Google Docs Can Now Import and Export Markdown

Google has announced that you can now convert content in Google Docs to and from Markdown. If you can’t do this yet, don’t fret—this feature will roll out from July 16 to all Rapid Release and Scheduled Release users, before ultimately landing in all Workspace and personal Google accounts.

Markdown was created in 2004 as a more user-friendly web page text formatting syntax than HyperText Markup Language (HTML). It uses hashtags, asterisks, and underscores (instead of hard-to-read code inside angle brackets) to add heading styles, bullet points, italics, and bold to text. This creation means that anyone can try their hand at technical content writing, as Markdown knocks down many (but not all!) of the complication barriers caused by HTML.

Now, to supplement its 2022 introduction of expanded support for creating content with Markdown on Docs, Google is offering users the ability to convert Docs content to and from Markdown.

This update includes the ability to:

1. Export a Google Doc as Markdown syntax (through File > Download)
2. Import Markdown syntax as a Google Doc (through File > Open or by clicking “Open with Google Docs” from Google Drive)
3. Convert Markdown syntax to Google Docs content as an option when pasting the text
4. Convert Google Docs content to Markdown syntax when copying the text

You don’t need to make any changes to start making the most of this upgrade. The import and export options (points 1 and 2 above) are enabled by default, though using the copy and pasting options (points 3 and 4 above) requires users to activate this option by clicking “Tools,” selecting “Preferences,” and checking “Enable Markdown.”

This much-demanded addition to Google Docs will come as a blessing to tech writers and engineers, new and old, as it facilitates better integration with other Markdown tools. More specifically, because Google Docs is well-known for easy and instant collaboration, this will encourage developers to use the program to work together before exporting their content as Markdown, smoothing the entire writing process significantly.

A logical next step would be for Google to enable users to view and edit Markdown files directly in Google Drive. Only time will tell if this comes to fruition.

Source: Google