At the beginning of 2021, Google launched the beta phase of Tables, an experimental application from the company’s internal incubator (Area 120). we are before a database with integrated automation tools.
Of course, as we already say and sadly, even in 2022 it is still in beta phase and cannot, for the moment, be used. At the moment it is only available in the United States, so we will have to wait to be able to officially test it in Spain. However, its addition is expected to generate a Enhanced Google ecosystem as it will be included in Google Workspace packages.
As with Airtable and most other such tools like Trello, what you’re looking at is ultimately a spreadsheet. However, this tool stands out for being somewhat more modern, with extra formats and advanced elements added.
We tell you all about this new tool that It looks like it’s going to be in tough competition with the rest that are already available.
What is Google Tables?
As we have already indicated, this is a tool in the experimental phase that acts as a collaborative database for the world labor (mostly).
The platform was launched in Area 120 in September 2020 and users will have to wait for the product to become “a fully supported Google Cloud product” at some point in “next year”according to Google’s support page on Google Tables.
Of course, the tool The one with which we could all confuse this novelty is Google Sheets. In short, Google Sheets is a spreadsheet, while Google Tables is a database with built-in automation tools.
And it is that, if you have a need for work organization or a project with a complication that is too much for a spreadsheet, but too little to start developing one app database, Tables is a great option.
How does Google Tables work?
The easiest way to start using Google Tables is open the website and click the Templates tab from the left sidebar menu. This will show you a list of ready-made tables that you can use as a starting point and then modify as you wish.
The templates are broken down by categories, with options such as “Administration and IT”, “Customer service”, “Project management”…etc.
You can edit or delete any of the existing columns or add new ones. And for each column in your table, you can choose from a variety of different ways to present the information.
Collaboration within Tables also works like it does in other tools. You may invite anyone else with a Google account to a table (by clicking the Share button), and then you can decide if they can just view the table or if they can comment on it, add something to it or even edit it entirely.
When you’re working on a board at the same time as someone else, you’ll both see each other’s progress in real time.
The integration of the Google ecosystem is almost complete. And it is that, you can add a type of column that allows you to link to files from your storage in Google Drive without having to upload them. Anyone else viewing the table will be able to open those files right then and there, without having to leave the browser.
Besides, and if you wish, you can export all the content directly to Google Sheets so that it looks like a table of excel.
Currently there are two types of plans in Google Tables (in the US). There is a free version that allows you to create up to 100 tables with 1000 rows, 1GB for files and up to 50 bot actions. The paid version will cost $10 per month and will allow you to create up to 1,000 tables with 10,000 rows, 10 GB, and up to 500 automation actions.