How to Combine Google Docs? Complete Tutorial

Users who are working with separate chapters, reports, or collaborative documents often need to merge multiple Google Docs. This blog will guide you on how to combine your Google Docs using reliable methods. Here, I will properly explain the ways, common issues, and how to avoid them.

In a professional workflow, users often merge their individual files to be presented or stored as one. Scenarios like combining multiple chapters into a single report for a thesis, merging individual client documents for the delivery, getting all the drafts from different collaborators to created finalised version. These are the common use cases where one has to combine multiple Google Docs.

One major problem of not merging is that some users mostly rely on the repeated copy-paste option. Which will waste your time or lead to human error. Inconsistencies in the content, like broken headings, misplaced images, or altered spacing, are common when you merge multiple documents. This is why many of you want to combine your Google Docs to avoid these problems.

What You Should Know Before Merging Google Docs?

With no native merge option, combining your Google Docs is a difficult task. But to make it easier, you must remember these points.

• There are certain items, like comments, suggestions, revision history, and bookmarks are not going to merge.
• Also, smart chips, checkboxes, and AI summary elements do not carry over. Same with table of contents elements, as Google generally skipped or broke the link.
• If the documents have different themes, it would override them. So, use only standard heading tags in all source files. The expert also recommended cleaning up the formatting to minimize the problem.
• Make sure you first backup your source documents so that if something occurs, you at least have your content.

These points are necessary to remember when you have to bulk merge Google Docs. Directly combining your Google Docs is not possible, but below are the workarounds that can help you.

Copy & Paste Merge Mulitple Google Docs

If you have two documents that you need to join. Simply copying the content and pasting it is the reason. In this, you also have to ensure the formatting.

1. Create a new master document or open an existing one where you paste the content.
2. Open the source document, copy the content.
3. Paste it into the Master document. Repeat this for each file. Make sure to add a break to separate the sections.

Use Google Workspace Addon to Merge Google Docs

To combine many files, use the Google Workspace add-on Merge Docs Pro and Document Merge for Google Docs. These extensions are available on Google Workspace Marketplace, and you can use them to handle big merges. To install it, follow the steps below.

1. In the Google Doc, click on Extensions and then Add-ons.
2. Select the Get add-ons, then search Merge
3. Choose your addon, download it, and applyit to your documents.

Google Apps Script Can Combine Google Docs

Google Apps Script is also used to merge your Google Docs. To use this, you must have professional knowledge. Before starting, make sure Google Docs are properly stored in Google Drive. You must have edit access to each document, and note down the File IDs of each Doc, i.e. your Doc URL.

1. Open Google Apps Script and start a new Project.
2. Name the project. After that, create a new blank Google Doc.
3. Copy the File ID of this Doc. Type this script code.
4. function mergeGoogleDocs() {
// IDs of the Google Docs to merge
var sourceDocIds = [
'SOURCE_DOC_ID_1',
'SOURCE_DOC_ID_2',
'SOURCE_DOC_ID_3'
];// ID of the destination Google Doc
var destinationDocId = 'DESTINATION_DOC_ID';var destinationDoc = DocumentApp.openById(destinationDocId);
var destinationBody = destinationDoc.getBody();sourceDocIds.forEach(function(id) {
   var sourceDoc = DocumentApp.openById(id);
   var sourceBody = sourceDoc.getBody();var elements = sourceBody.getChildren();elements.forEach(function(element) {
   destinationBody.appendParagraph(element.copy());
   });// Optional: Add a page break between documents
   destinationBody.appendPageBreak();
   });

   destinationDoc.saveAndClose();
   }

5. Use the actual Google Doc IDs in place of SOURCE_DOC_ID_1, SOURCE_DOC_ID_2, etc.
6. Run the script and choose mergeGoogleDocs. When asked, grant the permissions.

These methods can merge multiple Google Docs. But, using them can also cause you problem such as I mentioned below.

Problems with Manual Methods

• When you are moving the content from one tab to another. You may accidentally skip a page or leave a paragraph.
• If you don’t pay any attention, some content will be added twice. This is because of dealing with multiple files at the same time.
• Multiple documents have different styles or themes, which causes conflicts and an inconsistent look.
• One of the major issues is formatting, where the numbered lists abruptly cut off or restart. Images are set to Wrap Text or jump to specific positions.
• It is time-consuming to manually merge 50 pages of the document. As you get hours of clicking and scrolling to combine them.

These are the problems that you may find when you are merging your Google Docs. If you have to combine the documents within the same the Gogole account. So, it is not a difficult task. The problem occurs when you have to merge the documents of two Google accounts. How can you do it?

Combining Documents From Multiple Google Domains

You can use the copy and paste method to merge your documents. But it is great for a few files. It is difficult to merge multiple files at the same time, especially if they are from different accounts. In that case, SysTools G Suite Merge Tool would be a great solution. This software is capable of combining the documents without losing the actual content or formatting. Although it effectively combines all your data items. But if you want to do it for a specific document. Use this utility.

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Instructions for the Software

1. Start by downloading the software and then choose G Suite as the source and destination.
   
2. Choose Documents from the Workload section and apply a date filter if you want to merge selective data.
   
3. Provide the Admin Email, Application ID, and Certificate file of both accounts.
   
4. Add the Users by fetching them or manually importing their IDs.
   
5. Lastly, click the Start Migration to merge the documents of the two Google accounts.
   

Concluding Words

If you are having a problem merging multiple Google Docs. This software provides you with workarounds that you can use. Because there is no native merge option, they are the ones who can combine your files within the same account. If you want to merge documents from different domains. Then the professional software can help you.