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AB_BOU's avatar
AB_BOU
Copper Contributor
Nov 10, 2023

SPO Overwriting in a library .doc with .docx doesn't work

Hi,

 

I got following remark:

I have a word document with .doc extension. When uploading in that same library a word document with exact the same name but different extension .docx it will not overwrite the original document, it will create 2 different word documents with the exact same name.

1. Is this normal behaviour?

2. Is there a solution for this not happening?

3. If solution exists, will the Document ID change?

4. If solution exists, will the previous versions still exists?

 

Thank you in advance for your help!  

  • I don't know, but I can't barely imagine that there is a technical solution. The versions are file dependent, if you save *.doc as *.docx Word is creating a new file (of different type&format) with it's own version history.
    The only way to keep the versions is the further use of *.doc.
    I would suggest an organizational solution using power automate (move *.doc to a backup directory and keep it until a defined date)
  • Sigi7's avatar
    Sigi7
    Brass Contributor
    Yes it's usual behaviour, it's the same behaviour like on your local PC.
    Readme.doc and
    Readme.docx are two independent files.
    • AB_BOU's avatar
      AB_BOU
      Copper Contributor

      Sigi7 

       

      Thank you for your response!

      Any idea on how I can fix this for my customer? This is quiet important for them to have it overwriting it to keep the versions but also to not have multiple documents that are the same.

      • Sigi7's avatar
        Sigi7
        Brass Contributor
        I don't know, but I can't barely imagine that there is a technical solution. The versions are file dependent, if you save *.doc as *.docx Word is creating a new file (of different type&format) with it's own version history.
        The only way to keep the versions is the further use of *.doc.
        I would suggest an organizational solution using power automate (move *.doc to a backup directory and keep it until a defined date)

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