Need help with tracking who wrote what in shared Google Docs
I’m working on a Google Docs add-on to identify authors of specific parts in shared documents. At my job we often have multiple people editing the same doc. The problem is they write things like “I did this” or “I bought it already” without names. It’s hard to tell who did what.
For example, a doc might look like this:
First line (written by Alice)
Second line (added by Bob)
Third line (edited by both Alice and Bob)
Is there a way to get Git-like blame info for Google Docs? I want to see who last edited each line. Can the Google Drive API or something else do this? Any ideas would be super helpful!
I’ve tried searching online but couldn’t find a clear solution. Has anyone tackled this before? Let me know if you need more details about what I’m trying to do. Thanks!
hmm interesting problem! i’ve run into that too. not sure about an exact solution, but maybe you could try using the ‘suggestion’ feature in gdocs? that way ppl can add comments with their name attached. or maybe look into version history? might show who edited what. good luck with ur addon!
As someone who’s dealt with this headache before, I can tell you it’s a tricky problem. One workaround I’ve found somewhat effective is using different text colors for each contributor. It’s not perfect, but it helps visually distinguish who wrote what. You could also look into the Google Docs API - it has some functionality for retrieving revision history that might be useful for your add-on. Just be aware that building something robust can get complicated quickly due to how Google Docs handles collaborative editing behind the scenes. If you go the API route, make sure to thoroughly test edge cases like simultaneous edits or offline changes. Good luck with your project!
I’ve observed a similar scenario in my work. Though Google Docs does not offer a direct Git-style blame feature, you might consider making creative use of the Revision History API. This tool can provide details on document changes, including timestamps and user IDs, which can help in inferring contributions. Another option is to incorporate a manual tagging method where contributors identify their changes. While neither method is perfect, combining both approaches may yield a more effective solution. Always ensure these practices comply with privacy standards.