Online Word Processing

Introduction

Online word processors are an excellent resource for a wide array of people; however this article will concentrate on uses associated with college students. They provide a secure way to share and collaborate with a small, intimate group or with a large, chaotic group. Documents can be edited anywhere, anytime an internet connect is present. Most importantly, many online word processors are free.

While there are many online word processors available, we choose to review Google Docs, Zohowriter, and Buzzword. Our selection is based on two simple criteria; free use and based entirely online.

To review the three word processors we created a test process. The process consisted of seven criteria that college students would find most useful. Each process was then judged on difficulty and time consumption.

1) Creating a new account

To access all online word processor an account is required. Here we will create a new account and examine the process.

2) Opening a new word processing document

This is where we will open a new document and examine the process of doing so.

3) Formatting options

This is where we will actually create our document. We will examine the tools and options available for creating our document. We will concentrate specifically on the following tools and options.

  • Spell check
  • Grammar check
  • Thesaurus
  • Word count

Font options

  • Number of fonts
  • Number of colors
  • Number of sizes
  • Bold
  • Italics
  • Underline
  • Strikethrough
  • Subscript
  • Superscript
  • Text highlighting

Paragraph formatting options

  • Line spacing
  • Align text left
  • Align text center
  • Align text right
  • Justify
  • Numbering
  • Bullet points

4) Importing images

We will import one image located on our computer and one image located on the internet.

5) Exporting documents

We will take the document created using an online word processor and export it to our computer. We will specifically be looking for a variety of file type options to export in.

6) Sharing documents

Here we will share our document with others so they have access to view or edit it. We will specifically be looking for a variety of methods to share a document.

7) Collaboration

This is where we will examine the ability to share our document with others. We will specifically be looking for a place to leave comments.


Google Docs

flickr:4368178477

1) Creating a new account

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 5 minutes

Creating an account in Google Docs was simple. Google Docs is connected with many other popular Google features such as a Google mail account. This means that one Google account allows you to access all of Google’s features.

Creating a Google account can be done here. You will be required to supply a working email address (moc.elpmaxe|emanym#moc.elpmaxe|emanym) that will be used as your Google Docs login name. Then, you must create a password and agree to the terms of service. Your new account has been created, however Google will send an email to your email account which you most open first to activate your account.

2) Opening a new word processing document

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 30 seconds

Opening a new word processing document was also very simple. Once logged into Google Docs you are brought to your homepage. Clearly labeled at the top of the page is a drop-down tab reading, “create new”. Clicking on the tab will reveal “document”.

3) Formatting options

  • Spell check: yes
  • Grammar check: no
  • Thesaurus: no
  • Word count: yes

Font options

  • Number of fonts: 11
  • Number of colors: 8 colors each with 6 shades
  • Number of sizes: 7 (8,10,12,14,18,24,36pt.)
  • Bold: yes
  • Italics: yes
  • Underline: yes
  • Strikethrough: yes
  • Subscript: yes
  • Superscript: yes
  • Text highlighting: yes

Paragraph formatting options

  • Line spacing: yes
  • Align text left: yes
  • Align text center: yes
  • Align text right: yes
  • Justify: yes
  • Numbering: yes
  • Bullet points: yes

(16/18 criteria)

4) Importing images

Difficulty rating: 2/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Importing an image to Google Docs is very simple. Located on the tool bar is a tab titled “insert” clicking on the tab reveals “image”. A new window opens where you can select to upload an image from either your computer or from the web.

When inserting an image from your computer you simply select an image file from the browsing window.

When inserting an image from the web you simply copy and paste the image’s web address into the space provided.

5) Exporting documents

Difficulty rating: 3/5, Time Consumption: 2 minutes

Exporting a document was easy, however it required a couple step. First, you must save the document to your Google Docs. Only after it is saved may you export it to your computer. Simply right click on the document and select “export”.

Google Docs allows you to export your document in six formats including: HTML, Open Document, PDF, Rich Text, Plain Text, and Microsoft Word.

6) Sharing

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Sharing on a Google Doc’s document is simple. The process is well thought out and caters to many people. To share a document you simply select the “share” tab located on the tool bar.

Google Docs allows you to share a document in three different ways. You can share with Google Doc users, or with anyone else though the use of an email attachment or by providing a URL link.

