Can't get onedrive for biz to simply replace dropbox!

Can't get onedrive for biz to simply replace dropbox!

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Discussion

Tiggsy

Original Poster:

10,261 posts

251 months

Friday 16th June 2017
quotequote all
Dropbox is not secure enough for my biz files so having to go with onedrive for business.

Got 2 users set up.....and folders I have uploaded (and shared) show up on their end (as shared with them) - so far so good!

Downloaded the files to my "onedrive desktop folder" - like you do with dropbox.......however, on the other pc the "shared with you" files dont get moved to desk top....they have to go to them via the online version.

I just want dropbox simplicity from onedrive......a file on the desktop of pc 1 gets sent to the cloud....and ends up on pc 2's hard drive as well.

Oakey

27,523 posts

215 months

Saturday 17th June 2017
quotequote all
Have they got this folder setup to sync on their pc?

Tiggsy

Original Poster:

10,261 posts

251 months

Saturday 17th June 2017
quotequote all
sorry - dumb question....how?

They have the "standard" set up which syncs their onedrive to the pc...but that doesnt include the "shared with me" stuff

Oakey

27,523 posts

215 months

Sunday 18th June 2017
quotequote all
Um, I'm not entirely sure, I just recall when setting up Onedrive you had to pick which folders you wanted to sync with the cloud. E.g. my desktop syncs every folder but my tablet which has less space only syncs the folders I picked

Corso Marche

1,716 posts

200 months

Sunday 18th June 2017
quotequote all
My memory is hazy, but it involves using Sharepoint online to sync any shared folders to a sync'd folder on their machine, and you end up with two 'OneDrive' icons in the system tray as it runs the sync operations of the two folders separately.

I can dig up some more info during the week if nobody has posted up clear directions in the meantime...

alfaben

166 posts

154 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
Assuming your using windows 10, right click the OneDrive tray icon > settings.

Navigate to the account tab then click manage folders.

The next window allows you to specify everything is synced or if you want to be specific you can select the folders your interested in. Default behaviour should be for everything to sync.



Corso Marche

1,716 posts

200 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
Ok -- I've a bit more time, so here's some further info.

Microsoft have never developed OneDrive to perform the basics of folder sharing as you expect them to behave once you've used Dropbox, G Drive, Box etc It's unfortunate, but true.

When you view your OneDrive folder you will see your own files stored in it i.e. what you've created in it, and what you've saved/pasted into it. This applies to both your locally stored & sync'd OneDrive folder and to when you view it online using a browser or in a mobile app etc
Any files shared with you will only ever appear in your 'Shared With Me' menu when browsing OneDrive online. If you have your employees check this in a browser they will see the folder(s) you've shared with them here.
What they need to do at this point is open one of those folders in a browser and then click the sync button in the options above the folder contents. This should launch OneDrive for Business, follow the prompts to activate the app and start syncing the folder. (This should ideally be the parent folder you want to share with company employees, so as they only have to add one folder to their OfB app.)

Once done (and everything has sync'd) your users will find they have their own personal Sharepoint folder also stored locally. All your shared company files should be in this folder. It will be located just below the OneDrive folder in the left pane of File Explorer and will be called Sharepoint or something similar. A quick check of the system tray will show you have two separate OneDrive apps running; OneDrive (for a users private files) and OneDrive for Business (for accessing files and folders others have shared with them).

It's far from intuitive to setup after you've used the likes of Dropbox, but Microsoft have never developed it beyond this even though their customer support forums have repeat requests for this to be implemented properly for the last 5 years or so.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction...

CrouchingWayne

682 posts

175 months

Saturday 24th June 2017
quotequote all
Corso Marche said:
Ok -- I've a bit more time, so here's some further info.

Microsoft have never developed OneDrive to perform the basics of folder sharing as you expect them to behave once you've used Dropbox, G Drive, Box etc It's unfortunate, but true.

When you view your OneDrive folder you will see your own files stored in it i.e. what you've created in it, and what you've saved/pasted into it. This applies to both your locally stored & sync'd OneDrive folder and to when you view it online using a browser or in a mobile app etc
Any files shared with you will only ever appear in your 'Shared With Me' menu when browsing OneDrive online. If you have your employees check this in a browser they will see the folder(s) you've shared with them here.
What they need to do at this point is open one of those folders in a browser and then click the sync button in the options above the folder contents. This should launch OneDrive for Business, follow the prompts to activate the app and start syncing the folder. (This should ideally be the parent folder you want to share with company employees, so as they only have to add one folder to their OfB app.)

Once done (and everything has sync'd) your users will find they have their own personal Sharepoint folder also stored locally. All your shared company files should be in this folder. It will be located just below the OneDrive folder in the left pane of File Explorer and will be called Sharepoint or something similar. A quick check of the system tray will show you have two separate OneDrive apps running; OneDrive (for a users private files) and OneDrive for Business (for accessing files and folders others have shared with them).

It's far from intuitive to setup after you've used the likes of Dropbox, but Microsoft have never developed it beyond this even though their customer support forums have repeat requests for this to be implemented properly for the last 5 years or so.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction...
This is excellent - thanks for the walkthrough. I've been trying to set this up for ages but the Microsoft support is terrible.

Just having issues with subfolder sharing now...!

Corso Marche

1,716 posts

200 months

Monday 26th June 2017
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What kind of issues are you encountering with sub folders?