Android Quick App: DocumentsToGo Full

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DocumentsToGo is the stalwart champion of on-the-go file editing. It's been around for a number of years and on a number of handsets and operating systems, be it RIM's BlackBerry or Palm's Palm OS, and as of the inception of our operating system, Android.

DocumentsToGo has a very clean, metallic interface that's easy on the eyes. From the main menu, everything is clearly laid out in front of you. Want to view your starred files? Not a problem. Prefer to be synced with Google Docs? DocumentsToGo supports it.

The plus sign on the bottom left is your one-stop shop for creating a new file. A simple tap on the plus sign brings up a new menu with the options to create a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. The gear on the bottom right brings up the settings menu, which is also accessible by hitting the menu button on your phone.

Editing a file is a breeze, requiring you only to select it and wait for it to load. I really appreciate how the file editors look in DocumentsToGo, as well. There's a definitely Windows 95 look going on, but it isn't bad at all. It's familiar, which is great. It's also great that when you open a file, it defaults to being zoomed out, so you're able to find what you want to edit it, then zoom in on it, instead of having to zoom out, find, and then zoom in again.

Starred files are a pretty cool, defining characteristic of DocumentsToGo as well, especially if you have a quagmire of files to sort through. If that is you, I'd recommend a laptop or a netbook (or maybe even a tablet!), but know that there's something to help you be better organized than having to sort through long lists of files or go into deeply structured folders on your microSD. This is definitely one of those features I wouldn't mind being ported to the other office products out there.

As mentioned previously, DocumentsToGo supports syncing up with Google Docs, but unfortunately, nothing else. There's no Dropbox integration, no SugarSync, no Box or MobileMe. What Dataviz does give you instead, though, is an actual desktop sync. While it's not as cool as giving you more cloud options (and actually kind of limiting, forcing you to sync with machines the client has been installed on), it's better than nothing. To enable it, you download a Dataviz.exe onto your desktop and set up syncing from there. If Dataviz set up their own cloud syncing between multiple devices, it wouldn't be so bad, but I think to really propel this app to new heights, they should at least add in Dropbox.

At $14.99, Dataviz is asking a bit of a premium for their app. But with its arguably better interface and a more experienced history with mobile editing, this might be the app for you. I do also think if you're going to charge more for a product, you should at least have the same cloud syncing options, but that's just me. As a whole, though, DocumentsToGo offers most (if not all) of the options some will need on the go.

Download links and more pictures are after the break.

Joshua Munoz
Joshua Munoz
12 Comments
  • I downloaded trial and seems good, but it didn't run the macros on the excel sheet I was testing for. Anyone know if the full version can handle custom macros.
  • Im almost certain it can. Itz not much that the program doesnt do.
  • Nope. I copied our timesheet spreadsheet thats heavily macro'd and its read only. So I guess I kinda wasted $15. Either way I needed a better office app then polaris office for the tablet anyways.
  • Do you have the transformer? How does Dataviz look on a tablet. I paid for the cull version for my phone, but i didnt install it on my tab, because polaris was already there. Which would you say looks/works better?
  • It would be interesting to see a feature line-up between this and Google's new Google Docs app. I find Docs does a better job of synching the document after long periods of use/editing. Docs2Go tends to lose the synch connection and then won't get it back, requiring you to save locally, then save the "new" doc to the cloud over the old one.
  • I bought documents-to-go back when I had a Windows Mobile 6.x phone. I have compared it to quick office and I can say that it is far superior. It is no replacement for desktop office software, but it definitely works well when you don't have a PC accessible and need to edit a document. I was able to get it on sale for $9.99 last year. I don't know that I would pay $14.99 though.
  • I have used both this and Quickoffice and they seem to do the job, right now I am trying out Picsel Smart Office. So far I really like the UI and the functionality of the product. Anyone else try Picsel and what are you impressions? Thanks
  • Here at work, we use the free Google cloud connect, which is a plugin for Microsoft Office, to sync Office documents with other workers. The master document stays with Google Docs, and each of us have a local copy that is always synced to Google Docs and with each other, and the syncing happens in real time (or so it is claimed, haven't verified it yet). Each edit is also versioned, so that you can go back to any prior versions. This is different than having and editing the document using the web-based editor, we use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) to edit the document and use Google Docs only as a central repository. I don't know how people use dropbox to sync Microsoft office documents; is it possible to have a document synced with multiple users?
  • Please these reviews have to be better than this. They're too basics and do little more than what any user could do by downloading the trial.
    I'd like to see a review about how good the editor is and what features it supports vs. a desktop. External features like sync is nice to hear about, but not before covering the essentials. That said I have Docs to go and Think free office. Docs is by far a better product. Its MS Docs support is good and so are the editing abilities. I've been able to open and edit complicated docs with no problem. However i don't think macros work.
  • In answer to the macro question, no, macros don't work. I don't think they work in SoftMaker's apps on Android (still beta) either and they have the most robust Office-like apps around.
  • Without DropBox this is a non starter for me, one reason I went with QuickOffice.
  • Documents to Go definitely has some warts. People have raved about alternatives to Docs to Go, and I've bitten the bait more than once. The truth is, nothing beats it... yet. QuickOfficeHD, in particular is horrific at rendering presentations containing pictures. Duh! One of the most useful features of a tablet... giving presentations on the go... is rendered useless. Documents to Go is the only way to go. Take it from someone who has spent good money after bad trying to find a better alternative. One of these developers needs to step up and really put out a quality translation product compatible with MSOffice. When someone does, they will own the market, because everything stinks. Documents to Go just stinks the least of all of them.