Dropbox Introduces ‘Open’ Button for Direct Launching of Desktop Apps

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Dropbox has today introduced a new way to open Dropbox files using its web client by rolling out an ‘Open’ button while previewing a file on the web, which will directly open the file in its native desktop application. So if someone sends you a link to a Microsoft Excel file in one of your shared folders, you can view it in your browser first, and then click “Open” to instantly edit it in Microsoft Excel (or Numbers for Mac) program on your desktop.

We wanted to give you a simple, fast, and delightful way to get a file from the browser to the desktop, especially when that file starts as a Dropbox web preview or shared link.

There are a few ways this will make your life easier:

  • Stay on the same page. If a file is already on your computer, you won’t have to download another copy or create multiple versions; any edits you make will automatically sync back to the original file.
  • Send shortcuts. Use a shared link to point your friends or colleagues right to a specific file within a shared folder.
  • Save clicks. Move from previewing a file on the web to editing it on your desktop in seconds.

The new feature, which will start rolling out over the next few weeks, will require the latest version of the Dropbox desktop app, which will also be automatically pushed to users in the coming few days.

For those who can’t wait to try out the new feature, can download the latest version of the app here.

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