting page. 

A great feature is a note-taking template that automatically adds the date, a title header, and subject line as well as a formatted outline for you to quick shorthand. This is perfect for college students to take organized notes.

Do you want Pages to automatically open a certain template when launching the application? Many people prefer to use a blank document instead of having to choose among several templates.

If you want to do the same, then go to the preferences tab on the Pages menu. Go to General > New Documents and choose Use Template. 

Customizing your Toolbar

A nice way to learn the functions in Apple Pages is to personalize your toolbar. This feature is unique to Mac, so take advantage of this customization option. 

Under the “View” menu choose “Customized Toolbar”. You can drag and drop the icons into your previewed toolbar just like on a smartphone. Remove options from the toolbar by dragging them to the app section.

If you want to change the toolbar back to its default setting then simply drag and drop the pre-made toolbar located at the bottom of the app page. 

Live Collaboration 

Available on a Mac or Pages for iPhone 11 or higher is a feature similar to Google Docs. It allows you to send a link to a document or invite people to view your document in live time. 

Choose whether your colleagues can edit or simply view your document. Remove these permissions at any time.

The only catch is that to use this feature you and your invitees must be signed in to your iCloud account. Changes made to the document will be saved on iCloud as well. 

Easily keep track of who is editing your document and what edits were made by clicking on the name of the participant. Or you can view the colored cursor or colored area to see who is making the change in real-time. 

You can then choose which version of the document you like best. If more than one version is saved then the most recent changes will show. Convert the document to either DOC or DOCX to share it with Windows users.

Adding Unique Bullet Points

If you have ever used the bullet point feature on Microsoft Word then you know that there aren’t many options. Everyone ends up using the dot, square, or arrow in their document or presentation. 

Mac Pages makes life more interesting with the addition of custom bullet points. You can use any image on your computer to create a unique bullet. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available on the Apple Pages app. 

On the Mac, highlight the text that you want to bullet. Go to the Bullets & Lists section on the side toolbar. Click on the gray arrow to reveal more options. Choose Image from the first drop-down and Image Bullets from the next drop-down. 

Under “Current Image”, you will see many built-in bullets that you can customize. Or click on Custom Image to choose a saved picture from your computer. 

Setting Autocorrection Options

The backspace bar is the third most used key mainly due to spelling errors. Pages can help you eliminate the time consumed by fixing errors with its array of autocorrect features. 

Go to Pages>Preferences and choose auto-correction from the top menu.

You will see the first option is to turn on or off the auto-spelling and capitalization options. These are defaulted to stay on which will allow Pages to change commonly misplaced words and capitalize proper nouns.

Next to these options, you will see a great feature. You can tell Pages which words to ignore when spelling and capitulation are turned on. This works well if you have a company name that you don’t want Pages to correct. 

This menu also allows you to auto-format and replace text with common symbols without having to search for them. 

Easily Get More Help

No matter how overwhelmed you are when first use your new computer there is always the Mac Pages help menu to get your questions answered. 

You will also find keyboard shortcuts in the help menu to streamline your workflow. In addition, look for new features under the What’s New in Pages section. You will be able to see all the upgrades from past versions of Pages to explore.

How To Use Pages and Share With Windows Users

When you learn how to use Pages, the most important task is to make it sharable with your friends, family, colleagues, and the rest of the world. Just because you are the minority as a Mac user, doesn’t mean you have to isolate your work.

Learn why it is so essential to convert your Pages document so they are compatible with Word and other Microsoft programs. 

Did you create a Facebook account for your business? Or are you an old-timer and you wish to update a new profile picture? Though uploading a profile picture is as easy as 1-2-3, there is a way to ensure that your photo comes in optimal size.

Your Facebook profile picture is like your physical representation in the virtual world. It is also your way of creating a first impression. 

This is crucial especially if you are job hunting. Studies reveal that your Facebook profile photo affects the decisions and responses of prospective employers.

Thus, you need to make the most of the available space but in the right way. But how do you do it? How do you optimize your social media profile images? What are the correct dimensions to follow?

Check out our comprehensive guide on using the correct picture sizes for your Facebook and other social media accounts.

Sizing: Why Does It Matter?

Apart from the clarity of your Facebook profile picture, its size also matters. Having a profile photo that is too big or too small can affect you in different ways.

Together with proper lighting, focus, and angle, the size of your picture is one of the four key factors behind a great profile picture. Whenever users look at your posts, they will see your profile picture on the side. By using the right dimensions, people can easily recognize your face or logo.

This helps in building your brand.

Do you want to post a picture of you during one of your trips to a historical landmark? It will work to your disadvantage if you’re not even as big as a quarter of the image’s total size.

Since you are too small in the picture, people will barely recognize you. They will have a hard time seeing your face. This is disadvantageous for prospective employers and business partners.

Your Facebook Profile Picture: Getting the Dimensions Right

Now let us discuss the dimensions of an optimized Facebook profile photo. There are guidelines that you need to consider before posting that profile picture. There are also reasons why you need to follow the right pixels.

