Cannot open PowerPoint presentations from a shared folder on Dropbox

[kpmj]

Hello,

I keep getting an error message (see below) when I try to open powerpoint presentations created by someone else in a shared Dropbox folder. I can open the ones I add to the folder. I disabled the antivirus and tried to open the file but the same error pops up. I have all the necessary permissions to work with the file. Has anyone else faced this issue? 

Thanks!

[anonymous]

That actually sounds like a PPT security feature blocking them since they are “online” connected. Try this (I apologize if it does not comes out in plain text):

Disable Protected View in PowerPoint

Open Microsoft Office PowerPoint program.
Go to File -> Options.
In PowerPoint Options dialog box, go to Trust Center, and click or tap on Trust Center Settings button in the right pane.
Trust Center in PowerPoint

In Protected View tab, deselect the following 3 options to disable Protected View which open files in restricted mode:
Enable Protected View for files originating from Internet
Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations
Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments
Disable Office Protected View
Click or tap OK when done.
Open the PowerPoint file again.

[kpmj]

Hi gregoc, 

Thanks for your reply. I tried your suggestions and it did not fix the issue. Please let me know if you more suggestions. Thanks once again!

[kpmj]

Actually, I forgot to mention that its not just Powerpoint files but I cannot open all file types.

[anonymous]

Do you get the exact same type of message on non-Office files? What OS are you running?

[kpmj]

I have a Windows 10 Enterprise Version 1709 and yes I cannot open pdf files as well. The error is different, it says "there was an error opening this document. The file cannot be accessed by the system".

Thanks!

[Mark]

Sounds like actually the file folder directory is too long. 

Windows has a limit on directories of about 250 characters (i.e. 'C:\My Documents' is 15). If it is longer than 250 then they cannot be opened. 

Try renaming some of the files/folders to a shorter naming structure and you should find they open fine 🙂

[kpmj]

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Thanks for the suggestion, Mark. I will have to work with the person who created the folder to do that. I am just not sure why only I would have this issue when other people are also using the same files and they can open them just fine. 

[Mark]

Its possible that the folder structure is very close to the limit on their machines, but, you are over ever so slightly due to a different name maybe (e.g. your My Documents folder name therefore being longer), or, just your Dropbox in a different location. 

[kpmj · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, the issue was due to the antivirus software. Our IT guy played around with it and the issue is now resolved. Thanks once again!