7) Collaboration

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Collaborating on Google Docs is very effective. Two very useful tools are supplied for effective collaboration. Firstly, there is a comment tool. Simply selecting the tool will allow you to leave a comment anywhere on the document. Your name, date, and time are added at the end of each comment. If multiple people comment on a document there comments are not only separated by their name, but also through a variety of colors. Secondly, there is the footnote tool. The tool is a little less precise as the comment function, because it does not automatically include your name. It allows you to create text boxes on the side of the document where you can leave feedback.


Zohowriter

flickr:4368178443

1) Creating a new account

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 5 minutes

Creating an account in Zohowriter was also very simple. Similar to Google Docs, Zohowriter is also connected with many other popular Zoho features such as a Zoho mail account. This means that one Zoho account allows you to access all of its features.

Creating a Zoho account can be done here. You will be required to supply a working email address (moc.elpmaxe|emanym#moc.elpmaxe|emanym). Then, you must create a Zoho account user name, a password and agree to the terms of service. Your new account has been created, however Zoho will send an email to your email account which you most open first to activate your account.
Additionally a Zohowriter account can also be linked other popular online account. Including Facebook, Yahoo, and even Google!

2) Opening a new word processing document

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 0 seconds

Opening a new word processing document is already done for you when you open Zohowriter. If you would like to open
another you simply click “new” clearly labeled on the toolbar.

3) Formatting options

  • Spell check: yes
  • Grammar check: no
  • Thesaurus: yes
  • Word count: yes

Font options

  • Number of fonts: 24
  • Number of colors: : infinity, offers a full gradient
  • Number of sizes: 7 (8,10,12,14,18,24,36pt.)
  • Bold: yes
  • Italics: yes
  • Underline: yes
  • Strikethrough: yes
  • Subscript: yes
  • Superscript: yes
  • Text highlighting: yes

Paragraph formatting options

  • Line spacing: yes
  • Align text left: yes
  • Align text center: yes
  • Align text right: yes
  • Justify: yes
  • Numbering: yes
  • Bullet points: yes

(17/18 criteria)

4) Importing images

Difficulty rating: 2/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Importing an image to Zohowriter is very simple. Located on the tool bar is a tab titled “insert” clicking on the tab reveals “image”. A new window opens where you can select to upload an image from either your computer or from the web. It is very similar to Google Docs.

When inserting an image from your computer you simply select an image file from the browsing window or you have the option of typing in the specific file location.

When inserting an image from the web you simply copy and paste the image’s web address into the space provided.

However, when inserting images you also have the option to select alignments and the option to add a border.

5) Exporting documents

Difficulty rating: 2/5, Time Consumption: 2 minutes

Exporting a document was easy, simply select “export” located on the toolbar.

Zohowriter allows you to export your document nine formats including: HTML, Open Document, PDF, Rich Text, Plain Text, Microsoft Word, LaTex, SXW, Docx and ODF.

6) Sharing

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Sharing on a Zohowriter document is simple. The process is well thought out and caters to many people. To share a document you simply select the “share” tab located on the tool bar.

Zohowriter allows you to share a document in six different ways. You can share through other Zohowriter users, email attachment, URL link, posting to a blog, DocRoll, or DigiSign.

7) Collaboration

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Collaborating on Zohowriter is very effective. Two very useful tools are supplied for effective collaboration. Firstly, there is a comment tool. Simply selecting the tool will allow you to leave a comment in a specified comment list. The location of the comment is tagged through a small icon of a thought bubble. Your name, date, and time are added at the end of each comment. Secondly, there is a chat function for collaborates to directly communicate to one another.


Buzzword

flickr:4368927190

1) Creating a new account

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 5 minutes

Creating an account in Buzzword was also very simple. Similar to Google Docs and Zohowriter, Buzzword is also connected with many other popular Adobe features such as an Adobe mail account. This means that one Adobe account allows you to access all of its features.

Creating an Adobe account can be done here. You will be required to supply a working email address (moc.elpmaxe|emanym#moc.elpmaxe|emanym) that will be used as your Adobe login name. Then, you must create a password and agree to the terms of service. Your new account has been created.

2) Opening a new word processing document

Difficulty rating: 2/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Opening a new word processing document is a little more complicated than Google Docs or Zohowriter. When signing into Buzzword you are actually signing into your Adobe account which includes many features, some that we are very unfamiliar with. However, similar to the others there is a clear button labeled “new Buzzword document”, which will bring you to a new word processing document.