Make sure that your picture is at least 180 x 180 pixels. Having a height that is below 180 pixels will affect your photo’s clarity. When you post your profile picture, it will appear on your profile page at 170 x 170 pixels.

As a thumbnail, it will appear at 32 x 32 pixels. When users see your photo on their smartphones, it will appear in 128 x 128 pixels.

Thankfully, you don’t need to go through major adjustments if you’re putting up a Facebook business page. This is because Facebook now uses the same rules for personal and business accounts when it comes to the dimensions of the pictures.

Additionally, you need to upload a picture that has a 1:1 aspect ratio.

Your Cover Page

Apart from your profile picture, you also need to upload a cover image. For this one, the size must be 820 x 312 pixels. If you go anywhere below, it will only stretch your image, which is something you want to avoid.

But if you have no choice, the minimum size is 400 x 150 pixels.

Your cover image will appear at 640 x 360 pixels on smartphones. And if you wish to upload your company logo that comes with text, it is best to upload it as a PNG file. 

The good thing about PNG files is that you can open them on practically any kind of smartphone or computer. This means better accessibility in case you need to share the file with anyone.

And in case you wish to convert your Doc files to PNG, simply follow this guide.

How About Twitter?

If you’re also into Twitter and you wish to optimize your profile, upload a profile picture that is 400 x 400 pixels. Moreover, your maximum file size must only be 100 KB. This will appear at 200 x 200 pixels.

As for your header photo, the size must be 1500 x 500 pixels with a maximum file size of 10 MB. Before uploading any header photo, make sure it is creative and eye-catching. Also, it must be high-resolution. 

If you’re using Twitter for your business, make sure your header photo is in line with your tagline, logo, and branding. 

Lastly, upload a 440 x 220-pixel In-stream photo. Make sure not to go beyond 5 MB in size. If you wish to post an animated GIF, the maximum file size is 3 MB.

Your Instagram Too

Your Instagram profile photo need not be big. A clear photo that is 110 x 110 pixels will do. But make sure to maintain a 1:1 aspect ratio.

When it comes to your photo thumbnails, stick to 161 x 161 pixels. Like your profile picture, keep the aspect ratio at 1:1.

When it comes to your Instagram Stories, you can post videos with a maximum length of 10 seconds. As for the video size, it must be 750 x 1334 pixels.

Don’t Forget YouTube 

If you have a YouTube channel, take note that your channel’s cover picture comes in different sizes depending on the platform. Thus, you need to optimize your photos for each platform.

For mobile display, your photo will appear at 1546 x 423 pixels. For TV display, 2560 x 1440 pixels. For tablets, 1885 x 423 pixels.

When it comes to desktops, 2560 x 423 pixels. Choose a cover picture that gives your viewers an idea of what to expect from your channel.

For your channel’s profile pic, go for 800 x 800 pixels.

Convert Your Files the Right Way!

Uploading a Facebook profile picture in the proper size is essential in optimizing your account. It helps you connect better with users and strengthens your brand. But sometimes, you may need to convert your images to a different format to improve their quality.

Check out our tools and convert images and documents to different file formats. Don’t know where to begin? Read our other guides right here, like this one discussing how to convert HTML to JPG!

Growing up with Microsoft Office in school had a lot of focus on Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. What many of us did not learn, however, is how to use Microsoft Excel like a pro. This is most likely due to the fact that as students, Word and PowerPoint were used the most for projects, papers, and other tasks. 

There weren’t too many times when our teachers or professors asked us to use Excel to complete a project or gave us Excel tips. Because of this lack of use for the program, not many people are well-versed in using Excel. When Excel is needed, you might even feel anxious about using it, nervous, and intimidated. 

As much as you might want to avoid using the program, there are times when you have no other choice but to learn how to use Excel like a pro. You might need to use Excel for your job, for a college assignment, for your business, or something else. It’s time to learn how to become an Excel pro by learning these tips listed below!

1. Selecting a Full Data Set

There will most likely be times when you need to select and copy all of the data on your Excel sheet. When this time comes, you’ll want to use the quickest and simplest way of doing so. If you’re not already familiar with the Ctrl + A shortcut, then that is one way to do it. 

However, there’s another way of doing this that’s even easier! At the top of your datasheet, there’s a corner button that touches the first row and first column. It looks like an arrow pointing downwards. 

Clicking on this button will copy all of your data at once! Only need to copy data in one row or column? Use Ctrl + Shift to copy data depending on where your mouse cursor is. 

To copy all data in the column above the cursor, you’ll hit the up arrow after Ctrl + Shift. Hit the down arrow to copy all data below the cursor in the column and the left or right arrows to copy data to the left or right of the cursor in that row. 

2. Auto-Filling Columns 

When you need to fill in repetitive information such as dates or numbers, this could take you a lot of time. To speed things up, you can auto-fill columns. To do this, begin entering your series of data. 

