With the AODocs Smartbar installed, you can open and edit Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) directly in Google Drive, without having to download, modify and re-upload them in Google Drive.
In addition, if UFO is also installed, you can use it with the Smartbar and open and edit any non-Google files from the Google Drive interface directly on your computer.
Learn more: UFO: Open and edit non-Google files in Google Drive.
This article explains how to edit non-Google files from Google Drive directly on your computer. It also presents a summary of the options available for opening non-Google files in AODocs and in Google Drive.
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Summary: options for opening non-Google files in AODocs and in Google Drive
Below is a summary of the options available for opening non-Google files in AODocs and in Google Drive.
Edit Microsoft files with the Smartbar
You can edit Microsoft Office files with the Smartbar installed and activated, even if UFO is not installed.
1. Click the Open file / Open with local software button displayed below to your Microsoft Office file.
The button appears when you hover the cursor over a Microsoft Office file.
Tip: You can open files in Microsoft Office that are not managed by AODocs, for example files from My Drive folders or files from your shared drives.
#New Smartbar | #Legacy Smartbar |
Alternatively, open your Microsoft file in the Google file preview and select Open with local softare in the toolbar. Learn more: Access Smartbar features in the Google Drive file preview. |
Alternatively, open your Microsoft file in the Google file preview and select Open file in the Smartbar menu. Learn more: Access Smartbar features in the Google Drive file preview. |
2. The AODocs Smartbar opens the file in the dedicated Microsoft Office application, for example Excel. Microsoft Office downloads the file from AODocs.
3. Edit your Microsoft Office file directly in the dedicated application.
4. Save and close your file. Your changes are saved and your file is uploaded to Google Drive.
Notes:
– Two users can't edit the same file at the same time. The file is automatically locked when a user opens it. If another user tries to edit the file, they will only be able to save a local copy or open it in read-only mode.
– If you keep a file open for one hour without saving it, the lock is released and another user can edit the file. You will no longer be able to edit the file again until the other user has finished editing. You can save the file locally to keep any unsaved changes.
You can open Microsoft Office files on your computer only if:
- the file is a Microsoft Office Word, Excel or PowerPoint file with one of these extensions:
- Word document: docx, doc or docm
- PowerPoint document: pptx, ppt or pptm
- Excel document: xlsx, xls or xlsm
- you have Microsoft Office installed on your computer – supported versions are from Office 2010 Service Pack 2 up to the most recent version for Windows and macOS
- the name of the document doesn't exceed 250 characters
- the size of the document doesn't exceed 32 MB
Note: In Microsoft Office, files managed by AODocs may open automatically in Protected View because they are downloaded from the internet. To edit the file, accept the prompt that appears when you open it. To change this default behavior, change the setting of the Protected View in Microsoft Office.
Learn more: I want to change my Protected View settings.
Edit non-Google files with UFO in Smartbar
You must install the Universal File Opener extension to be able to use it with the Smartbar.
Note: The Universal File Opener (UFO) is in public beta and will be available for free during this period. After the public release, it will be available to paying AODocs customers who pay list price as long as their AODocs subscription remains active. Other users can purchase UFO for a fee.
UFO in Smartbar lets you open and edit non-Google files of any size from the Google Drive interface directly on your computer.
1. Click the Open file / Open with local software button.
Note: If UFO isn’t installed, you will still see the Open file / Open with local software button on all non-Google files.
#New Smartbar | #Legacy Smartbar |
Alternatively, open your non-Google file in the Google file preview and select Open in local softare in the toolbar. Learn more: Access Smartbar features in the Google Drive file preview. |
Alternatively, open your non-Google file in the Google file preview and select Open file in the Smartbar menu. Learn more: Access Smartbar features in the Google Drive file preview. |
2. A prompt containing instructions to install UFO is displayed.
#New Smartbar |
#Legacy Smartbar |
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Learn more: UFO: Open and edit non-Google files in Google Drive.