Keeping track of even small changes to your important spreadsheets becomes a lot easier
Ensuring that your most important spreadsheets stay safe from errors or tampering should now be a lot easier thanks to a new Google Sheets update.
The spreadsheet software has introduced a new feature that alerts users to any changes to their key files, down to changes in a specific cell.
The new “conditional notifications” tool allows users to set rules to receive an alert if “certain criteria” are met regarding certain files, with a message sent directly to their email account.
Google Sheets notifications
Users can set rules that apply to the sheet as a whole, as well as to specific columns, rows, or even isolated cells.
Rules can be set up for changes, such as tasks changing status or ownership in a project tracker, as well as to monitor when a quantity drops below a certain value, such as items reaching a certain inventory amount in an inventory tracker.
“When a specific change is made, such as a column value change or a specific range of cell changes, you will receive an email notification with alerts about what happened in the spreadsheet and who performed the update,” according to Google Workspace Updates blog post which mentioned the launch.
The post added that conditional notifications can help keep users and their colleagues or teammates informed of recent changes, which can be vital when working to a specific deadline, or if the sheet contains proprietary or valuable company data.
The feature is rolling out now and does not require any additional admin options. It will be available for the Google Workspace Business Standard and Plus tiers, along with those for the Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus, Education Plus, and Enterprise Essentials plans.
Elsewhere, the company recently revealed that it will now allow users to import sensitive Microsoft Excel files and convert them to encrypted Google Sheets on the client side, meaning users on both platforms can easily browse the file while also feel more comfortable sharing important files, providing an extra layer of security for those crucial documents.