Then, head to the bottom of the last cell and place the cursor over the fill handle on the lower-right part of the cell. The “+” sign should then appear. Click this and then drag to select all of the cells that you want to fill with this repetitive information. 

The cells will then fill themselves using the pattern you’ve started. The more of a pattern you have, the easier it’ll be for Excel to auto-fill for you, but you don’t always need a pattern for auto-fill. Even without a pattern, you can still do this and Excel will pop up a window with options for you. 

3. Opening Multiple Files at Once

When you need to work with multiple files within Excel all at one time, you’ll need a way to open multiple files at once. Doing so is much simpler than having to open each file individually, which takes up a lot of time. To open multiple files with only one click, you’ll first need to select the files you want to open and then hit the “Enter” key. 

All of the selected files will then open at the same time. 

4. Creating Your Own Shortcut Menu

Shortcut menus are a blessing when working with Microsoft programs, but what happens when the tool you use the most isn’t featured on the shortcut menu? The most common shortcut menu options that you’ll most likely find are “Save,” “Undo,” and “Repeat.”

If you’d rather have shortcuts such as, “Copy,” “Paste,” or “Cut,” then you can create your own shortcut menu with these options. To do so, you’ll need to click on the following:

File>Options>Quick Access Toolbar. You can then add the shortcuts you’d like. When you’re done, hit, “Save.”

These options will then show in the shortcut menu, making your Excel experience that much better! 

5. Adding Multiple Rows or Columns at Once

Adding one new row or column to your datasheet is simple and doesn’t take a special tip to know how to do it. Adding multiple rows or columns at once can be a bit more challenging, however. Rather than spending the time adding each row or column individually, you can add multiple rows and columns at one time. 

To do this, drag and select how many rows or columns you’d like to add in a specific place on your datasheet. When done, right-click on these new rows or columns and select, “Insert.” The new rows will now be added!

Which Excel Tips Were Most Useful to You? 

Using Microsoft Excel can sometimes be a daunting task, but don’t let this program intimidate you. Use these Excel tips listed above to help you master Excel like a pro! 

Are you interested in more tech information such as learning how to convert files? Be sure to click here to learn more about formatting tips and tricks that can help you!

These tips will come in handy when needing to convert files for your business, school project, or personal life as well!

And when you need the help of conversion online, let us help you!

Standing up in front of a room full of people to give a speech can be intimidating. However, when you have a presentation tool like PowerPoint to help guide you through it, things are much easier. 

Using PowerPoint gives your audience something to look at intermittently, rather than just staring at you throughout the entire presentation. PowerPoint also guides you through your data, keeping you on track and gently nudging you if you get lost during your speech.

There’s a lot of room for error when it comes to designing a presentation, but the right PowerPoint tips and tricks can help. Keep reading for our best advice on how to keep your presentation clear, concise, engaging, and successful.

1. Be Prepared

Whether you’re looking for PowerPoint tips and tricks for a college presentation to be given in front of your class or a work assignment to be given in front of co-workers, you must be prepared. The more you know about the data (and the information behind the data), the smoother your presentation will go and the more confident you’ll be giving it.

Take time to rehearse the presentation in front of the mirror, using the slideshow exactly as you would during the real presentation. Then, take it a step further and perform a mock presentation to your family or friends. Maks sure you’re timing yourself so you know roughly how much time your presentation will take.

Finally, go into presentation day with a backup plan in case something doesn’t work. For example, if you used Keynote instead of PowerPoint, do you know how to convert the file? It never hurts to bring your own computer in, rather than depending on a portable hard drive and someone else’s hardware.

2. Know Your Audience

One of the most important PowerPoint tips and tricks reminds you to cater to your audience. Your presentation will only be as good as your audience perceives it to be. Don’t make the mistake of targeting your presentation towards the wrong audience.

Keep the following questions in mind:

• Who are you presenting to?
• What motivates them?
• Is there room for comedic relief or is this not the time?
• What do they value?
• What is the overall goal or message you’re trying to get across?

Once you have a better understanding of your audience, you’ll be able to design your presentation more appropriately.

3. Use High-Quality Images and Graphics

Next, the right image, photograph, graph, or chart can be exactly what’s needed to keep people engaged and focused on your presentation. However, many PowerPoint users make the mistake of using low-quality media, which can detract from the overall effect.

Make sure all of your media files are the right size. You don’t want any blurry and/or unreadable images coming up. It makes the information they present useless and your presentation sloppy.

4. Use Imagery to Keep Things Interesting

While you need to be careful about the quality and content of media you use for a presentation, it’s incredibly important that you do. Most people easily become bored and distracted during slideshow presentations, even when they’re interested in the subject matter.

One of the best PowerPoint tips and tricks you can use to keep everyone’s attention is incorporating photos, graphs, charts, and other images. Additionally, studies have shown that information is much easier to remember through imagery.

