You can use Office Online to store and work with your own personal files - or you can
share them with others, including friends, co-workers, and anyone else you want to collaborate
with.
Before you get started, though, you need to know how to create files in OneDrive - and
how to open them too.
To create a new file, click the New button near the top of the screen… then choose
the type of file you want.
In this example, we'll choose Excel workbook.
OneDrive will open the file automatically, so you can get to work.
Click here to give your document a name… then click anywhere to save the name.
When you're done, click OneDrive to return to the main page.
You can also create folders, and files inside of folders.
Folders are great because they can help you stay organized, and they make it easier to
share multiple files.
To create a new folder, go to New…
Folder… then give your folder a name.
When you're done, press Enter on your keyboard.
You can also use the default folders that came with your account.
To create a file inside a folder, just click the folder you want… then follow the usual
steps for creating a new document.
Let's skip ahead a little bit.
Now I have several files in this folder, ranging from spreadsheets to presentations.
Here's one I'd like to open so I can work on it some more.
With Office Online, you can edit your documents online, without having to leave your browser;
or you can open them in the desktop version, as long as you have Microsoft Office 2010
or newer on your computer.
To get started, click the file you want.
OneDrive will take you to a preview.
Click the Edit Presentation button on the toolbar… and a menu will appear.
We'll try Edit in Browser first.
Your file will open in the appropriate app (in this case, PowerPoint), where you can
edit it using these tools.
To save and close, you can just close the tab.
Let's go back to the preview—and this time, we'll try opening the file in the desktop
version.
You'll always find the option here, under Edit Presentation.
Depending on your browser and your security settings, you may get a warning asking if
you're sure you want to open the file.
Click OK, or Launch Application to confirm.
Your file will open in the desktop version of the program.
To continue, you may need to click a button near the top of the window that says Enable
Editing.
Then you can edit, and make as many changes as you want.
When you're done, remember to save the file… then close the program.
The changes you made will be saved in OneDrive as well.
As you can see, working with Office Online is easy—once you know the secret to creating
files and folders, and opening documents too.