Guide | How To Microsoft Office Online tips

[Andy Ful]

This post is related to Microsoft's support for managing documents online. Anyway, any highly reputable and free such a service, which is also highly compatible with MS Office documents, is also welcome here.
Many users on Windows 10 do not install MS Office and try to use OneDrive which has Microsoft Office support online (by Microsoft).

1. It is possible to open MS Office documents from OneDrive without installing MS Office.
2. This is possible even when the user is logged into the Local account.
3. Anyway, the user has to use (or create) some Microsoft account and use it to sign in OneDrive.
4. OneDrive has to start with Windows and sync the files in OneDrive's root folder. The user optionally can sync some folders like Desktop, Documents, etc.

Now there is a simple way to download documents and view/edit/save them:

Download file to disk and show it in the Downloads folder:

Use the right-click Explorer context menu and move the file to OneDrive

Use the right-click Explorer context menu to view file online.

View/Edit/Save the file.
The changes made on the file in the cloud will be synced with the initial file on disk (in the OneDrive folder).
One cal also convert the file to PDF from the Office online.

Post edited.

 

[Andy Ful]

Pros

1. It is much safer than using MS Office installed in the system, except for mobile free versions (Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile). The attackers can use MS Office features programmatically without opening the GUI of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. This can bypass many anti-ransomware applications and AVs.
2. It is safer than using 3rd party office applications (Libre Office Softmaker Office, WPS Office, etc.). These applications do not block all active content in documents (like OLE). Furthermore, the compatibility with advanced Excel features usually requires allowing some active content.
3. Great compatibility with MS Office document formats.
4. Home users probably do not need anything else to manage MS Office documents.

Cons.

1. Some advanced document features may be unavailable (like macros).
2. An Internet connection is required to access the OneDrive cloud.

If the user wants to "view/copy the content/print" MS Office documents offline, then I can recommend:

1. Free versions of Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, available from Microsoft Store (run in AppContainer).
2. XodoPDF (from Microsoft Store) can open MS Office documents by converting them on the fly to PDF documents (run in AppContainer).

Post edited.

 

[Andy Ful]

I also tried the Windows built-in Office web applications that can also upload files from disk to OneDrive and open them in Edge. But, they are not as convenient in daily work. Furthermore, they can upload several copies of the same file, do not correctly remember recently opened files, ask for credentials (identity verification for uploading files), etc.

 

[upnorth]

Short question for basic moderation purposes with possible help on the topic title. Is this thread supposed to be a guide for ( Microsoft ) OneDrive tips/guide only or any " MS Office " similar software?

 

[Andy Ful]

Short question for basic moderation purposes with possible help on the topic title. Is this thread supposed to be a guide for ( Microsoft ) OneDrive tips/guide only or any " MS Office " similar software?

It was intended for Microsoft Office Online which is integrated with OneDrive. The tips I posted are only one of the available possibilities. Others are via Microsoft web applications, or "Office" extension for Chrome-based web browsers, made by Microsoft. One can also make a web application from "Office 365 Login | Microsoft Office" website by using the "Apps" option in Edge, like in this post:
https://malwaretips.com/threads/simple-windows-hardening.102265/post-974151

The title of this thread should be "Microsoft Office Online tips" - I corrected this.

Post edited.
I edited the OP to allow also other highly reputable and free online services, which are highly compatible with MS Office documents.

 

[upnorth]

It is for Microsoft Office Online which is integrated with OneDrive. The tips I posted are only one of the available possibilities. Others are via Microsoft web applications, or "Office" extension for Chrome-based web browsers, made by Microsoft. One can also make a web application from "Office 365 Login | Microsoft Office" website by using the "Apps" option in Edge, like in this post:
https://malwaretips.com/threads/simple-windows-hardening.102265/post-974151

The title of this thread should be "Microsoft Office Online tips" - I corrected this.

Much appreciated. Thanks @Andy Ful