5. Keep Things Simple

When you’re creating your PowerPoint presentation, remember not to overcomplicate things. Keep your word count down on each slide. Use headers rather than huge bodies of text and don’t use extravagant fonts.

Additionally, while the imagery is important, too much of it can be overwhelming. Keep your images and any graphics clean and simple. This includes using simple colors (no more than four).

Finally, when it comes to slide transition, keep it conservative and simple. Don’t use anything that will detract from the content of the presentation. This includes avoiding sound effects (for slide transitions, bullet points, etc.).

6. Don’t Rely on Your Text to Get Your Point Across

Finally, whether you’re using PowerPoint or Keynote, and are presenting to fellow students or co-workers, you don’t want to be a monotonous robot up there. If you’re simply reading slides or note cards to an audience, you’re going to lose them. They can read for themselves, that’s not the point of you standing up in front of them.

Use your voice to accentuate and highlight certain parts of your presentation. Don’t rely on exclamation marks and bold font to make people understand important points.

7. Use GIFs and Videos

When appropriate, use GIFs and videos in your presentation to help keep people engaged. This is one of the best PowerPoint tips and tricks for entertaining your audience. Gauge the types of GIFs and videos you use based on your intended audience.

For example, just because you’re giving a presentation on productivity and time management, it doesn’t mean you can lighten it up with some humor.

8. Connect With the Audience

One of the hardest parts of giving a presentation or speech is connecting with your audience. If you’re uncomfortable in the spotlight, it’s vital that you relax enough to give an organic presentation where you can look at audience members, engage with them, and keep their attention.

Start by slowing down. Don’t get in a rush to finish the presentation and sit down. Your audience will sense it and they won’t even have time to take in the information.

Make sure you’re continuously making eye contact (with different people) and are pausing after key points to let the information sink in. Encourage people to ask questions. Engage with the audience by asking their opinions, observations, etc.

9. Present Your Slide One Piece at a Time

Finally, make sure your slideshows aren’t presenting information ahead of you. This is another one of the top PowerPoint tips and tricks used by the pros. 

Almost always, your audience will start reading any text as soon as it’s displayed on the screen. They’ll be down to your last bullet point before you’ve finished presenting the first one.

Make sure the slides you create present one piece of information at a time. That way, the audience will be listening to you rather than reading ahead.

Looking for More PowerPoint Tips and Tricks?

If you’re looking for more advice on PowerPoint tips and tricks, be sure to check out some of the other articles in our blog. However, if you’re looking for a free source to help you convert your files, you’re already there! We can help you convert images, presentations, spreadsheets, documents, and more.

As of July 2018, Google Drive was creeping closer and closer to one billion users. 

It makes sense — the online application has multiple capabilities. You can create Slides for a presentation, calculate figures in a Sheet or type away in a Doc. And everyone working on a particular project can edit and contribute, to boot. 

But Google Docs isn’t the be-all, end-all when it comes to word processing. So, you want to download your cloud-based creations and make them into a tangible Microsoft Word document. 

There’s only one problem — you don’t know how to convert Google Doc to Word. And you’re not alone. The process isn’t quite as intuitive as the rest of the Drive. 

Here’s how to do it. 

Downloading From Your Google Drive

You’ll find a list of all of your Google files in the Drive. Locate the documents you’d like to download to Word and begin your Google Doc conversion from there. 

Search for the Doc you want to download and click on it once you locate it. If you need to convert multiple files, click Ctrl each time you click files on your PC. You can select more than one Doc on a Mac by pressing Command, then clicking. 

Once you have your files highlighted, right-click on them. In the menu that appears, you will see an option to download. Once you click, your computer will automatically convert the files for you. 

It’s not just Google Docs that will turn into Microsoft Word documents. Downloading a Google Sheet will create an Excel file, while Google Slides become Powerpoints. 

Make sure your browser allows for downloads before you get started. That way, nothing gets in the way of you getting the files in the format you need. 

Downloading From Google Docs Editor

Perhaps you’ve got an open file on Google Docs. From the text editor interface, you can start converting to Word, too. 

It’s quite simple to do. Click the File tab in the upper left-hand corner of the text editor. Then, press the Download As option.

From there, you can choose from several different file types to use when downloading your Google Doc. Of course, Microsoft Word file will be one of your options. 

Google Drive will automatically download your Microsoft Word-ready documents as .docx files. If you have an older version of Word, this could render your files unreadable. So, brush up on the difference between .doc and .docx files before you start downloading.

Regardless, this feature can be useful to you in more ways than one. For instance, you can convert Google Docs to PDFs quickly. As such, anything you save to the Drive can become a PDF — a great resource to have, especially because we think PDF is a better format in general.

Downloading All of the Files At Once

The Google Takeout site gives you the ability to back up all of your Google data for your privacy or use elsewhere. 

You can use this platform to convert all of your Docs to Microsoft Word Files, too.

