Creating new documents and open in client application - Must specify save location (SharePoint 2016 and SharePoint Online)

Question

Hi,

We are unsure if this actually is a problem or if it has been this way all along. But every time we create a new Word document in SharePoint and the library is specified to open in the client application, we must each time specify where the document is to be saved. Even if we choose to create a new document from the library. We don't have the OneDrive client installed so we now get an error message when we hit autosave.

Has it always been the case that you have to specify where you want to save the documents you create from SharePoint library via the client application?
Or has there been a change in the Office applications that has caused this?

If we open in the Online version of Word and then select edit in the client application, we do not have to choose a storage location and the SharePoint library is set.

It is the same in both SharePoint on-premises and SharePoint Online - You must specify where to save the document even if you create it from the library.

Answer 1

Hi @Anonymous ,

I have tested it in my environment and there is no problem. After opening and editing through the client application, it will be uploaded to the SharePoint synchronously and will not be saved as a copy.

You need to check something:

• Did anyone else have the same problem? Usually people with read permission cannot edit and upload, they need to choose a save location and generate a copy. Are you in a situation where you need to save to a local location, or just need to go and choose the location of the library? If it is not saved locally, please provide a screenshot.
• Check permissions to see if they have edit permissions (or higher). If the permissions are ok, then try resetting the permissions (remove someone's permissions and grant them again).
• Try to deactivate the Limited-access feature in the site settings.
  
• Check the version of office you are using. Is it possible that this happens in different office versions.
• Check whether the login account of the office is the same as the login account of SharePoint(Or the account logged in on Office has at least editing rights to the document).

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Answer 2

Hi @Xuyan Ding - MSFT

Thanks for responding.

I have tried all your suggestions but it didn't help. Note that we are also unsure if this is even a problem.

The problem is not opening of documents but creation of new ones when client application is set as default. We are able to save all documents we open in the client application without specifying a storage location, but not when we create a new one.

See the following reproduction of the problem:

Creating a new document from the SharePoint library (we have to add a custom content type to the library or else it won't open in the client application as default)

]2

The save button does not save directly to the SharePoint library although the metadata from the library is present in the document. To save the document back to the same library we have to specify it from "File", "Browse" and then the library is present as default.

From "File" and "Browse":

Some people who first discovered this 'problem' claim that you could just press the save button and the document would automatically save to the library, and that you don't need to specify the location.

So I would like some confirmation if this is standard setup and that it has always been this way. If I choose to create a new document and the library is set to open documents in Word Online, and then press edit in the client application we are able to save directly back to the SharePoint library without browsing the save location.

Answer 3

Hi @Anonymous ,

Thanks for the more detailed problem description!

Per my test,this is the standard setting and we were able to save directly back to the SharePoint library.

When opening the file, please first check whether the file location is correct.

I make a simple assumption that your save button is Save As instead of Save. You can check your Quick Access Toolbar. You can also try to use the shortcut key Ctrl+S to save the file to see if the problem still exists.

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Answer 4

Hi @Xuyan Ding - MSFT ,

Thanks for reaching out again.

In your test - did you create a new document which opens in the client application and then saved directly back to SharePoint? Or did you create a new one in Word Online and then opened that document in client application?

This is not an issue when opening existing documents.

I have the regular "Save" button. And when I add "Save as" and press that after creating a new document via the client application, I have the SharePoint library as default save location:

When I press the regular "Save" button I get this:

Which is a bit strange since it seems like that button works like the "Save as" button.

Answer 5

Hi @Xuyan Ding - MSFT ,

Thanks again for responding!

I have tested all the suggestions that you presented with no luck unfortunately.

This happens regardless of which user is creating documents. This also happens if I test in any Microsoft 365 tenant. So the same issue is on SharePoint 2016, SharePoint Subscription Edition and SharePoint Online, and on any computer I have testet on.

This also happens with all templates and content types that are used.

What I notice is that the options under Save documents in Word has changed, not sure when this happened. Maybe when the new save experience on Microsoft 365 was released.

This is the old one (which I found from a screenshot on internet). SharePoint and OneDrive are specified here.

And this is the new one:

Not sure if this has anything to do with it.

I thought it might be some Office policy that has been set via GPO that could cause this, but since this also applies to SharePoint Online, regardless of which tenant I'm testing on, it probably can't be the cause

And this is not an issue when we open exiting files from a SharePoint library. Then it will always save back automatically to SharePoint library even if we open with client application.
But when we create a new document it does not, and we have to specify the save location. But if we create a new one which opens in Word Online and we then choose to edit in Word desktop, it will automatically save back to the SharePoint library.