Introduction

In this guide, we’ll explain how to prevent students from using the Make a Copy option in Google Docs and other Google apps within Google Workspace for Education (GWFE) by using xFanatical Safe Doc. The Make a Copy feature is prevalent across various Google applications, including Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, and Drawings. It allows users to create identical copies of files and share them. While useful for collaboration and document management, this feature can be misused in educational environments, letting students gain an unfair advantage by duplicating and distributing assignments or materials.

For educators, disabling the Make a Copy option is crucial. But how can you do this in Google Docs, Sheets, and other apps within GWFE? This is where xFanatical Safe Doc becomes essential. In this article, we’ll demonstrate how to use xFanatical Safe Doc, a highly effective tool, to prevent the Make a Copy option in Google Workspace for Education.

Why Block the Make a Copy Option?

In a classroom setting, teachers often distribute assignments or tests to students. When the Make a Copy option is enabled, students can duplicate these documents, which can lead to unintended consequences.

Let’s understand the scenario through a user story:

Teacher Elizebet assigns an assignment to both Student Mario and Student Vector  using Google Docs. The project is meant to assess individual creativity and effort.

  • Problem: Student Vector, after quickly completing his assignment, used the "Make a Copy" option to duplicate his work and shared it with Student Mario. This gave Student Mario the temptation to submit Vector’s work as his own. As a result, Mario's involvement in the assignment decreased, preventing him from demonstrating his own creativity and effort, and undermining the learning process.
  • Solution: To address this issue, the school could implement a policy using Safe Doc to disable the "Make a Copy" option in Google Docs. This would prevent students from easily duplicating and sharing completed work, ensuring that each student is responsible for their own assignments.
  • Result: By disabling the "Make a Copy" option, students like Mario are encouraged to complete their own work and actively participate in the learning process. This solution fosters individual accountability, creativity, and effort, leading to more meaningful engagement with assignments and promoting academic integrity.

By removing the Make a Copy option, educators maintain control and protect the learning process. This safeguard supports students in developing creativity and independent thinking, both crucial for their academic growth.

Disable The Make a Copy Option In Google Docs, Sheets and Other Apps

Disable The Make a Copy Option In Google Docs, Sheets and Other Apps

What is a xFanatical Safe Doc?

xFanatical Safe Doc is a comprehensive solution that helps maintain a focused and secure online environment for Google Workspace admins and users. It provides robust tools to manage and restrict access to various online content, ensuring a safe and productive digital space. Safe Doc integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, offering administrators the ability to customize content filtering policies according to their needs.

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Disable The Make a Copy Option In Google Apps From GWFE

Disable the Make a Copy option in Google Workspace with xFanatical Safe Doc

Remove the Make a Copy option Google Docs

Google Docs is one of the most powerful online word processors, known for its versatility and ease of use, especially in educational settings. It allows students and teachers to collaborate in real time. However, when students misuse this functionality by copying documents and sharing them, it reduces the platform's effectiveness in promoting genuine learning.

At this point, xFanatical Safe Doc becomes invaluable. By implementing the BlockDriveMakeCopy policy, you can prevent users from exploiting the Make a Copy feature. Once this policy is set to true, the option to create a copy of a document vanishes from the Google Docs editor. This ensures that students engage more actively with the content rather than simply distributing it.

This feature not only reinforces academic integrity but also supports a more controlled and purposeful learning environment. Safe Doc thus helps educators maintain the integrity of interactive assignments by reducing the potential for misuse

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Docs

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Docs

Disallow the Make a Copy option Google Sheets

Google Sheets, a key part of the Google Docs suite, excels at organizing and presenting complex data in a clear, digestible format. Its powerful features make it an ideal tool for managing large datasets and conducting collaborative data analysis. However, in certain settings such as classrooms or collaborative workspaces it might be necessary to restrict the ability for users to copy the document.

With xFanatical Safe Doc, you can achieve this by disabling the Make a Copy option directly from the editing panel. By setting the BlockDriveMakeCopy policy to true, this feature is removed, preventing students from creating duplicates of sensitive spreadsheets. This is especially useful for ensuring data integrity and maintaining control over the information shared within the educational environment.

xFanatical Safe Doc helps enhance security while preserving the responsive and collaborative nature of Google Sheets.

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Sheets

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Sheets

Inactivate the Make a Copy option for student in Google Slides

Google Slides is an excellent tool for making learning engaging and participatory for students. It enables us to convey ideas visually, simplifying complex concepts for easier comprehension. making complex concepts easier to understand. However, if students can easily copy the slides, they may lose the incentive to participate actively in class discussions or activities.

To maintain engagement and protect the integrity of materials, xFanatical Safe Doc is the best option. By disabling the Make a Copy option from Google Slides, students are encouraged to focus on the learning rather than simply duplicating and sharing the content. This feature helps foster a more involved and collaborative classroom environment.

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Slides

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Slides

Constrain on the Make a Copy option Google Drawings and Forms

Google Drawings and Google Forms are widely used in both online and offline classrooms to deliver valuable content and facilitate interactive learning. These tools enable teachers to present information in creative and engaging ways, whether through visual diagrams or structured quizzes and surveys. However, when students begin copying these materials, it can disrupt the learning environment and reduce participation.

To prevent this, you can use  xFanatical Safe Doc  by enabling the BlockDriveMakeCopy policy. Setting this policy to true will remove the Make a Copy option, ensuring that students cannot duplicate and share the content, thereby maintaining order and encouraging original engagement with the material.

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Drawings

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Drawings

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Forms

Safe Doc removes the Make a Copy option in Google Forms

How to Deactivate Make a Copy Option In Google Workspace using xFanatical Safe Doc

Step 1: Install Safe Doc: 

The first step is to install Safe Doc in your Google Workspace environment. Safe Doc is a browser extension that seamlessly integrates with Google workspace, providing enhanced control and security features.

Step 2: Configure Safe Doc settings: 

Once Safe Doc is installed, you can configure its settings to turn off the "Make a Copy" option in Google Workspace.

Step 3: Access Google Admin Console: 

Now, navigate to the Google Admin Console. In the Google Admin Console, click on Devices followed by Chrome. Then, select Apps & Extensions and click on Users & Browsers.

Step 4: Copy the Policy

Locate the policy that you wish to apply and copy it. The policy will display in a specific format similar to the example provided below:

Step 5: Save the Policy: 

After copying the policy, click the Save button to apply it.

How to configure Safe Doc?

First of all, ensure the deployment of Safe Doc on your students' Chrome browsers, and review the xFanatical Safe Doc Configuration document.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing access to features like the Make a Copy option is essential for fostering a productive and secure environment in both educational and corporate settings. By using xFanatical Safe Doc, to impose restrictions on the Make a Copy option in Google Workspace,  administrators can effectively prevent content duplication, safeguard the integrity of shared materials, and promote active participation. This measure not only reduces the potential for distractions but also helps maintain a more focused, efficient, and collaborative digital workspace.

To learn more about how xFanatical Safe Doc can help enhance online safety in your educational institution, visit our website  Safe Doc

If you have yet to install Safe Doc, please get a 30 days trial.

"BlockDriveMakeCopy": {
  "Value": true
}