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Re: Dropbox on Android suddenly unable to open Text / .MD file
A large part of my usage of Dropbox for Android involves editing my files, both text and HTML. After this latest (320.2.10), already problematic update (my recents and starred items don't display in modified order anymore and there's no option to sort, I reported it but I guess I just have to live with it), I only just now noticed I can no longer edit my HTML files through Dropbox. It used to offer the built-in text editor in the "open with" options--now all it offers are HTML viewers and browsers. I can still edit text files as of last night, but not my HTML files, which I created myself BTW (using a different HTML editor, since Dropbox has never offered the option to create HTML files on Android, but after moving them to Dropbox I USED to be able to edit there).
Is this just yet another recent change further limiting Dropbox's usefulness? I'm a longtime paid user, I'm so disappointed in these changes that just keep limiting functionality. I use Dropbox for editing my files literally every day, including HTML. If I want to do it now, I need to export them, delete them from Dropbox (because it doesn't allow me to overwrite with this method, just says the file already exists), open them in the other, clunky HTML editor, edit them there, save, then re-import them into Dropbox, and delete them from the device...so tedious.
Why remove such a useful option? ☹️ And no, I have no choice to include Dropbox Text Editor as a program to open certain files, I know because I've checked and I can't find any method to add any new apps to that "open with" list. (I once wanted to add that third-party app as an option and couldn't).
I believe this will fall on deaf ears but please, please consider at least restoring this option in a future update? Please. This removes SO much of the app's use. 😔
12 Replies
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Just started my own thread on this, I can't edit HTML files in Dropbox anymore as of the most recent update, only text files. It's not a beta issue, I'm using 320.2.10. Very very disappointed.
I have quite a lot of HTML files. 😕 I just checked a random assortment of old and new ones from various folders and none of them offer the option to open with Dropbox Text Editor anymore.
My device OS is Android 12, but I've edited HTML files already with this OS, it changed with the update to Dropbox. Also I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one experiencing this, I also found these threads:
Note those users mention HTML files seem to open sometimes, but I can't open them at all. They seem to be experiencing the same loss of Dropbox Text Editor as an "Open with" option regarding other file types, however.It still works for text files, that's pretty much it.
Screenshots should be included. First of trying to open an HTML file, then of trying to open a text file. HTML file offers only browsers now.
- On Android, .txt files used to automatically open in Dropbox editor in an editing mode. Now it seems to open the file in a view-only mode and I have to click a button to get into editing mode. I'd like to have the ability back to open directly into editing mode.
App version 320.2.10.
Cleared Dropbox cache, rebooted, no change.
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi bpimentel, thanks for posting here!
Your feedback regarding this has been very valuable and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.
I will pass on your comments to the relevant departments so that we can further improve how Dropbox affects your everyday lifestyle.
If you need anything else, let me know!
I agree that editing and managing .txt files is a core function that makes me a paid subscriber. This month, opening small text files (512 bytes) is taking over 30 seconds. Adding "cookies" to my grocery list shouldn't take that long, nor require multiple clicks to get into an editor. I have now switch to a text editor on my smart phone (with its limitations that outweigh the time wasted by Dropbox).
My replies keep getting merged into others' threads where others are being told the issue is being reported to Dropbox techs to look into while I'm still being asked device/app specifications and such. It seems obvious it's not on my end, this is a change in the app itself. 😕 I hope I'm not asked to try uninstalling/reinstalling next as I have a phobia of losing my offline files, plus others with this issue have already tried that. (I'd link, but the changing nature of these threads is too confusing.)
I hope they fix this, this feature was really useful. I would like to freely use such tools, without restrictions. By the way, the same goes for freedom of speech, I recently found this site https://papersowl.com/examples/freedom-of-speech/ and now preparing for writing tasks in college has become much easier. I found a lot of interesting articles there, I'm sure it will be useful to all students.
BenDBXCommunity Manager
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This feature was not deprecated, but we are aware that some file types (including html) are not opening properly on mobile. We are actively working on a fix. I will update this thread with more information when I have it!
Regards,
Ben
on the files I've needed to edit I've simply changed the extension from .html to .txt, made the change, then changed the extension back. I'd much prefer to have an option to edit .html files instead of render them. In fact, I'd prefer edit to be the default.
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