Our team uses a shared Excel spreadsheet stored in Box. Each team member can open and edit.
When we open the file in Box, it shows in the preview window, but we can’t click into the cells and type. The only way to edit seems to be clicking Open and launching it in Excel Online or Excel Desktop.
My questions:
Is there any way to edit an .xlsx file directly in the Box preview, without opening it in another app?
If not, is there a setting or integration that makes editing faster or more seamless for the team?
Has Box announced any plans to add in-preview editing for Office files?
Ideally we’d like team members to open the file and edit in as few clicks as possible.
Thanks in advance for any tips!
Best answer by Rona Box
Hi @owync,
Welcome to Box Community, and we’re here to provide answers to your questions about editing excel spreadsheets on Box.
Here are the answers to your questions regarding editing Excel spreadsheets in Box:
No, Box Preview (including the Box Excel Online Previewer) provides a static, read-only rendering of the spreadsheet. You cannot click into cells or type directly within the standard preview window. To edit an .xlsx file, you must launch an editing session via Office for the Web (Excel Online), the Excel desktop application, or the Box mobile app.
To minimize clicks and make editing as frictionless as possible for your team, consider the following options:
Allows team members to click Open > Excel for the Web directly from Box WebApp. Edits auto-save back to Box in real time, supporting concurrent multi-user co-authoring without opening desktop software.
Admin Optimization: An admin can configure Box for Office for Web as "Added by Default" in the Box Admin Console under Individual Application Controls and link your Office 365 Tenant ID so users aren't prompted for Microsoft credentials repeatedly.
If your team prefers using the native Microsoft Excel desktop application, enabling Box for Microsoft Office Co-Authoring allows multiple users to edit the same Excel file simultaneously in desktop Excel with auto-save enabled.
Users simply add Box as a Connected Service / "Place" in Office (File > Account > Connected Services / Add a Place) or admins can auto-provision Box as a Place.
No. Box has not announced native in-preview cell editing for Microsoft Office files.
Hope it answers your questions! For more questions, feel free to reply.
Welcome to Box Community, and we’re here to provide answers to your questions about editing excel spreadsheets on Box.
Here are the answers to your questions regarding editing Excel spreadsheets in Box:
No, Box Preview (including the Box Excel Online Previewer) provides a static, read-only rendering of the spreadsheet. You cannot click into cells or type directly within the standard preview window. To edit an .xlsx file, you must launch an editing session via Office for the Web (Excel Online), the Excel desktop application, or the Box mobile app.
To minimize clicks and make editing as frictionless as possible for your team, consider the following options:
Allows team members to click Open > Excel for the Web directly from Box WebApp. Edits auto-save back to Box in real time, supporting concurrent multi-user co-authoring without opening desktop software.
Admin Optimization: An admin can configure Box for Office for Web as "Added by Default" in the Box Admin Console under Individual Application Controls and link your Office 365 Tenant ID so users aren't prompted for Microsoft credentials repeatedly.
If your team prefers using the native Microsoft Excel desktop application, enabling Box for Microsoft Office Co-Authoring allows multiple users to edit the same Excel file simultaneously in desktop Excel with auto-save enabled.
Users simply add Box as a Connected Service / "Place" in Office (File > Account > Connected Services / Add a Place) or admins can auto-provision Box as a Place.
No. Box has not announced native in-preview cell editing for Microsoft Office files.
Hope it answers your questions! For more questions, feel free to reply.
