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Forum Discussion

jb43's avatar
jb43
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago

Edit a text (*.txt) file in Chrome browser

Hi there,

 

I'm struggling to edit a TXT file in Chrome browser on Dropbox. I'm sure I've done it with a .docx file before. 

When I search for this feature, Google returns results asking for it back to 2012, but there's nothing recently, the feature requests such as this one have been closed, so I'm assuming I'm having an issue with my account. Especially since Dropbox is pushing Family plans, signature, and other feature way more complex and less universal as a simple TXT editor. I've been using link removed it has looked the same for years and works fine, but I find it extra weird that a giant company like Dropbox doesn't have a similar feature.

 

How do you usually edit a TXT file in the browser? I only have a few lines to add/remove, when I'm on a machine without the Dropbox app/daemon installed, and don't want to leave any file traces on that machine.

 

See my environment in Chrome on a Macbook air, as a Dropbox Plus paying client. On TXT files, I have an "Open in" Menu, but the arrow only opens a 2px high line. This is definitely not expected behavior, as if the submenu was empty, it should not appear with an arrow in the first place. What could I be I missing here?

 

 

 

  • Hi jb43 

     

    I know it's been a while since the request, but we are excited to share that Dropbox now supports text file editing on web. See this post for more information.

     

    We appreciate your patience and please let me know if you have any other questions or feedback.

     

    Thanks!

    Hannah

  • Hannah C's avatar
    Hannah C
    Icon for Dropbox Product Manager rankDropbox Product Manager

    Hi jb43 

     

    I know it's been a while since the request, but we are excited to share that Dropbox now supports text file editing on web. See this post for more information.

     

    We appreciate your patience and please let me know if you have any other questions or feedback.

     

    Thanks!

    Hannah

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi jb43, happy Monday! 

     

    In your post, you mentioned that you've tried to edit both .docx files, and .txt too. You're right, at the moment Dropbox doesn't have a built-in .txt file editor. 

     

    Now, the dropdown options that you have when you try to click on "Open in" depend on the kind of file you’re trying to open. If the app you need doesn’t appear, click Connect apps and follow the prompts to connect an app, in order to then be able to open your files online. Have you tried that?

     

    Some helpful Help Center articles are this one, and this one too.

     

    Keep me posted!

    • jb43's avatar
      jb43
      Helpful | Level 6

      Thanks for your reply Megan,

       

      > In your post, you mentioned that you've tried to edit both .docx files, and .txt too. You're right, at the moment Dropbox doesn't have a built-in .txt file editor. 

       

      Can you precise what you mean by "at the moment"? Asking as the threads about it, the feature requests, have been marked as solved without a solution, or recently just closed:

      https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Delete-edit-and-organize/Edit-text-files/td-p/504160

      https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Edit-text-file-in-browser-window/idi-p/19795

      https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Add-universal-txt-file-edit-interface/idi-p/550439 

       

      I think I may be going crazy, as I recall having done it before with Dropbox. Maybe it was another platform? People have been asking a simple text editor on Twitter and Reddit since 2012 ... Anyway it must be a valid user pain point, as it allows a dev is asking 12 USD/year for that feature: https://textdropapp.com/

       

      > Now, the dropdown options that you have when you try to click on "Open in" depend on the kind of file you’re trying to open. If the app you need doesn’t appear, click Connect apps and follow the prompts to connect an app, in order to then be able to open your files online. Have you tried that?

       

      I still think the "Open In" button has a bug.

      See two screenshots, without clicking on it, and with clicking on it. When clicking on it, it only shows a line of a few pixels. Looks like it tries to open a menu, but that menu has no items.

       

       

      I can find the "Connect Apps" option through another menu, and it takes me to https://www.dropbox.com/apps. Is there anything in there that allows editing TXT files? It's way simpler than all the proprietary formats supported like DOCX, even PDF editors are there, yet I can't find a .txt editor (a 50-line HTML page with a textbox would do!)

       

      > Some helpful Help Center articles are this one, and this one too.

       

      Yes! With Dropbox I can edit a .docx file in the browser, and the experience is great. The menu "Open in" has options for  "Word for web" and "Google Docs". Yet, a file with a .txt extension doesn't trigger any editor. How do you do it? 

      • Hannah's avatar
        Hannah
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hey jb43, sorry to jump in here.

         

        Indeed, it's not possible to edit a .txt file through Dropbox.

         

        We appreciate your feedback on this, however, and I will make sure that your comments are passed along to our team.

         

        Regarding what you see when you click on the "open in" button, do you see this behavior on other browsers/private browsing windows as well?

  • L0's avatar
    L0
    Explorer | Level 4

     

    Dear support,
    I am a very old user of Dropbox (maybe 2007/2008) and I suggested moving many of my friends to use it, but now I am really disappointed.
    Every year the Dropbox team "forgets" to implement a web plain text editor for the browser.
    This is a simple COMMODITY that all the competitors already have, and I am thinking to switch to a different service.
    There is a plan to deliver it and a deadline or do I have to move to a different service?
    Thank you


    # SOME OLD REQUEST
    2023: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Delete-edit-and-organize/Edit-a-text-txt-file-in-Chrome-browser/td-p/658939
    2021: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Add-universal-txt-file-edit-interface/idi-p/550439
    2021: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Delete-edit-and-organize/Edit-text-files/td-p/504160
    2018: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Create-files-text-and-markdown-in-Dropbox-via-web-interface/idi-p/278997
    2015: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Edit-text-file-in-browser-window/idc-p/300594
    2015: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/Edit-text-file-in-browser-window/idi-p/19795
    (And many more)

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hi L0, I've merged your post to this thread to keep similar feedback together.

       

      Currently, we have no new information regarding the implementation of a text editor on the website.

      • Mark's avatar
        Mark
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

        Jay wrote:

        Hi L0, I've merged your post to this thread to keep similar feedback together.

         


        Out of interest Jay why? Why are some posts merged and others not allowed to be merged? It seems to me like there is no rational to this (or rather its a way of hiding well requested updates). 

  • dick6jane's avatar
    dick6jane
    New member | Level 2

    In other words, is it possible to update text in a way that the file retains the same URL? Thanks.

    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hey dick6jane, welcome to our Community!

       

      You can't directly edit a text file in Dropbox and keep the same URL. You need to download the file to your computer, edit it in a text editor and then re-upload it to your account.

       

      If you have any other questions, let me know! 

      • dick6jane's avatar
        dick6jane
        New member | Level 2

        Megan,

        Am I right that the new file would generate a different URL?

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