When I go to open any excel or work files from my computer it only gives me an option to open the *online* version, not the version that opens up into a new window. I paid for all the software of microsoft, not sure why this happeneed, I am sure it is a quick fix but I have no idea what to do. I cant do anything until i fix this!HELP! ASAP!

I uninstalled then reinstalled dropbox and google chrome, now it works! Thanks

Walter wrote: Hey there Southweststucco - have you tried downloading the files you want to work on and open them locally on your ( Windows I imagine) computer? That doesn't really answer the question. The option to open a file in the local copy of Office no longer appears on the website. The only option is Word/Excel Online, or if it's a Word doc, the ability to copy it to Paper. The available options today What happened to the option to open the file in the locally installed copy of Word or Excel? This option was previously available if you had the Dropbox client installed and the file was synced locally. That option is no longer a choice in the Open dialog. The options previously available It's as if the website can no longer detect that the client is installed (and thus, that the file is synced locally), so it doesn't present the option to open the file in the local copy of Office.

The ability to add Dropbox as a location shouldn't have anything to do with this. One is a function of the Dropbox website and client, the other is a function of Office. Also, the option you linked to talks about Dropbox as a place in Office Online. That's not what we're asking about.The specific feature we're asking about is shown in the screenshot above. Previewing a supported Office file and clicking the Open button would give you the option to open the file in your local copy of Office. This did not require Dropbox to be added as a place in Office. In fact, I've never added Dropbox as a place and this still worked. This relied on your computer having Office installed, having the Dropbox client installed, and having the file in question synced to your local Dropbox.

HI I dont really understand your reply. I want to be able to "open in excel 2016" and "open in word 2016", not in online. Is this actually never going to be available again?

My reply was directed at Walter, trying to better explain the issue.

Microsoft word and excel only opens online version, I want to open normal excel and word

32 Replies

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Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
8 years ago
Hey there Southweststucco - have you tried downloading the files you want to work on and open them locally on your ( Windows I imagine) computer?

Keep me posted!
Rich
Super User II
8 years ago
Walter wrote:

Hey there Southweststucco - have you tried downloading the files you want to work on and open them locally on your ( Windows I imagine) computer?

That doesn't really answer the question. The option to open a file in the local copy of Office no longer appears on the website. The only option is Word/Excel Online, or if it's a Word doc, the ability to copy it to Paper.

The available options today

What happened to the option to open the file in the locally installed copy of Word or Excel? This option was previously available if you had the Dropbox client installed and the file was synced locally. That option is no longer a choice in the Open dialog.

The options previously available

It's as if the website can no longer detect that the client is installed (and thus, that the file is synced locally), so it doesn't present the option to open the file in the local copy of Office.
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
8 years ago
Thanks for pointing this out Rich !

Microsoft has recently removed the ability to add Dropbox as a place in Office 365 - documented here, that is probably why you don't get that option any more.

Having said that, all users should still be able to edit their files using the Open button on our website.

Hope this clears things up - I'm also looking into this myself (as it's pretty recent) and I'll make sure to let you know when/if I got any more information about this.

Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your day!
Southweststucco
Helpful | Level 5
8 years ago
That is exactly what is going on, but I cant work without it being synced.

So what are my options now? How else can I have microsoft word and excel synced?

This really hurts.
Rich
Super User II
8 years ago
The ability to add Dropbox as a location shouldn't have anything to do with this. One is a function of the Dropbox website and client, the other is a function of Office. Also, the option you linked to talks about Dropbox as a place in Office Online. That's not what we're asking about.

The specific feature we're asking about is shown in the screenshot above. Previewing a supported Office file and clicking the Open button would give you the option to open the file in your local copy of Office. This did not require Dropbox to be added as a place in Office. In fact, I've never added Dropbox as a place and this still worked. This relied on your computer having Office installed, having the Dropbox client installed, and having the file in question synced to your local Dropbox.
Southweststucco
Helpful | Level 5
8 years ago
HI I dont really understand your reply.

I want to be able to "open in excel 2016" and "open in word 2016", not in online.

Is this actually never going to be available again?
Rich
Super User II
8 years ago
My reply was directed at Walter, trying to better explain the issue.
Ross_S
Dropbox Staff
8 years ago
Hey folks,

The Open button allows you to either open the file locally, or via Office 365. If you are not seeing the option to open locally it's because the file isn't present on that machine.

Can you ensure that Dropbox is running firstly, however the most likley issue here would be that you may have Selectivly Synced out that file. To confirm the status of the file can you visually locate that file on the actual machine and then confirm it opens without issue.

Many thanks.
Rich
Super User II
8 years ago
Hi Ross_S,

I don't use Selective Sync on this computer, and the Dropbox client is running. The option to open the file locally does not appear. This is occuring on multiple computers.
Southweststucco
Helpful | Level 5
8 years ago
I don't understand why I cant speak to someone so we can clear this problem right away.

I understand office 365 office doesnt sync with dropbox anymore (that sucks).
So how can I have my microsoft excel and word synced? That's all im asking for.
I know i can download it, then save as inside dropbox, although this makes the process more tedious taking away a lot of the efficiency reasons I decided to joing dropbox.

I need a solution.