All of the Adobe programs, including Buzzword operate through a system called Flash. This system dramatically slows down the website, specifically scene when opening a new word processing document.

3) Formatting options

  • Spell check: yes
  • Grammar check: no
  • Thesaurus: no
  • Word count: yes

Font options

  • Number of fonts: 7
  • Number of colors: 40
  • Number of sizes: 16 (8-12,14-16,18,20,24,26,28,36,48,72pt.)
  • Bold: yes
  • Italics: yes
  • Underline: yes
  • Strikethrough: yes
  • Subscript: no
  • Superscript: no
  • Text highlighting: no

Paragraph formatting options

  • Line spacing: yes
  • Align text left: yes
  • Align text center: yes
  • Align text right: yes
  • Justify: yes
  • Numbering: yes
  • Bullet points: yes

(13/18 criteria)

4) Importing images

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Importing an image to Buzzword is very simple. Located on the tool bar is a tab titled “insert” clicking on the tab reveals “image”. A new window opens where you can select to upload an image from either your computer or through the web. Here you can also search for an image on Flickr or Google Images.

When inserting an image from your computer you simply select an image file from the browsing window.

When inserting an image from the web you simply copy and paste the image’s web address into the space provided

5) Exporting documents

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 2 minutes

Exporting a document was easy, simply select “export” located on the toolbar.

Buzzword allows you to export your document eight formats including: HTML, Open Document, PDF, Rich Text, Plain Text, Microsoft Word, Docx, and EPUB.

6) Sharing

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Sharing on a Buzzword document is simple. To share a document you simply select the “share” tab located on the tool bar.

Buzzword allows you to share a document in three different ways. You can share with Adobe users, or with anyone else though the use of an email attachment or by providing a URL link.

7) Collaboration

Difficulty rating: 1/5, Time Consumption: 1 minute

Collaborating on Buzzword is easy however it only provides one tool. Similar to Google Docs there is a comment tool. Simply selecting the tool will allow you to leave a comment anywhere on the document. Your name, date, and time are added at the end of each comment. If multiple people comment on a document there comments are not only separated by their name, but also through a variety of colors.


Conclusion

Concluding our analysis we recommend Zohowriter. The majority of our seven criteria were met by all three of the online word processors. However, Zohowriter meets each criterion the fullest, often going beyond our expectations. Below we recap the properties that are unique to Zohowriter.

1) Creating a new account

Zohowriter allows you to link your account to other popular online accounts including Facebook, Yahoo, and Google.

2) Opening a new word processing document

A new word processing document is directly placed on your homepage.

3) Formatting options

Zohowriter offers the most tools, 17 out 18.

4) Importing images

Zohowriter allows you to change the alignment and add a border to your image.

5) Exporting documents

Zohowriter allows you to export documents in nine different formats.

6) Sharing documents

Zohowriter allows you to share a document in six different ways.

7) Collaboration

Zohowriter allows you to collaborate in two very effective ways. Not only is there the commonly used “comment” function but there is also a useful chat function.

Difficulty of use

The total amount of difficulty of use for the three programs rated from Buzzword (7/30), Zohowriter (8/30), to Google Docs being the most difficult to use at (9/30).

Although Buzzword is rated the least difficult to use, it is by a minuscule factor that does not account for the features offer by Zohowriter. If a college student chooses to use Zohowriter as their online word processor, we believe the student will be most successful.


Formatting Options comparison chart

Google Docs Zohowriter Buzzword
Spell check yes yes yes
Grammar check no no no
Thesaurus no yes no
Word count yes yes yes
Font options
Number of fonts 11 24 7
Number of colors 8, 6 shades each infinity 40
Number of sizes 7 7 16
Bold yes yes yes
Italics yes yes yes
Underline yes yes yes
Strickthough yes yes yes
Subscript yes yes no
Superscript yes yes no
Text highlighting yes yes no
Paragraph formatting options
Line Spacing yes yes yes
Align text left yes yes yes
Align text center yes yes yes
Align text right yes yes yes
Justify yes yes yes
Numbering yes yes yes
Bullet points yes yes yes
Criteria met 16/18 17/18 13/18


Written by Ethan Nyeste and Luke Devitt
February 23, 2010

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