Once you log in, you’ll find a list of data available for download. All of the Google-based apps will be selected at first, meaning your browser will download all of your stored info. So, start by clicking Deselect All at the top, so you don’t transfer unneeded files. 

You’ll want to find Drive on the list and click to make sure it’s set to download. Then, customize the downloads to make sure they come in the format you need. 

Click the button that says Multiple Formats beneath the Drive header. In there, you’ll find .docx to be the default download format for Docs. You can customize the file types for drawings, Slides, Sheets and more under this tab, too.

Once you’re ready, click the Next button at the bottom of the page. From there, you can customize your Takeout service. For instance, you can choose to download your data once a year, or you can make it a routine back-up.

The website will automatically create .zip files from your downloads, or you can opt for .tgz instead. You can pick how big you want the resulting .zip or .tgz to be, ranging from 1 GB to 50GB. 

Downloading a File — and Leaving It in Drive as a .docx

Now, once you’ve started downloading Docs as Word files, you might still want access to them through your Google Drive. 

Unfortunately, you can’t edit your Word files through your web browser unless you download a web extension. 

If you don’t have the extension, you can still keep your Word files close to hand. Once you download them to your computer, re-upload the .docx files to your Drive. That way, you’ll have them stored in the format you need, accessible wherever you may need them. 

Your Drive will keep up with the types of files you upload. Anything compatible with Word will be open to download, but you won’t be able to select .docx or another Office-compatible file type. That’s because the site knows that what you have is already Microsoft-ready.

Now You Know — How To Convert Google Doc to Word

The great thing about Google Drive is its user-friendliness. With the above tips, that fact becomes even clearer. It’s simple to download your Docs as Word files, whether you’re in the text editor or browsing your list of files. 

Bookmark this page so you can come back any time you forget how to convert Google Doc to Word. And be sure to check back with our blog any time you have questions about Google Drive or any other file type on your PC or Mac. 

Do you have PDF files that you can’t open on your device?

PDFs are a driving force in the workplace. They make it easier for you to move your documents around and send them to other users. Its versatility also makes it the perfect file format for different documents, from legal documents to the rules of a game.

They’re also important to streamline business procedures, making them a vital part of an efficient company. However, some issues make it impossible for you to open a PDF file. When this happens, you need to convert your PDF to Word, PNG, or Excel file formats.

What’s great about PDFs is that you can convert them to more file formats to suit your situation. Read on to learn how you can convert your PDF to a compatible file format.

1. Converting PDF to Image Files

Some PDF files only contain images to view. This is a perfect way to view these images, but they often load slower. This is because individual images remain compressed until you view their pages for the first time since opening the file.

This makes it a good idea to convert them into a PNG file. Doing this will make it easier to manipulate the images and use them on other documents. PNG is also the most common image format on the Internet, meaning it would be easier to take and place images to and from websites.

You can use Adobe Acrobat to convert your PDF file. All you need to do is open the file in the program and click on the “Tools” tab. You then select “Export PDF” and click on “Images”, you can select the PNG format from there.

You can also use online converters to get the job done. Websites like Offdrive and freepdfconvert are good resources to use.

If you have a JPG image file, it won’t be as useful as PNG. The good news is that it’s as easy to convert JPG to PNG. You can save the image as a PNG after editing it in Windows and you can use the Preview app on a Mac.

2. Converting PDF to GIF

There are many reasons for you to convert PDFs to GIFs for your business. Converting them to GIFs isn’t easy, though, as you need to go through many steps. The first step is taking a screenshot of the page containing the media you want to turn into a GIF.

Find the image in your explorer and open it using the Paint software. You can also use any photo-editing software if you’re not familiar with MSPaint. You must then crop the image to ensure that you don’t have any blank space in the GIF.

You then save the file as a GIF file when you click “Save As”. The procedure is simpler on a Mac. All you need to do is export the file and change the format on the dialog box that appears. Save the change and the file will become a gif.

You can also use online converters to make your job easier. Offdrive and Zamzar are great tools because of their simple interface.

3. Converting PDF to HTML

Converting to HTML allows you to view files on web browsers with no compatibility issues to deal with. It also allows you to view a website’s content even while you’re offline if you saved it on your device beforehand.

Once again, converting these using online tools is the easiest way to do so. Check out websites like Offdrive to convert your PDF with ease.

If you don’t have the luxury of being online, though, then you can use programs like Adobe Acrobat and DocSmartz to convert the PDF file. All you need to do is rename the file into an HTML file.

Doing this will allow you to view the content as if you were online. This is a great way to collect data for others to see, too.

4. Converting PDF to Word Documents

This is the most common conversion you will do with PDFs. This is because most PDFs have slight errors that you can correct. Since you can’t edit a PDF, you need to convert it to a text document to edit it.

You can convert it online with the help of online tools. You only need to upload your document and the rest will do itself.

