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Question

Is there a way to manage draft versions without triggering new file versions?

  • April 9, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 7 views

Hello,

I have two questions regarding versioning and document signatures in Box:

  1. Is there a way to set a file to “Draft” mode to prevent a new version from being created with every save?
    In our workflow, we need a clear versioning system (e.g., V1, V2…) that reflects official releases only. However, since we often revise documents over several weeks before finalizing them, we end up with dozens of intermediate versions—sometimes V1 to V70—before a document actually comes into force. This makes tracking final versions difficult and clutters the version history unnecessarily.

  2. When generating a signed PDF, why is the version automatically labeled as “V2,” even when it’s the first signature?
    This can be misleading, especially when the document has never been signed before—it should be shown as the first official version.

These are the two main blockers currently preventing our full migration to Box. I'd greatly appreciate any guidance or workaround you can suggest.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Jey Bueno Box

👋 Hi ​@Vitrobio, welcome to the Box Community! To answer your questions:

 

  1. As of now, the feature to set a 'draft' file version is not supported. Any changes you make to a specific file and save will create a new version.

    Box overwrites a file and updates the version each time you:
  • Edit the file using an online editor, such as Box Edit, Microsoft Office Online, or the Google editing suite)
  • Edit the file within your Box Sync or Box Drive folder
  • Use the Upload New Version button on the Web app
  • Upload a file into a folder that has an existing file with the exact same name in it on the Box Web app

For more information, please visit Accessing Version History. In the meantime, you may consider creating a separate folder to upload the latest or final versions of the files.
 

  1. Once a file is uploaded, it will automatically be set to v1 (the original version). You can view the PDF you generated, click the ellipsis (…), then select ‘Version History’ to get access to the previous versions.

 

I certainly understand that it’s the main blocker for you regarding versioning, and we’ll definitely take this as feedback. Our Product Team continues to evaluate our customers' needs, and your ideas and feedback will be very helpful. We encourage you to share your feedback in Box Pulse or upvote an existing feature request.

 

I hope the above clarifies your concern. If you have account-specific concerns that require troubleshooting, please continue working with our Product Support on the ticket you’ve submitted.

 

Have a great day! 😊


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