Google's Real-time Presence feature will help you avoid version conflicts when editing Microsoft Office files in Google Drive. Real-time presence will let users know if another user is editing a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file stored in Google Drive, and in real time.
The following instruction shows how one can turn on Real-time Presence while using a PC.
I've just opened a spreadsheet found in Google Drive and am greeted with a prompt by the Google File Stream software installed on my Mac. The prompt is asking if I want to enable Real-time Presence. Click Continue as Jill Doe to start this feature's enablement process.
My Excel file is now open and I can see the conflict indicator in the bottom right-hand portion of the open worksheet.
When you store a Microsoft Office file in Google Drive and share it with people who also have Real-time Presence turned on, you can see whether anyone else is making changes.
- Safe to edit: You can make changes in the file because no one else is editing.
- Wait to edit: Someone else is editing the file.
- To get notified when they’re done, check the box next to "Notify me when it’s safe to edit."
- To see more about who is editing or viewing the file, click on the person in the list.
- New version created: Someone created a newer version.
- To get their new version, click Get latest.
If someone saves a new version while you’re editing, you can merge your changes into the latest version.
- In the lower right, click Preview.
- Copy changes from your version (on the left) to the latest version (on the right).
- Click Save.
- Your unsaved version on the left will be removed.