Previously we've discussed using Box Sync and Box Drive, both of which help remove or reduce one's dependency on browsers when using UT Box.  But if you are happy using the web interface to UT Box, there is another tool that can help make editing documents easier for Windows and Mac OS X users.

Box Edit is a web browser add-on feature (or plugin) that allows you to directly edit files stored in UT Box when using certain applications on your computer. Again, this applies to Windows and Mac users only. But if you are such a user, and if, for example, you're working on a Microsoft Word document stored in UT Box, Box Edit gives you the option to open the file and edit it from your computer using Word, then save it directly back to UT Box.

Box Edit supports many document formats such as Word, Excel, CAD, and PDF.

You can download Box Edit from https://www.box.com/resources/downloads.  After installing Box Edit, you have to approve the plugin for use in your web browser. Firefox, for example, will show a bar at the top of the browser window asking you for this approval. If you continue having issues using Box Edit the first time, you may want to try restarting your browser.

After editing a file using Box Edit, simply save your changes in the native application to save it to UT BOX. All changes will be saved UT Box automatically as a new version of the file.  

Note: When you save your file, be sure you use Save in the native application, and not Save As. If you select Save As, you will be creating a new copy of your file on your machine's hard drive, and your changes will not be saved back to UT Box.

Box Edit does download the files to your hard drive, so it is important that if you are working with confidential data (like FERPA or HIPPA data) in your UT Box account, your machine has the proper security controls in place (hard drive encryption, login controls, etc).

As always, if you have additional questions or need help with UT Box or Box Edit, please don't hesitate to contact the help desk at https://cns.utexas.edu/help (UT EID login required).

Written by CNS OIT staff
Questions or comments? The best and easiest way to contact us is via the CNS Help Desk form.