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Error that the file couldn't be opened when accessing Google sheets document online.
Hi,
I'm encountering a problem while using Google sheets that's integrated with Dropbox. It used to be fine, but when I tried to open it today, the page refused to load and the message that I got is "File could not open. Try refreshing the page". I already tried to refresh the page several times, but it wouldn't work. I even tried to copy the file and open the copy -- but again, to no avail. This happened to my several other Google sheets documents as well.
What do you think is happening and what should I do now? I'm afraid that it will affect my other Google documents since I'm using the Google-Dropbox integration quite often.
I'd appreciate any help, thanks!
Hi Megan, thanks for replying, I copy the files into the same folder (though error also happens when I copy to elsewhere).
Steps are summarised below so you can see the second error in context. I sent the original issue to support on March 14th, (ticket 21729904) dropbox engineers are working on it but no progress afaik.
Error 1:
- Try to open 'Problem1.gsheet' spreadsheet file
- 'Could not open file, try refreshing the page'
Workaround:
- Rename file to 'Problem1.xlsx', open online, file works
- Close file, rename to .gsheet, open online, file works
Error 2:
- Make a copy of the 'fixed' .gsheet aka 'Problem1-fixed-copy.gsheet'
- 'Could not open file, try refreshing the page'
Essentially the workaround only sorts out individual files, it does not fix the issue with using copies of files. Some people mentioned that the problem applies mostly to copies of 'template' files.
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Hi Hannah, that would be great thank you 🙂
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey KOMA, thanks for reaching out to us about this.
What kind of error message are you getting?
And what is the size of the files you're having this issue with?
If you can also give us the ticket number for your communication with our support team, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
- Hannah
Not a problem, I just sent you an email, so we can continue there! 🙂
Hi Hannah, the message is
Google Sheets
Could not open file. Try refreshing the page.
I'm not sure how to check the file size for these documents as I believe they are effectively just links? On my desktop they say 200 bytes but so do all other files where we use the google interface for files 'created' on dropbox. I call them large files as I know from my own work that they are long documents with a significant amount of descriptive text, we are not using the spreadsheets for calculation, there is generally just one formula to gather the descriptions from multiple cells into a single cell, there is also a good bit of in-cell visual formatting. The files I consider small/ simple are still descriptive but no more than say 2-5 words per cell (eg a name or location), a date, or link.
My ticket number is 21729904
Many Thanks!
Jay and sendyjasmine found a temporary workaround so we at least don't lose our files.
- open your dropbox account in your browser
- rename the file extension to .xlsx via the online dropbox website
- open + close the file (in the online excel editor)
- rename the file to .gsheet (optional if you want it to open in gsheets going forward),
- file should now be working.
-deleted-
I have this same issue, although renaming to .xlsx and back to .gsheet does not fit it for me.
In my case, when I duplicate the file the same error happens on the duplicate, and in my main file, I attempted to restore an earlier version (within Google's Version history not Dropbox's) and it rendered the file unopenable.
@jay - I was able to restore my file using the "save as .xlsx, then back to .gsheet"
However, I get the exact same error when I attempt to Duplicate the .gsheet file. I have tried the method of duplicating the file within MacOS Finder, as well as the "Copy" action directly on dropbox.com.
This function seems to always work with .gdoc files, and also seems to work with some .gsheet files (that are more simple in nature), but I have several more complex Google Sheet files that I have absollutely no way to make a copy.
Any thoughts?
Mike
Just to add to Miike's comment, I also have the same issue,
I can fix the original files so that they open but when I try to duplicate the 'fixed' files the same errors occur
