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Excel on Ipad Won't Save to Dropbox

I am having an issue saving excel onto my dropbox folder from an iPad. I cannot duplicate this issue on my computer though. I run into the issue when trying to save an excel for iPad file into a folder. I get the error message: "That file name won't work because it includes invalid characters or it's too long. Please try a different name". I have tried multiples of different names and it still will not work. I find it odd that this is only an issue from the iPad and that I have saved an identical length name 20 minutes before this issue from the iPad. There is no issue uploading the excel sheet into the same folder with the same name from my Mac.

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Accepted answers

Jane

Hey @psachse60, welcome to the Dropbox Community & thanks for posting here on the matter!

You may keep in mind the issue is currently actively investigated here by @Frank_S, who has been following all existing cases affected internally, though it appears that this has been resolved for some users. I’d happily look into that with you, though I’d just need a little more info:

Initially, assuming that you’re running the latest version of the Dropbox application on your phone (82.2), can you also ensure you’ve installed all OS updates? Also, ensuring that you’re running the latest version of the third-party app, where you’re editing your files on your phone is also advisable.
Secondly, could you include a step-by-step description of the behavior, so that I make sure to re-create on my end & understand what you’re experiencing?

Thanks again & once we have this info, I’ll do my best to analyze the case with you!

All comments

Allin1

Mine has just started doing this now. Im getting the same msg as you.

My folder is shared and other ipad is having the same dramas. I cant work out how to fix it

AirPirate

Same issue. No problems saving from PC (Windows 7). Only problem is from iPads (at least three) using Excel App running ios11 and also ios10. No previous issues using the same file for the last two months. The file path does not exceed 260 characters.

Gap8784

Snap same issues, I am using iPad Pro, only started last couple of days.

Does anyone have any ideas?

@Kreos wrote:
I am having an issue saving excel onto my dropbox folder from an iPad. I cannot duplicate this issue on my computer though. I run into the issue when trying to save an excel for iPad file into a folder. I get the error message: "That file name won't work because it includes invalid characters or it's too long. Please try a different name". I have tried multiples of different names and it still will not work. I find it odd that this is only an issue from the iPad and that I have saved an identical length name 20 minutes before this issue from the iPad. There is no issue uploading the excel sheet into the same folder with the same name from my Mac.

Allin1

I've been on the live chat with drop box. Other files are saving ok. There saying it's excel. Live chatted office excel they were useless. I can save to drop box via pc and my phone but not iPad

Mark

Are you getting any errors etc.?

Unfortunately Dropbox is correct. The issue with saving the files is the responsibility of Excel

Allin1

Hi Mark. This is the error were getting

That file name won't work because it includes invalid characters or it's too long. Please try a different name"

I've been using the iPad for over a year with no issues saving files until yesterday

Mark

Did Excel update overnight?

My iPad is at work so cant check versions.

Kreos

No, my excel is the same version it has always been. weird that it stopped working one day.

Kreos

Excel saves to the iPad fine with the same file name just doesn't save into dropbox.

AirPirate

I'm starting to wonder if the new "Files" app has something to do with it. I know there was a bit of integration between Dropbox app and Files app. No update to Excel on my side either. I'm hoping this can be resolved since we use this daily for work...

Mark

Have you tried (or have you already) upgraded to 11.0.2 today?

AirPirate

Updading to IOS11.0.2 now. Interestingly, I can save files normally to MY dropbox account/folders. I can not, nor can anyone else, do so through the work account.

AirPirate

Under settings in the Dropbox account, MY accounts Connected Apps includes Microsoft Excel. My works Dropbox account does not list Excel. I cannot say if it ever did, I just notice the discrepancy. I am able to save a file correctly to MY account, but the same file can't be saved to the WORK account. This is through the Excel app without changing anything other than the destination folder to be saved in. Thanks for helping all of us with this issue. I see there are over 100 people who have viewed this issue.

Edit: IOS 11.0.2 installed. Same error on IOS10.x

ShaunTayThomas

I am having the same issue trying to save WORD files to DropBox

GregPass

Same exact issue started yesterday. iOS 10 with latest excel iOS app.

I have also had a problem for 8 months where Word iOS app can't see random docx files. But when I rename a file by adding a "1" to the end the file name it becomes visible, then when I rename and remove the "1" the file disappears. At all times the file is visible as an Outlook attachment or in the Adobe iOS app regardless of the name. I'm an Admin and on the phone weekly with MS about this and they constantly try to blame it on Dropbox. They are so incompetent and clueless. I have solved more problems for them than they have solved for our company.

ShaunTayThomas

I have installed the update and I am still unable to save to my DropBox.

I have also found, if I save the document to another location on my IPad and then MOVE the document to DropBox, the document is blank when opened.

Allin1

I found a fix. Give drop box the boot and use one drive. Same type of setup. Seeing as drop box tech don't care might as well spend my money else where

radicalj

This is a big problem!

But I found a solution that works for me. Turns out if the folder is shared it now gives that error. I created a new folder that is not shared and I am able to save the files to that folder.

This is not a good solution for most of you but it worked for me.

Radical J

Ross_S

Hi there,

Thanks for reporting this, you are not alone. We're already investigating this at our end. If you have a support ticket lodged we'll update you on it as soon as we release a fix.

Many apologies for the inconvenience and thanks for reporting!

Twodomers

It appears this issues still has not been resolved. I can open an excel file in my Dropbox but once I am working on it, it will not upload the modified version. I can also save a duplicate or new file to Dropbox from excel on my ipad but once I make modifications it will not upload the changes. I have started using one drive and it seems to work a lot better. I use Dropbox for most of my files, but your not leaving me much choice. Please address.

RAM3

Same findings based on what you said—move it out of a shared folder—problem disappears.

Jane

Hey all, I’ve made sure to merge some different discussions mentioning issues with the Microsoft Office application, as it may need further investigation & we may need to follow-up more closely.

If you’re sill experiencing any discrepancies with these two apps, please log a ticket with our team on our Official Support channel, so that you work with a colleague on a specific example: https://www.dropbox.com/support?ref=dropboxsupport & narrow down the possible causes.

Once you write us, please include your ticket ID in your next post here, so that I look it up internally and make sure that a colleague gets on it as soon as possible.

Thanks in advance & I'm looking forward to hearing back from you on this discussion!

psachse60

This fails 100% of the time. The issue seems to be only with MS Office and only when you are modifying an exsiting file in Dropbox. I have even seen cases of where the file will have an updated modified date, but the internal contents were unchanged. Essentially, you have to rename the file every time you save it.

Jane

Hey @psachse60, welcome to the Dropbox Community & thanks for posting here on the matter!

Initially, assuming that you’re running the latest version of the Dropbox application on your phone (82.2), can you also ensure you’ve installed all OS updates? Also, ensuring that you’re running the latest version of the third-party app, where you’re editing your files on your phone is also advisable.
Secondly, could you include a step-by-step description of the behavior, so that I make sure to re-create on my end & understand what you’re experiencing?

Thanks again & once we have this info, I’ll do my best to analyze the case with you!

annietran

I'm had the same issue with saving Word docs to Dropbox on my iPad Pro. When I tried to save the document from Word and select the Dropbox destination, the error message states "Can't Upload - you entered a name that won't work. Please avoid characters such as \ / : * ? " < > |". I am not entering any of these symbols. The file would save but the word doc would be empty. I tried this 5 times with different names.

How I solved it was by taking out the capital "I" (i) in the file name - as it looks the same as the other symbol.