If you want a more hands-on conversion, you can use programs like Adobe Acrobat. Exporting the PDF and selecting your desired Word file format will be enough to convert the file.

You can also do this in MS Word. All you need to do is open the file using Microsoft Word. Doing this will cause a dialog box to pop out.

This dialog box will let you know that MS Word will try to convert the file into an editable Word document. You can then save it as a Word file or convert it to PDF again with the same program.

5. Converting PDF to TXT

If you need to edit a small chunk of text on your PDF, then it’s best to convert it to a TXT file. This is because converting to a TXT file is the easiest thing you can do with Adobe Acrobat. Text programs like Notepad are also faster to launch than MS Word.

You can rename the file to TXT to convert it. Doing this means you won’t have a backup file anymore, though. You can use Adobe to export the file into the format, instead, to preserve a copy of the file.

You can also make this easier by using online tools to convert them. You will only need to upload the file and wait for it to become converted if you do.

6. Converting PDF to EPUB

With e-books becoming popular among mobile device users, it is beneficial to know how to convert a PDF to EPUB files.

There’s a program dedicated to converting files into the EPUB format. Calibre is compatible with all major operating systems. It also allows you to convert many PDFs in quick succession.

All you need to do is click on the “Add Book” button on the main interface. Add the PDFs you to convert and click the “Convert Books” option. The software will then ask you about the format you want to use.

The EPUB format will allow you to open these files on most devices. Some online tools can also convert your PDF into an EPUB file with ease.

Convert PDF to Word and Other File Formats Today

Your PDFs need not remain incompatible with your device. Learn how to convert PDF to Word and other file formats to make them useable today!

Why do you need to convert your PDFs? Check out this guide to know the importance of converting to Docx and other Doc files.

The internet has sort of moved past written language. Nowadays, most discourse on social media and the web at large is done through memes and gifs! You know, those moving, looping images that help us express our innermost feelings and thoughts.

But many internet-savvy people still don’t know how to turn a video into gif format! It’s a simple task, and there are a lot of different ways you can go about it. If you’re marketing a product, gifs may even be beneficial for your business!

Here’s just a few to take your internet communication level up a few notches.

Make a Gif With Giphy

Giphy offers users one of the easiest ways to convert videos into gifs.

Navigate to giphy.com, then hit ‘create’ in the top-right corner. It’s to the immediate left of the ‘log in’ button. You’ll now arrive at giphy’s ‘gif maker’.

From here, you have the option to make your gift out of separate photos or one video. Click ‘Choose Video’, then navigate to the video you want to turn into a gif. There’s also a URL bar under these options if you want to turn a YouTube, Vimeo, etc. video from across the web into a gif.

Once you’ve made your selection, giphy will show you the video along with some options underneath. These options include the duration of your gif, and where you want to start and end it. Slide the bar to the correct start time, select the relevant duration, and hit ‘create GIF’.

Congratulations, you’ve just made your first gif. The .gif file is now saved to your computer and ready to share on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else that accepts them. How simple is that?

Use Photoshop Like a Pro

For the more computer savvy and quality-driven user, Photoshop can make very high-quality gifs out of most image or video files. It’s not necessary by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s very easy to do even with a beginners knowledge of Photoshop.

Open the source video in Photoshop, then select ‘File’ from the toolbar. Go to ‘import’, then ‘video frames to layers’.

You’ll be met with a box that lets you choose what portion of the video you want made into the gif. You can select the whole thing, or a range. You can even decide what quality you want the gif to be in, allowing for smaller or larger gif sizes.

Once you’ve done all this, check the box that says ‘Make Frame Animation’ and click ‘OK’. Your gif is complete. Navigate back up to ‘File’, select ‘Export’, then ‘Save for Web (Legacy)’.

Here you can make further choices about image size and color. Do so if you want, then hit ‘Save’. Your gif will export and save to your computer!

Photoshop lets you do a lot with your gifs. You can edit them using Photoshop’s wide selection of tools before exporting, and achieve much higher levels of quality than with a site like Giphy. If you know the software, this is the way to go.

For the truly skilled Photoshopper, you can use the software to convert photos, and even PDFs to gif format. But that’s a tutorial for another day.

Try Makeagif

Makeagif.com is a nice alternative to giphy. With makeagif you can make gifs out of Facebook videos, YouTube videos, local videos, and videos from the cloud. Plus, it’s easy as pie.

Right from the homepage you’ll see all your options laid out before you. Select ‘Video to GIF’ and click ‘upload video’. Navigate to the video on your computer and select it. The video will upload to makeagif and you’ll be brought to an editing page.

Here you can choose the quality of your GIF, the start and end time, the speed, and whether or not you want to add captions or stickers. You can even disable or enable the audio.

Once you’ve got your gif how you like it, press ‘continue’. You can now name the gif, select a category, and tag it, or simply hit ‘create gif’. Makeagif offers an uploading and sharing service where you can browse users’ gifs and share your own.

