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rjoyce87's avatar
rjoyce87
New member | Level 2
7 years ago

Opening files from Dropbox on Pages/Numbers/Keynote iPad apps

I have the latest Dropbox App installed on an iPad Pro 2018 running iOS 12.1.4, as well as on my 2012 MacBook Pro. When trying to open Numbers/Keynote/Pages files in those iPad apps from my Dropbox,...
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rjoyce87's avatar
rjoyce87
New member | Level 2
7 years ago

I'm attempting to open the files from WiFi; I've tried two different networks at this point. I've attached screenshots of what I see just before and after tapping the desired file.Error after tapping file.Before tapping file to open Keynote presentation

If I am in the Dropbox iOS app, I oddly can't open files into the respective iOS Pages/Numbers/Keynote app. If I export the file, I get the invalid file name message below; copying a link allows me to open the file, but creates a new file path that iOS auto-saves to iCloud.

Error message after exporting

The occasional file will download and open without a problem. The issue isn't characters in the file name, as some with parentheses, periods, or commas will open, and some without them will not open.

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
7 years ago
It seems that you’re accessing the file via the iOS Files interface, which appears in Keynote in the left column there.
 
Could you try opening the iOS Files app directly, and then tap the files you want to download so that they’re local on your device in that app?
 
Afterwards could you try opening the file directly from Keynote to see if it loads?
  • rjoyce87's avatar
    rjoyce87
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    I tried that, and from tapping on the files in the iOS Files Manager don’t produce anything — not even a download circle that won’t fill or even an error message saying that the file won’t open. (It won’t, also, allow me to view the file “info” accessed by pressing down on the file icon and tapping the black “info” box that pops up.)

    As I’ve poked around more, I’ve noticed that some files are accessible and others aren’t, but I can’t see what the distinction is between them.

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
      7 years ago
      So, the files can’t even be downloaded through the iOS Files app. 
       
      Is there anything in common with the files that can’t be downloaded or opened? Are they in the same folder, path or contain similar characters in their file or folder names?
       
      Are you able to offline the files on the Dropbox mobile app? Can the files then be exported to Keynote to preview in there?

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