Opening the Word (.docx) file within Power App and giving an export option of the file too

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Hi All,

I have a word document in SP Library.

The issue with using Launch is that it opens in the new window and also is editable.

We just want the form to be non-editable and be available for download so that people can download this template and create their own file rather than changing the original template.

Additionally, if we can make the word file open within Power Apps- that would be great.

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Building Power Apps

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RandyHayes 76,297 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@Anonymous

How a file link is handled is really more of the browser settings than anything to do with PowerApps. PowerApps can launch a url...what happens to it after that is completely up to the browser.

If you just want to view it in the PowerApp, you can put an Image control in the App and set it to the Tumbnail (.Small, .Medium, or .Large) column in the record of the library item. You will not get much control over it, but you will be able to view it.

Your only real option for taking control of the process beyond that is limited as, again, PowerApps will only launch to a url - the browser takes it from there, would be to utilize PowerAutomate to email either the actual doc or a PDF of the doc - depending on the needs.

I hope this is helpful for you.

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Community Power Pla... on at

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@RandyHayes Is it possible to embed this document within Power Apps. So, that whenever anyone clicks it- it downloads on their desktop? Exporting it from within Power Apps would be great.
Additionally, we don't mind the link opening on another tab- the issue is that the doc file opens in edit mode and allows the user to make changes. We don't want any changes on that file.

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RandyHayes 76,297 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@Anonymous

You can attempt to use the Download function for this, but essentially it will produce similar results as the action of what happens to files is governed by the browser and device, not by PowerApps.

As for the editing...not much that I am aware of to resolve that as again. A document library is a library where users can edit files...so, that editing would be available. You could probably restrict by permissions, but you'd have a pretty poor experience for the users.

Really the only ways (at least that I am know of) to deal with it are to not work with "raw" formats like word and excel documents, but to instead store as PDF. The next step from that would be to have the app initiate a flow to send the doc as an attachment in email.

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Community Power Pla... on at

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The download function works as expected and allows the file to be downloaded to the local desktop. Thanks!

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Dan7Merc 96 on at

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Follow on this topic with a slight variation. i am trying to open a file (.docx) instead of downloading.
on my gallery button i placed onselect Launch(ThisItem.AbsoluteUri) but the file is being downloaded instead of launching...

Thanks in advance

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Dan7Merc 96 on at

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Found the solution to my own problem 😅
OnSelect: Launch("ms-word:ofe|u|"&ThisItem.AbsoluteUri)
of course i placed a condition if the attachment is indeed a DOCX file.

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Community Power Pla... on at

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@Dan7Merc This is actually the solution!
OnSelect:
Launch("ms-word:ofe|u|"&"https://xyz.sharepoint.com/...your SharePoint link or whatever variable or dynamic content")
Launches the desktop app and opens the file! 1 hour of investigation, 5 minutes to find your post in the thread, 1 minute to implement - SOLVED! Thank you!

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