Like with GIPHY, some features require you to make an account or purchase a premium membership to enjoy. Of course, these are still some of the easiest options if you’re trying to make a quick gif. For those heavily invested in online discourse, the premium options may just be worth it!

Make a GIF on Mobile

There are a lot of different apps on both Android and iOS that allow you to make gifs. Many of these apps let you simply select a video from your phone and convert it into a gif. One of the most popular available on both OS’s is GIF Maker.

Just download GIF Maker (it’s free), boot it up, and tap ‘video to GIF’. Select the video you want to convert from your camera roll. You’ll be given a preview of the video, and a sliding bar that you can adjust to your desired length.

Tap the checkmark in the top right corner. Now you can select the speed of the gif, adjust contrast and brightness, crop it, and add filters. GIF Maker even allows you to add text to the top and bottom of the GIF to turn your GIF into a meme!

Once you’ve gotten your GIF how you like it, hit the arrow in the top right corner to export it. Choose the format you want (GIF or MP4), and pick the quality and resolution. You also have the option to compress the GIF if you need it to be more shareable.

Tap ‘confirm’ and your GIF will save to your phone. You can save the GIF straight from the application, or from your camera roll.

Now You Know How to Turn a Video Into GIF

Learning how to turn a video into gif format will really take your internet discourse skills to the next level. Gif your favorite YouTube videos, videos of your pets, and all the hilarious moments you’ve happened to catch on film. You’ll find you’re able to express yourself in whole new, entertaining ways you never thought possible before.

For more internet tips, tricks, and conversions, check out the rest of our website. Contact us with any comments or questions.

Think blogging is finally on its last legs in 2020? Think again. Blogs compose one-third of all websites, meaning this medium is more popular than ever before.

Are you thinking of jumping on the bandwagon? Whether you’re looking for an entertaining hobby or a serious business opportunity, blogging is worth your consideration. Starting a blog could be the best decision you ever make.

Of course, you need some inspiration. So here are the 7 most important reasons to start a blog in 2020. 

1. Make More Money

Let’s start with the world’s greatest incentive: cold, hard cash. It’s no secret that high-quality blogging opens doors to passive income. Huffington Post — a popular blog site — makes over $14 million every month.

Obviously, your personal blog isn’t likely to earn you a modest mansion. That said, it can lead to a bit of pocket money, and if you’re lucky, a full salary.

How do you monetize a blog? That depends on the industry yours covers.

For example, review blogs tend to earn money from sponsored reviews and affiliate marketing. You might imagine that most blogs make their money from advertisements. This is only true for those that see a great deal of traffic.

For smaller blogs that are just getting started, many rely on charitable donations and patrons.

Always look at the income potential as a bonus. If you start blogging just for the money, you’re not likely to find success.

2. Build a Portfolio

Freelancers of all stripes stand to benefit from a well-composed blog. It tells potential clients that you’re an informed professional that stays up-to-date in the industry. Even better, a blog with decent SEO can bring traffic to your website, and thus to your services.

These types of personal blogs are essential for both writers and artists. The existence of a modest following tells publishers that there is an audience for your work. This is known as an author platform.

Even if you aren’t a freelancer, a decent blog can give you an edge over other candidates vying for the same job position. In this market, a great resume offers no guarantees. The more experience and dedication you can leverage, the better.

So why not start a blog?

3. Create SEO Real Estate

Do you already have a website? It doesn’t matter what purpose it serves. Including a blog offers many digital advantages.

Search engines look kindly on websites that publish regular blog content. If you create content worth sharing, there is a great chance people will. Every time a website links your article, you’ll gain a backlink, improving your website’s search engine ranking.

Best of all, you can include targeted keywords in each blog article. Without regular content, you only have so much space to incorporate these keywords.

Not savvy with search engine optimization? Here is the short of it: Blogging draws more eyes and traffic to your website.

4. Improve Your Writing

No matter what you’re blogging about, one thing is certain: writing, and lots of it. Odds are, your first set of blog posts won’t be anything spectacular.

But practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you will become. Writing skills are valuable not just for writers, but for most office occupations.

You don’t have to improve your writing skills just to impress an employer. Maybe you’re looking for an excuse to improve as a hobby. Blogging is a great place to dip your feet before moving on to larger projects, such as self-publishing a book.

5. Learn New Skills

Blogging is more than typing up a report like you’re back in high school. If you run the most basic blog possible, meaning no images or WordPress functionality, you’ll still have to contend with the content itself.

Most bloggers become adept at researching relevant sources. You know what they say: if you can’t explain something simply, you haven’t mastered it yet. The process of distilling complex information into a pleasing, conservational narrative takes a great deal of skill.

And you’ll learn a great deal about the industry and yourself in the process. If you run a proper blog through WordPress, you’ll also learn the technical side of things, whether that is something like SEO or content management.

6. Master Self-Motivation

Since blogging is a personal affair, there’s only one person who can keep you accountable: That’s you. The most successful blogs publish a new article every other day. Think you can keep up?

