Printing from the Cloud, Part 1

Several weeks ago after a column about Google Chromebooks, I received a great question from a reader and friend of mine, Joe. Joe asked about how he could set up Google Cloud Printer on his Chromebook.  After I researched and set it up I started receiving many other emails concerning the same question, so here we go.

If you have heard about it before, Google’s "Cloud Print" feature sounds great.  It will allow you to print documents to any printer having cloud print set up from anywhere in the world.

This is really convenient.  There are several things you must have to do this.  First, you must have a Google/Gmail account.  Next, a computer that is online and physically connected to the destination printer; obviously, they must work together at that location.  Also, for this to work both the destination computer and printer must be on, or you cannot print to them.  The reason for this is that you will actually be sending the file you want to print from your computer to the computer in another location which is connected to the printer, so they must be on and working.  All of this is accomplished through Google Chrome browser on both devices. 

The Google Chrome browser, "Chrome" has to be installed on both computers (the one you are printing from and the one connected to the printer). 

You must start the setup process from the computer which is physically connected to the printer, your destination device.  The first step is to open your Chrome browser, click the small wrench in the upper right-hand corner, (it could also be a small box with horizontal lines) click on Settings and then again on Settings located in the left navigation area of Chrome.

Scroll down to the bottom and click "Show advanced settings…"  Move down that screen until you see "Google Cloud Print."  You could click on "Learn more" for help from Google or read on.  Click the "Manage" button and then "Add printers."  You may need to sign into your Google account, if you have not already been in your Gmail, etc.  You will see a list of printers connected to that computer, click the checkbox for the printer and click "Add Printer."   You will now have a Manage Printer button, click it to see that your printer has been added.  Now that printer will be available on any computer on which you are running the Chrome browser and have logged in with your Google account.

You are now in the Caribbean with your notebook computer or Android tablet.  You want to print your memoirs to your home computer.  Click the Print button in your writing program, Word or Libre Office, or even a webpage.  You must be logged onto your Google account and have Chrome installed.  Next, you will change to the Google Printer previously setup by you at home and hit the print button.  When you get back home your documents will be waiting for you.

But wait, that is not the entire story…tune in next week for a better idea.