Google file attachments: limitations

Libraries are document containers. Each library has its own specific configuration.

Libraries are associated with a storage platform where the attachments in your libraries are stored. Learn more about the storage platforms available and the differences between them.

Learn more: What are attachments?

There are some minor limitations when working with Google file attachments (Google documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and forms) in the AODocs document editor, in all types of library.

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Embedded Google file attachments in the AODocs document editor

When you open any type of attachment in AODocs, it is displayed in the AODocs document editor in an iframe, under the AODocs header.

There are some minor limitations when working with Google file attachments in the AODocs document editor. If you open your document in a new tab, most of the limitations no longer apply. In addition, you can access many of the limited features directly from the AODocs header.

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Limitations with Google file attachments 

Share a file

The Share button is isn't available in the AODocs document editor. To manage sharing permissions, open the More actions menu and select Edit document permissions. Learn more: What are permissions in AODocs?

Delete a file

The Move to trash option in the File menu is isn't available in the AODocs document editor. To delete a document from your library, open the More actions menu and select Delete.

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Email feature

The options Email as attachment... and Email collaborators... aren't available in the AODocs document editor. Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

Publish to the web

The Publish to the Web option in the File menu isn't available in the AODocs document editor because only the owner of a document can publish to the web in Google Drive.

To publish a document, open the More actions menu and select Publish to the web or Publish to the domain.

Notes:
– The Publish... options are available only in Team Folders and Security Folders. They aren't available in Document Management libraries.
– Only library administrators can access the Publish... options.

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Insert or replace images and videos

The Image option in the Insert menu isn't available in the AODocs document editor. Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

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Collaborate by mentioning other users (@ + contact)

The feature used to mention other users when editing text in Google documents or spreadsheet cells in Google spreadsheets isn't available in the AODocs document editor. Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

Comments and suggestions in Google file attachments

In the AODocs document editor:

  • the Delete option isn't available in comments
  • the Accept and Reject buttons aren't available in suggestions

Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass these limitations.

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Note: The mention feature is available if you add comments. 

Limitations in Google Sheets

Import and Print options:

In Google Sheets, the Import and Print options in the File menu aren't available in the AODocs document editor. Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

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Protected cells:

In an AODocs document with a Google spreadsheet attachment in which there are protected cells, only the user who checked out the document can modify the protected cells. Other users with edit permissions on the protected cells can't edit the protected cells, but can edit the rest of the spreadsheet.

Learn more: Force check-out / check-in when editing documents.

Limitations in Google Slides

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Limitations in Google Forms

If you have an upload button in your Google form, the form doesn't display correctly in the AODocs document editor.

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Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

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Features with specific behavior in the AODocs document editor

Create a new file in the AODocs editor

In all types of library, when you select New in the File menu a Google file attachment in the AODocs document editor, a new tab opens with a new Google file, which you can name and modify. However, the new file is created in My Drive and isn't managed by AODocs. You can move or import the file into AODocs.

To create a new document in the same AODocs folder, click the New button in the AODocs header.

Make a copy

The Make a copy in the File menu isn't available in the AODocs document editor. 

You can:

  • open the attachment in a new tab then select Make a copy in the File menu – this makes a copy of the attachment in My Drive
  • open the More actions menu in the AODocs header and select Duplicate – this copies all the attachments and properties of the AODocs document, if any

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  • Click the New button and make a copy of the current document – this copies all the attachments and properties of the AODocs document, if any

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Add-ons and Apps Scripts

Custom user interface elements created by add-ons or Apps Scripts

Custom user interface elements created by add-ons or Apps Scripts are blocked when launched in the AODocs document editor. Open the attachment in a new tab to bypass this limitation.

For example: Google Docs Table of contents add-on

Change of ownership: Google Apps Script

In Google Drive, you can create an Apps Script attached to a Google file, such as a Google document or spreadsheet. When users create and then import these files into AODocs, the following features are unavailable:

  • Publish as a web app
  • Deploy as an Add-on

These features can be performed only by the script owner: the AODocs storage account.

Tip: We recommend using separate Apps Script files instead of an attached Apps Script.


Google Spreadsheets linked to Google Forms

When working with Google Forms, you have the possibility to select a Google Spreadsheet as the destination of the responses of the form.

When selected, the spreadsheet and the form are linked (through their unique ID).

Important: If a spreadsheet linked to a form is imported into AODocs, don't use the check-out / check-in feature or restore an older version. Doing so generates a copy of the destination spreadsheet. The copy of the spreadsheet is no longer linked to the form (because it has a different ID). Learn more: Understand the AODocs version control system

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Comments

4 comments
  • how can i restore an attachment not the whole file, i deleted it and it's disappeared even from my drive !!! and it doesn't exist in the trash. how can i restore it, it's one year work gone ? :(

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  • Another feature that acts differently in AODocs to note:
    When you are in a Google Sheet that is in AODocs and you are trying to add an image (Insert > Image) it doesn't work. If you go into the Google Sheet through Google you are able to add the image in a cell.

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  • Seems as if it should be REALLY simple to insert a picture in a brand new Google Doc, but I can't do it. The option to insert picture is greyed out. I also tried copying the pic in another app and pasting it in. No dice.
    (I couldn't make it work in Sheets either. Again tried both methods, even though I definitely don't want this in spreadsheet format.)

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  • Did you try opening the file in its own tab (there is a button "Open in new tab" for that, see the first screenshot)? It is the only good workaround.

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