Writing technical documentation or tutorials requires adding a code block, especially for developers. But Google Docs, being one of the most-used document editing tools, does not natively support adding a code block like some other niche editors. If you're thinking about how to add a code block in Google Docs, well, not anymore! This tutorial will take you through a few workflows to accomplish a clean, formatted code block in Google Docs.
Why Do You Need Code Blocks in Google Docs?
Before going into the how, let's understand why code blocks are important. Code blocks help to:
- Maintain code integrity, readability.
Distinguish code from simple text.
Smoothening and refining documents, especially tutorials and educational documents, to make them look professional and easy to read.
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Inserting Code with the Code Block Add-on
Inserting code into Google Docs efficiently is achieved by utilizing an add-on for this purpose.
1.Here's how you can insert code blocks:
1. Installing the Code Blocks Add-on
- Access the menu in Google Docs, then Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
- Type "Code Blocks" in the search bar and select the add-on from the list.
- Click Install and follow through on-screen instructions for permissions.
2. Formatting Your Code
- Upon installation, navigate to Extensions > Code Blocks > Start.
- A sidebar will appear on the right. Paste your code into the document and highlight the text.
- Choose the language and style you would like to use from the sidebar options.
- Click Format - it will format the code accordingly.
This is a highly recommended option as syntax highlighting and different styles makes the code far more readable.
2. Using a Third-Party Code Formatter
If you would like to have more control over how your code looks, you can utilize third-party code formatting applications such as Carbon, Prettify, or Highlight.js. Here's how you can use these tools :
1. Navigate to the Third-Party Formatter:
- Open a code formatter tool like Carbon or Highlight.js.
2. Style Your Code:
- Copy your code into the editor of the tool.
- Customize the appearance by selecting the programming language, theme, font style, and other settings.
3. Copy Formatted Code:
- Once satisfied with the formatting, click the Copy or Export button to get the formatted code.
4. Paste in Google Docs:
- Go back to your Google Doc, and paste in that code formatted. It will maintain the formatting integrity of the third-party formatting tool, so it should look neat, not messy.
3. Using Google Docs Table Feature
For those who prefer a simpler solution without using add-ons or external tools, you can use Google Docs’ built-in table feature to create a code block:
1. Insert a Table:
- Go to Insert > Table and choose a 1x1 table size.
2. Paste Your Code:
- Click inside the table and paste your code.
3. Format the Table:
- To make it look like a code block, adjust the table’s properties. Right-click the table, go to Table properties, set the border color to white (or match your document’s background), and adjust the padding to zero.
4. Apply Monospace Font:
- Select the code inside the table and change the font to a monospace font like Courier New or Consolas.
4. Using Google Docs “Paste without Formatting” Feature
This is a quick and simple trick if you only need to add plain code without syntax highlighting:
1. Copy Your Code:
- Copy your code from your source editor.
2. Paste Without Formatting:
- Go to your Google Docs document and press Ctrl + Shift + V (Cmd + Shift + V on Mac). This will paste the code without any formatting, maintaining its original structure.
3. Change to a Monospace Font:
- Select the pasted code and change the font to a monospace style (like Courier New) for a cleaner code appearance.
Final Thoughts
While adding a code block in Google Docs might not be as straightforward as it would be in some dedicated code editors, with these methods, you're able to achieve a clean, professional look. Be it more Code Blocks Add-on use, third-party formatter, or simple table formatting-the ball is in your court. The next time you are preparing a technical document, tutorial, or any content with code therein, try these techniques to make your Google Docs file more organized and readable.
This will allow you to add code blocks in Google Docs and have much better-presented documents.
Keywords: how to add code to Google Docs, Google Docs add code block, code block, Google Docs.
Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below! Happy coding!
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