Open a file via WebDAV

Question

I've got an idea about how AutoCAD (dwg) files can be opened and saved to SharePoint. It seems that AutoCad has no problem opening a file from a WebDAV folder and saving it to that same folder. So when I open a Document Library in Explorer mode, I can open and save dwg files without a problem.

I've created some javascript that updates all <a> tags that refer to a dwg-file to use a SharePoint ActiveX component:

<a href="http//server/lib/drawing.dwg" onclick="new ActiveXObject('SharePoint.OpenDocuments.1').EditDocument('http//server/lib/drawing.dwg');return false;">drawing</a>

This seems to be working with IE9, but IE8 doens't respond at all. Is there a way I can open a file (any file) using a WebDAV connection? Normally you would open a library in explorer view and double-click the dwg. Would it be possible to intiate (or mimic) the double-click on the pdf from javascript?

Answer 1

Hi,

Thanks for sharing the post.

I’m trying involve someone familiar with this topic to further look at this issue.

Thanks,

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Qiao Wei

TechNet Community Support

Answer 2

Hi,

Have you tried F12 debugging to see why IE8 doesn't work? Or what error(s) do you get with IE8?

This could be browser issue. You may want to open the support case with Microsoft for further troubleshooting.

Have you by chance to looked at this?
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd588661(v=office.14)

Answer 3

Found it.

It took quite some researching but in the end the problem wasn't the browser version. The workstations that didn't work were most of the times uses as a Citrix client and didn't have Office locally installed.

In order to use the 'SharePoint.OpenDocuments.1' ActiveXObject you need to have "SharePoint OpenDocuments Class" add-on installed in your browser. This is automatically installed when you install Office (and the workstations with problems didn't have Office on them).

The workaround was simple:

• Run the installer for SharePoint 2010 designer
• During the installing: only select the component named something like "Support for Microsoft SharePoint Foundation" (I'm not sure how it's named in the English version)
• Finalize the installation

This adds the necessary add-on to Internet Explorer

Answer 4

\\[yourWebApplicationUrl]@[tourPort]\DavWWWRoot\sites\[yourSiteCollection]\[yourList]

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Regards,
Bubu
http://zsvipullo.blogspot.it

Answer 5

@Sergio That works great when you want to open a list (or folder in a list) via WebDAV, but it doesn't work when you want to open a file directly via WebDAV.

I think that the 'SharePoint.OpenDocuments.1' ActiveXObject does something extra. Maybe something like select the correct the client-application and launch it with a parameter to indicate where the client-application can find the document/drawing/etc.

Answer 6

What operation you are trying to perform on this file?

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Regards,
Bubu
http://zsvipullo.blogspot.it

Answer 7

Sorry for the late response.

I'm trying the open the AutoCAD file and write back the changes when I click the save button. Just like when I open a docx from SharePoint (it opens in Word and any changes will be written to the docx in SharePoint).

Answer 8

I am having .dwg files in the sharepoint 2010 document library.

My requirement is that when the user clicks on the document it should be open on the browser, but the file should not be downloaded, and also the user is not able to download the file.

He can only view the file in the browser.

Please help me to solve this problem.