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Forum Discussion
Can I prevent *.odt files from opening in Word?
My client uses LibreOffice -- latest build -- (which I applaud, and prefer myself) and both of our machines are set to open *.odt files in LibreWriter, but the web interface says these are Word files and opens in Word for Web by default. This screws up the file something fierce, as Word for Web apparently does not do *.odt comments and changes very well. Oddly, local-based Word seems to do just fine with these files. And, I'd like to keep the text away from MS's servers, anyway. Is there a way to allow *only* LibreOffice to open these files, to prevent Word for Web from getting at them? Thanks for any direction on this.
Sorry to jump in here, whawn.
If you go to this page, and scroll down a bit (to the "Default editing apps" section), you can set your files to open/be previewed on www.dropbox.com, instead of being opened with Word for the web right away.
As for LibreWriter, you can perhaps check if it’s possible to integrate it with your web account, to open your files with it instead.
We can also have a look into the desktop app issue you mention at the end; feel free to send me more details on that, if you like.
- Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Hey whawn, thanks for reaching out to us.
While locally, through your Dropbox folder, you can choose which app/program to edit your files with, the online version of your files is different.
Only certain types of files can be edited through the Dropbox website, like MS Office files, image files and PDFs.
That's probably why you're prompted to open them with Word for the web.
We appreciate your feedback on this, though, and I will make sure to pass your comments along to our team.
If you have any questions, let us know!
Thanks, Hannah. Quick reply, nice! The problem is that the web DB interface defaults to (clearly unfinished) Word for Web, even though it is only one of the choices -- among which is LibreWriter -- in the right-click context menu, thus making it far too easy to destroy more complex .odt work. (I'm fastidious about backups and such, so I haven't lost any irretrievably, but the time waste is a PITA) The system tray popup will open LibreWriter by default and that's good. I've tried to wean this and other clients away from the web interface, but they somehow can't stay away... One of the problems there, seems to be that the system tray icon frequently goes AWOL.
- Nancy
Sorry to jump in here, whawn.
If you go to this page, and scroll down a bit (to the "Default editing apps" section), you can set your files to open/be previewed on www.dropbox.com, instead of being opened with Word for the web right away.
As for LibreWriter, you can perhaps check if it’s possible to integrate it with your web account, to open your files with it instead.
We can also have a look into the desktop app issue you mention at the end; feel free to send me more details on that, if you like.
