Google Docs is introducing a few “highly-requested features” to enhance interoperability “with other Markdown supporting tools” after extending support for Markdown syntax in 2022.
“Lightweight markup language for applying formatting using plain text” is what Markdown is called. Google Docs online will now have the following features:
- Markdown to Docs content conversion via paste
- Entire document as Markdown copy
Go to Tools > Preferences > Enable Markdown to activate those two functionalities. Next up is:
- Markdown export for a document: Select File > Download to Import Markdown Document: Select File > Open. or select Drive > “Open with Google Docs.”
“Automatically detect Markdown” is already possible with Google Docs. “For example, developers can collaborate on software documentation in Docs and then export it as Markdown for use in other Markdown supporting tools,” states this change, which is directed towards technical content authors.
Starting today, “all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts” will have access to the new Markdown capabilities in Docs.