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DaithiG's avatar
DaithiG
Steel Contributor
Feb 21, 2019

Block Download - Open in Word

Hi all,


We have the "block download" option on our tenant. Testing with a word document. Some users can click "Open in Word"  and it will save a local copy to their desktop. Is this by design?

  • If block donwload has been configured, the user should not be able to download the document...can you share a screenshot of what you see?
  • Block Download will also only work if you are using it with external users. The fact that they have "Open in word" as an option tells me they are most likely tenant users, therefore they probably already have access to the file anyway so they will be allowed to download it. Just a hunch here.
    • DaithiG's avatar
      DaithiG
      Steel Contributor

      Hey ChrisWebbTech , thanks for that. Didn't realise it was only for external recipients. Good to know.

      • Well it still should work internal as well, but that is assuming they don't already have access to the file by way of permission, if so then that would take affect over the anonymous link. Testing the scenario now to 100% know one way or the other but that's my gut feeling on this.
  • This seems like a limitation/issue with the current version of the feature, I reported it back when I posted my blog post on this. FYI external users also can bypass the restriction, thanks to the new "shared with me" improvements that show cross-tenant files.

    • VasilMichev's avatar
      VasilMichev
      MVP

      To clarify, what I meant is that even external users can simply use the "Open > Open in Word" menu to get a copy of the file. If they try to use the Online client, it's restricted as expected.

      • DaithiG's avatar
        DaithiG
        Steel Contributor

        Thanks all. It seems very promising but not quite there yet then. 

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