FPS Docs Helper
Writing analytics for Google Docs: revisions, typing time, pastes from outside the document, and a replay of how it was written.
Open a Google Doc and FPS Docs Helper shows a banner above it: how many versions the document has, how many edits went into it and how many times text was pasted in from outside. Open the Report for the full picture, or Replay the document to watch it being written, version by version.
Everything is worked out from the document’s own version history — the same history Google Docs shows in File → Version history — inside your browser. Nothing is sent to the District or anyone else.
The Paste & AI review points to patterns worth a conversation, such as a large block of text appearing at once or wording typical of chatbots. It is not proof that a student copied or used AI: students paste their own notes, move text between documents and work in other apps. Look at the replay and talk with the student before drawing a conclusion.
How to use it
- Open the Google Doc. The banner appears at the top once the document has loaded.
- Read the three numbers: Revisions (saved versions), Edits and Pastes from outside the document.
- Choose Report for typing time, typing speed, deletions, who contributed and the Paste & AI review.
- Choose Replay Document to step through each version. New text is green; text pasted from outside is orange.
- Use the FPS button in the Chrome toolbar to hide the banner everywhere, or only on this document.
You only see analytics for documents you can already open, and you need edit access to see a document’s version history — the same rule as Google Docs itself.
Getting it
The Technology Department installs FPS Docs Helper on District Chrome browsers for staff. If you do not see the FPS button in the Chrome toolbar on a District account, contact the Technology Department.
Questions
Does it send my documents or my students’ work anywhere?
No. The extension reads the document’s version history from Google Docs, with your own access, and does all of its work in your browser. It does not send document content, results or anything else to the District or to anyone else.
Why does a document show no analytics?
The report needs the version history. If you can view but not edit a document, Google does not share its version history, and neither can the extension. Ask the owner for edit access, or open it from Google Classroom as the teacher.
What counts as a paste?
A single change that adds 40 or more characters at once. Text that was already in the document, or that was cut and put back, is not counted as coming from outside.
Can I turn the banner off?
Yes. Click the FPS button in the Chrome toolbar: switch it off everywhere, or hide it on just the document you are looking at.
What’s new
2.0.0
- Writing report opens inside the banner: a summary, four headline numbers, then the Paste & AI review and the details.
- Paste & AI review: pastes from outside the document, chatbot phrasing and links, leftover Markdown, hidden characters and machine-like typing.
- Document replay shows each version with new and pasted text highlighted.
- Banner can be hidden everywhere or per document.