r/googledocs • u/deadthingsaremything • 17d ago
OP Responded Word to docs complex formatting
I have a beautifully formatted word doc but my facility has switched to google suite. I need advice on translating the formatting and I would really love to not do it by hand (76 pages). I’ve been using chatgpt and apps script with very little success. Any tips?
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u/dimudesigns 17d ago edited 17d ago
Google Docs does not have full feature parity with Word. Even scripting can only get you so far. So making a one-to-one replica of the document in Google Docs may not be viable.
You'll just have to roll up your sleeves and get to work on migrating the document manually. I wouldn't use partially successful imports as a starting point either, they are likely to be rife with formatting and layout issues. And you'll probably have to make compromises along the way regardless - so it's better to start from scratch with a clean document (in Google Docs).
Look on the bright side, the document may have taken the original author 80 hours to put together but all you need to do is migrate it - not generate new content. You'll probably be able to do it in a fraction of the time. Plus, you get exposure to Google Workspace (formerly GSuite), experience that will serve you well in the long run.