chromebook office editing woes

[mrstrong]

So, two identical chromebooks (hardware),

one on chrome os version 79 saying "this is last automatic software and security update for this chromebook"

one on chrome os version 84 saying "this is last automatic software and security update for this chromebook"

 

go figure

 

anyway on 79 powerpoints from twinkl open ok in "office compatibility mode" and I can open a ppt downloaded, it opens in

the "extension" (built in?): "office editing for docs, sheets & slides"

but on 84 I just get a blank page/screen.

 

I've had a look at the release notes https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7679408

from ver 79 to 84 (what happened to 82?! ) but can find anything to do with office editing changes.

 

Can anybody shed some light ? Maybe I've just got a corrupt chrome os/extension on this chrombook, is there a way to

"reset / reinstall"?

[sted]

82 was missed due to covid iirc. current version is 87 id be tempted to update them maybe off school network (in a chromebooks settings it will tell you when a device is scheduled to lose access to updates https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9367166?hl=en-GB )

[TronXP]

Office Editing for Docs, Sheets and Slides is an extension (Here) You can remove then reinstall from the extensions menu.

[mrstrong]

thanks, looks like updates stopped in Jun 2020. I think the one still on 79 has been in a teachers

cupboard for some time hence never got updates! Maybe now june has gone it is destined to stay stuck on 79

for ever unless I can force it to update somehow?

 

Also looks like the extension is built into chrome os so I shouldn't need to manually add?

e.g. it doesn't show under "more tools - extensions" but when you open a ppt it

appears in address bar: "Office editing for Docs, sheets & sildes chrome-extension://bpm...

 

The more i use this chromebook (84) I think it is foobar as even the 9 dots app chooser doesn't

work.

 

More weirdness now saying no space left in google drive on the other one even though only 3GB used

(maybe related to google's quota issue earlier in week ?)

 

Think I'm going to try a powerwash

Edited December 16, 2020 by mrstrong

[localzuk]

If a Powerwash doesn't do it, you can always reinstall the OS as well - https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1080595?hl=en-GB

[mrstrong]

just tried a powerwash, it booted up and I had to connect to wifi then it went to the enterprise enrollment

screen so I put in our usual "enrollment user" credentials and now it appears stuck at "enrolling device"

maybe should have gone straight for a complete wipe https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/1360642?hl=en

[mrstrong]

eventually timed out with enrollment error so tried a wipe

this time it auto enrolled but office editing ppt still not working

ok bring out the big guns: tried recover from usb (on both chromebooks, 79 and 84)

now both on 84 (so that looks like a way to force update to latest available)

now both not working, e.g. can't download and edit a ppt from twinkl, just get blank tab

[mrstrong]

think I've found a workaround:

twinkl provides a save to google drive button, or

just right click the "download" button and "save link as"

Just get the ppt saved in your drive, now if you try and open file via a double click

in the Files app it still fails e.g. blank tab with url address bar: "Office editing for Docs, sheets & sildes chrome-extension://bpm...

But if you open a tab and go to google drive and open it works and you can edit it!

 

So something odd going on with interaction between chrome and Files app or maybe a user setting issue.

[j224]

So something odd going on with interaction between chrome and Files app or maybe a user setting issue.

 

I've found this too. The Files app doesn't recognise Office documents as files that are compatible with Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. But like you say, you're able to open by going to Drive instead.

[mrstrong]

Yes the teacher was a big Files app user, copying stuff on/off usb. A little bit of training should sort it

but still looks like a bug/issue with chrome os, guess as this device is stuck on 84 it will never get fixed.

 

Also found this setting to change download location to drive instead of local which should help

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/2657289?hl=en#download_directory

[j224]

Also found this setting to change download location to drive instead of local which should help

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/2657289?hl=en#download_directory

 

Only trouble with the 'Force Google Drive' option is it doesn't allow them to change the name of the file at the point of downloading it, and also can't specify which folder within their Drive to add it to. So it's a case of finding the file after it's downloaded to rename and move.

 

I prefer the 'Set Drive as default, but allow user to change' option.