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Forum Discussion
2 people editing a Word document at the same time in Dropbox
I work with one other person. We were both working on our laptops on the same file in our shared Dropbox folder. (I was adding to a working list and she was editing above.) But I kept getting an od...
Hey Joan P.6, I hope you're well today!
From what you mentioned, you're working on the file locally through the Microsoft Word app, right?
When you edit the file through the local apps on your computer, real time collaboration isn't currently possible.
As you've seen, sometimes when editing a Word file, the app creates a temporary file which you've seen with the change in file name and location.
You can find out more info on why Word creates temp files from here.
To collaborate in real time, you'll need to use the Microsoft Office Online integration. The steps for this is outlined here.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Mod note: edited to update link in post [last update 2023]
Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey Joan P.6, I hope you're well today!
From what you mentioned, you're working on the file locally through the Microsoft Word app, right?
When you edit the file through the local apps on your computer, real time collaboration isn't currently possible.
As you've seen, sometimes when editing a Word file, the app creates a temporary file which you've seen with the change in file name and location.
You can find out more info on why Word creates temp files from here.
To collaborate in real time, you'll need to use the Microsoft Office Online integration. The steps for this is outlined here.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Mod note: edited to update link in post [last update 2023]
Thanks. Your explanation was helpful and should be added to easily accessible instructions on the website. If it's there I didn't see it before. (An instructional video might be useful too.) One caveat-- don't be surprised if you find the MS Word online formatting was a bit different from your original document eg: some tabs were deleted.
- Rich
Super User II
Joan P.6 wrote:
Your explanation was helpful and should be added to easily accessible instructions on the website.
Does anyone know what version of Microsoft 365 for Business ( https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compare-all-microsoft-365-products?&ocid=PROD_OfficeOnline-Excel_Start_Unknown_GetAppForDevice&pc=32&activetab=tab:primaryr2 ) is required to enable real-time file collaboration within Dropbox as discussed above?
Does anyone on the Dropbox team know if this capability will eventually be extended to include files opened direct;y on one's computer? Having to open thropught the DB website is a major drawback to this important feature.
thank you!
- Daphne
Hello r a kenney, thanks for joining us here!
You can find out which Microsoft licenses are required to use the online editing integrations from here, under the section "Do I need a special license...?".
Also, being able to edit together in realtime through the Microsoft apps would need to be something that's developed by Microsoft rather than Dropbox as it's the Microsoft apps used to edit the files.
I hope this helps!
