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Forum Discussion
Microsoft word and excel only opens online version, I want to open normal excel and word
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 mic...
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.
Ross_S
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey 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
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.
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.
- Rich
Southweststucco wrote:
I don't understand why I cant speak to someone so we can clear this problem right away.
For starters, phone support is only available to Dropbox Business customers on the Advanced or Enterprise plans. Everyone else needs to open a ticket with Support. Also, assuming this feature wasn't removed intentionally, then it will probably require a developer to resolve because it's probably not an issue that regular Support can handle. This isn't a problem specific to just you, so it will require additional troubleshooting and testing before it can be resolved. In other works, it's not a simple flip of a switch to resolve. Again, this is all assuming that the feature wasn't removed intentionally.
So how can I have my microsoft excel and word synced? That's all im asking for.
The Office apps have never "synced" with Dropbox. The only thing that syncs is the Dropbox client, when installed on your computer. As I understand it, the ability to open a file from the website in the locally installed copy of Office requires that you have the Dropbox client installed and the file already syncing to your computer. If that's the case, you should already have the file locally and you can just open it directly from your Dropbox folder instead of from the website. Any changes you save to the file would be synced back to your account by Dropbox once you close the file. And this would actually be quicker than opening the file through website.
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Rich wrote:
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.
Hey Rich, it's working fine here:
Tested it on Chrome and Safari. If you're using a Mac, make sure that the Flash plugin is installed, and enabled for Dropbox in the Safari settings:
Southweststucco, if you're using a Mac, check the above as well!
- Ross_S
I wonder if we have a misunderstanding of what the button does:
Open -> Open in Microsoft Word = Open the actual Word doc that I already have on my desktop
If the doc isn't there then it will not open.
If you can't see the doc in that folder then I wouldn't expect to see that functionality.
Unless I missed it, can you confirm that if you navigate to that location, and double click the actual file, then it opens. If you're not able to complete this process for any reason then the option should not appear.
As someone (Rich?) mentioned on the prev page, this feature is just the same as double-clicking the local doc.
Yes, to get the dropdown option for Word you have to have the file selected for sync (selective sync) (and thus resides on you local dropbox drive on your PC).
