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Forum Discussion
Unable to open docx file on Dropbox preview page so I cannot see what the comments are referring to
I shared a .docx file with my collaborators for commenting via Dropbox, and I think they commented using the Dropbox comment function. I am aware of the issue that Dropbox comments on a Word file are only visible on the website and not when the file is opened via the desktop app. However, my issue is that now the docx file does not open in the Dropbox website viewer, and I can only see the comments, but not which line they are referring to. The page just says '.docx files are supported but something went wrong'. When I download the file or open it in Word for the web, I cannot see any of the comments. Is there any solution to this?
Hi trueocean, here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:
- Refresh the Page:
- Clear Browser Cache:
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then attempt to open the file again in the Dropbox preview.
- Try a Different Browser:
- Switch to a different web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) to see if the issue persists.
- Download the File:
- Since you're unable to view comments in the web viewer, download the .docx file to your computer. Open it in Microsoft Word to see if the comments appear there. Ensure you're using the desktop version of Word.
- Check for Updates:
- Make sure your web browser and any software you're using to open the file are updated to the latest versions.
- Access Comments via Dropbox:
- If you can’t see the comments in the Word document, try accessing the comments directly through Dropbox:
- Click on the comment icon on the Dropbox page (if available) to see the comments without needing to open the document.
Hi JohnnyDogman. Thank you for the tips! I tried all of them, but unfortunately, none solved the problem.
As for the last one, I can see the comments on Dropbox but not what line in the text they are referring to, which makes it difficult for me to edit the document as I have no idea where I should make the changes suggested in the comments.
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
Hi trueocean, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Does the Word document have any macros, scripts or special items/features in it that might not be supported by the Dropbox previewer?
How large is the file when viewing the size on the site?
This will help me to assist further!
- Jay
If the document has complex macros or other such items, it can prevent the Dropbox Preview page from loading. There wouldn't be any workaround for this, since the document would be too complex for it to load correctly.
Are you referring to converting the file as a PDF using these steps?
