Add the ability to save to your Google Drive from any Windows program on your computer.

I love using Google Drive to store my files. Now I also have a way to open files directly from my Drive within a program or to save to my Drive.  You must have the Google Drive app added to your PC Desktop for this to work. Google Drive Desktop app found here. Once you install it and sync it the first time you can begin the next step!

Now let's add a reference to the Drive app to the Documents folder in your Library.  Open My Computer and locate the Documents folder. Documents will be the first listing under Libraries on the left side of your screen. Right-mouse click on it and select Properties. Click "Include a Folder" and navigate to your Google Drive folder. Click the Include folder button. Click Okay at the bottom.

Now when you are in an application your click File-->Open like normal, then click Libraries on the left side, then Documents.

When the Documents folder is open, you will see two sections - one that shows the files in My Documents and one below it that shows the contents of your Google Drive.

Now I open and save files from my Google Drive just like I would if they were on a network drive or computer drive!!

Opening Desktop Application Files in Google Drive

I like the idea of using Google Drive. I have unlimited capacity, I can get to it anywhere, but I just wish I could open Photoshop files directly from my Drive.  Oh, wait!  Now I can!

First you must install the Google Drive app to your computer (PC only, not for Mac). You can download it here.  Next. configure it and get it synced up with your account.

Next you must install the Application Launcher for Drive extension from the Chrome Web Store. You can get it here. 

Now we're ready to work!  Open Drive and find a non-Google file.  Perhaps a Word file, Photoshop or Illustrator file.  Double click it to open it. This will open it in Preview Mode. Click the popout icon to open it in a new window. At the top you will see "Open" with a down arrow beside it.  Normally this only allows you to open associated web apps, but here you'll see desktop applications instead. Because the file below is an Adobe Photoshop file, you will even see the Photoshop logo beside it.

Google Drive just keeps getting better and better!!!   Yes, there is also a way to save files directly to your Google Drive from all desktop applications, but that is a topic for another post!! Stay tuned.