Preview .ods files on iOS

[JamesCherrill]

When I try to preview an Open Document format speadsheet (.ods) file in DropBox for iOS it shows as .zip instead of .ods and I can't view the spreadsheet contents.

Does anyone have any suggestions fixes or work-arounds fr this?

(I tried using DropBox support but they refused to answer because the email address for my DropBox account is a receive-only forwearding address and I can't send emails from it.}

[Jay]

Hi James, do you already have an app on your iOS device that can open ODS file types?

[JamesCherrill]

Yes. I have Excel.

if I add Dropbox to the Files app and touch the .ods file from there it shows as .zip, BUT THEN it opens in excel in read only mode.  

[JamesCherrill]

Ps. The DB help pages list .ods as a supported preview format, and the same files preview correctly in DB for my Mac.

[Jay · Accepted solution]

Technically, ODS files might not be supported to preview on iOS as per this article.

That article also states that any files supported by your iPhone preview in the Dropbox app. 

Since you’re using a third party app to open the file, perhaps you can try another app that can open the ODS file natively?

[JamesCherrill]

Interesting... that seems to contradict this page https://www.dropbox.com/help/files-folders/file-types-that-preview

[Jay]

That page is for previewing files on the Dropbox website. The previous article was specifically for mobile devices using the mobile app.

[JamesCherrill]

OK. Thanks for the info and for your time.

I'm going to forget about the DropBox iOS app and get to my files via the Files app which opens them correctly in Excel. It's s bit clunky, but it does work.

cheers

James