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Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive Overview


Overview

Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive allows you to add and edit wireframes directly from Google Drive, where the files are stored and managed. If you use other Google Workspace apps (Google Docs, for example), the file management features should be very familiar to you.

With easy sharing, version control and even real-time collaboration, Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive makes iterating on wireframes easy and fun. To learn how to sign up for or manage a subscription, check out the Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive subscription FAQ.


Getting Started

The instructions for installing Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive can be found on this page.

For a quick overview before starting to use the application, check out this 5 minute video covering the main features of Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive.


Creating a New Project

There are two ways to create a new Balsamiq Wireframes project in Google Drive.

  1. You can click "New > Balsamiq Wireframes" from the Google Drive file list as shown above.

  1. If you are using the Chrome browser, you can also launch Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive from the Chrome Apps tab (open a new tab and type "chrome://apps/"). Click the big Balsamiq Wireframes icon and it will open the editor directly.

โ€‹Either method will launch the Balsamiq Wireframes editor, allowing you to create your wireframes (or import existing ones).

This will also create a new project file (.bmpr file extension) in your Google Drive. If you launched Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive from the Chrome Apps page, your file will be saved in your Driveโ€™s home folder. Otherwise it will be saved in the folder selected when you created the new Balsamiq Wireframes project.


Using the Balsamiq Wireframes Editor

The Balsamiq Wireframes editor allows you to create wireframes just like our other products. Start with the application overview to learn more about using the editor.


Importing from Other Versions

If you have a project created in another Balsamiq product (using the .bmpr extension), the easiest way to import it is to create a new project and use the "Project Menu > Import > Import from BMPR.." option.


Returning to Google Drive (Closing the Editor)

When you are done editing your wireframes you can exit the editor by clicking on the โ€œBack to Google Driveโ€ button in the Top Bar. This will also create a new version of the file in case you want to revert to it later.


Collaborating with Other Users in Real Time

Balsamiq Wireframes for Google Drive supports real-time collaboration between users. See Collaborative Editing for more details.

Notification Preferences

Notification Preferences are in your User Settings which you can access at any time from the Avatar Menu in the upper-right section of the Top Bar.

Notifications allow you to be emailed about changes that affect your projects. Those include edits, comments, likes, and more.


A Couple of Little Treats for You!

Built-in Background Music

For years we've been suggesting people use headphones when working on wireframes, to help get in the creative zone. So we asked ourselves: why not give our awesome users a built-in, get-in-the-zone-inducing track to listen to? And so we did!

Just go to the Smiley menu, click "Play Background Music", and get to work!

The track is called Ascension, by Dr. Christopher Lloyd Clarke B.Sc, Msc.D. Meditation music composer and founder of Royalty Free Meditation Music.com.

We cut the track down to 25 minutes, added a Zen bell, then added 5 minutes of nature sounds recorded by our own Michael Angeles in his hikes around Marin County, CA. We then made the resulting 30-minute track loop 4 times.

Why the (25 + 5)*4, you ask? Because this way you can use the music to time your Pomodoros, of course!

What Should I Make for Dinner?

We know how it is. It's 5pm, and you've just had a glorious day of work, creating awesome wireframes for your next project.

And then it hits you: what should I make for dinner tonight?

That's where we come in.

Go to the Help menu and select "What Should I Make for Dinner?". You'll be taken to this page.

Lots and lots of easy, every-day recipes straight from the Balsamiq team's kitchens, in super-quick video format you can watch while you put your jacket on to leave the office.

Just browse through the list of videos, pick one that looks good, jot down the ingredients and run out the door.

Nothing fancy here, this is what we cook for ourselves when we don't know what to make.

Buon appetito! ๐Ÿ™‚