Maybe not at first. But if you stick around, blogging will force you to learn self-motivation and time management. Every good blogger possesses these traits, and that’s because they improve them through the blogging process.

7. Enjoy a Free Hobby

Is blogging worth it? Considering you can get started without paying a dollar, the answer is yes. 

There are countless websites available with free blogging functionality. It may not be the most beautiful or customizable website ever, but you don’t need anything fancy if you’re just starting out.

Everyone should give blogging a try, especially since there is virtually no barrier to entry. Want to move your cheap blog to a personal WordPress website later on? You can import the information with a few clicks.

There Are so Many Reasons to Start a Blog…

So what are you waiting for? Blogging is completely free and comes with personal, financial, and employment incentives.

Of all the reasons to start a blog, we haven’t even covered the most important: it’s fun! The surprising entertainment value makes it easy to get started — and to keep going months down the line.

Looking for an easy way to prepare your documents for your blog? Enjoy our free DOC to RTF conversion tool.

In 2016, the Mac computer only accounted for 10% of computer use.

The most popular is Windows, who only fell below 90% of use in 2016. Windows, a subset of Microsoft, uses Microsoft Word as its primary word processor, meaning that a .pages document will leave many people unable to read your files.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the top reasons to convert a file from pages to docx, and how you can do it quickly, easily, and for free.

Read on for more information.

What is a Pages File?

A pages file is the saved version of a document that was typed up in Pages on a Mac. Pages is the Mac version of Microsoft Word, and functions as a word processor.

Despite the fact that almost all Mac computers come equipped with Pages, most Mac users still purchase Microsoft Office, which includes Microsoft Word. Or, they use the free online version that allows them to access the features without it being native to their computer.

Pages files are, in essence, extremely limited in their scope. In order for someone to read your Pages file, they must also have pages on their computer. If not, the computer will fail to open the file.

What is a DOCX File?

A DOCX file is the file extension for a newer Word document. Some of the earlier Microsoft Word documents were saved under a .DOC, though most Word applications are still able to read a .DOC file.

You can send a DOCX file to other people, who can then open it on their computer if they have Microsoft Word. If they don’t, the computer may still be able to open it, but they will be unable to edit the document.

Why Convert Pages to DOCX? It’s More Accessible

1.2 billion people use Microsoft Word. That’s a huge percentage of people who use computers. And with the majority of people being Microsoft Windows users, you’ll need something that’s more accessible.

The number one reason to convert your file is to share it with someone else. You don’t know what type of computer the person is operating on, and chances are they’ll be operating with a Windows computer.

Even if they are not operating with a Windows computer, chances are still pretty high that they’ll have Microsoft Word installed, as many Mac users are still loyal to the program.

You May Need to Open It Elsewhere

Depending on what you’re using the file for, you may need to open it somewhere that isn’t your computer. If you’re, for example, creating a document for school, you may need to go to your school’s computer lab to open the file.

In that case, many universities and high schools have Microsoft Windows computers exclusively because they’re often less expensive than Apple computers. Some schools may have Mac labs, but these labs may only be accessible to students on certain courses.

Additionally, even if the school has a Mac available to you, it will also likely still have Word on it.

Sending It to Students, Teachers or Co-Workers

If you’re taking a class in which the professor or teacher wants you to submit work electronically, it is very doubtful that they will accept a Pages document. Most teachers or professors work better with a DOCX, partially because it is more accessible.

Most teachers, or places of employment, will be uniform in the types of files they accept to make it easier for them to work with them. Unless you work with a company that solely uses Apple, it’s not very likely a teacher will request a Pages document. Even then, your teacher may ask that you use a DOCX Word document file.

Word Allows For Easier Editing Between Parties

Of course, you can edit your own documents in Pages. You can even send your documents to a friend who will then edit your document in Pages, providing they use it and are familiar with it.

But, a DOCX document is much easier to make edits on. In fact, many people use the track changes section that allows you to see the changes the person has made in red. This makes it easy and simple to accept or reject the changes as necessary.

Track changes also make your job easier if you’re editing or you’re a teacher. This way, you can very easily show your students or co-workers what needs to be changed and send it back to them.

This makes collaboration between parties a lot easier so that you can get to your goal of finishing a project, or helping a student or co-worker improve, much easier.

A DOCX document is not only more accessible, but it’s also more versatile, meaning that the features on it allow for maximum ability to come together to create exactly what you need.

Converting Your Documents

Do you need to convert your document from pages to DOCX immediately? If so, we’ve got you covered. Click here, and begin your conversion now. Our web-based program is quick, free and easy. You won’t need to download any third-party applications or do anything to compromise your computer’s safety.

You can also convert your Pages document into a wide variety of other files, including a PDF to allow for easy printing without losing the layout of the document. This is fantastic for transmitting files in which this is incredibly important.

You can also explore our blog for more information all about file conversion.