Google apps, like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, can all provide shareable links. Shareable links can be used for publishing a document or for collaboratively editing a document.
Documents are only accessible by you (the owner) unless you turn link sharing on. One way to turn on link sharing is by clicking the Share button in an open document. Then you'll see an option to Get shareable link. Clicking that option turns link sharing on and copies the link to your clipboard. The link is set to Anyone with the link can view. You can change this to Anyone with the link can comment or edit.
Once you have the shareable link copied, you can paste it into a document, webpage, link shortener, LMS, email, etc. By replacing /edit at the end of the URL, you can do some pretty neat things. See the tips below:
Preview Link
Share a clutter-free view of your document
> replace /edit with /preview
Publishing what's created in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides as a Preview link presents the documents without menu bars and buttons. A Preview link declutters the webpage, which emphasizes your content. Preview links are good for newsletters, flyers, and instructional materials.
Personally, I always use a Preview link when presenting a Google Slides presentation in full screen. A Preview link shows slides in presentation view and it keeps your browser tab visible, making it easy to switch between the presentation and other webpages.
Make a Copy Link
Force others to make a copy before viewing your document
> replace /edit with /copy
This method of sharing forces a user to make a copy of the original, and the copy is now fully owned by the user and placed in her Google Drive. Any changes that they make are reflected in their copy and not your original. Users are taken to a page that prompts them to make a copy of the document; they never actually see your document until they make their own copy of it.
Make a Copy links are good for when you have created a document in Google and want student to have their own copy. Students can fill in blanks, finish a slideshow, label a drawing, annotate text, or complete some task in their own document. Sharing this way is also useful for sharing templates with other teachers.
Template Link
Share an easy-to-copy preview of your document
> replace /edit with /template/preview
Use a Template Link to share the contents of your document with the option to make a copy - it's a combination of a Preview Link and a Make a Copy Link detailed above. A Template Link presents a clutter-free version of your document. It also displays a Use Template button. Clicking this button makes a copy of the original document, and the copy is now fully owned by the user and placed in his or her Google Drive. These links are useful when posting on websites and social media, allowing the user to see the document before it is blindly copied to their Drive.
PDF Link
Share a direct download of a PDF version of your document
> Google Docs and Sheets: Replace /edit with /export?format=pdf
> Google Slides: Replace /edit with /export/pdf
This URL manipulation forces the web browser download a PDF version of your document with a PDF link. Instead of displaying the document in Google's viewer or app, a PDF is automatically downloaded with the link is clicked. PDF links are good for when you want others to print or save your document, and are generally accepted as device-agnostic, meaning they'll present themselves in pretty much the same way across device types (laptop, tablet, phone) and operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android).
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