Impossible to open Autocad files using desktop instead of Web App in SharePoint Online document library

[lngZA3VK]

We are now running SharePoint Online (SPO).

Our company has decided to get rid of a shared network file storage and move our Autocad files over to (SPO).

I hit a bit of a snag with non-MS applications while trying to open them through the browser.

We have AutoCAD files in our document library. When users try and click on it, it automatically tries and open it thorough Autodesk web app, which we never have.  Is this already built-in for SPO? Why does it give me that option?

I have activated the setting for the site to open using client application instead of the browser through the site collection settings and also the same in the document library settings advanced settings.

I believe it only OPENS Microsoft based applications if we turn this on and not any other applications, correct?

My questions are:

1. Why did SPO show us the autodesk wep app option? Is it by default built into share point? How or why did that appear?
2. Is the "open with client applications" only work for Microsoft products and nothing else like acrobat pdf, autocad, or other programs installed on the users computer? For example, if we have an application called ABC and creates a file with an extension .123 and we try and click in it we n share point, would it not show or gives us the option to “open with” ABC application on the user’s desktop?
3. For example an autocad (.dwg) or acrobat (.pdf) or photoshop (.psd) or illustrator (.eps), etc... file via the web browser, won't open their desktop apps, correct?
4. So how I can I make it open automatically using the desktop application and NOT the web app stored on the sharepoint online document library then like the ones I listed above if these applications were installed on that desktop?
5. Can this be done or does the library have to be sync'd for it to work first? if sync'd to our personal one drive or organizational onedrive?
6. How can we have users just click on an AutoCAD file, .dwg in SharePoint and have AutoCAD automatically open via the browser?
7. Same with say a .pdf file via the browser?
8. Or do we have to sync it and then open the file that way via file explorer and it will automatically open and use Autocad similar to that of a regular or network drive?
9. The sync is soooo unbearably and unacceptably slow unlike Dropbox.

Any suggestions? or impossible to use with Autocad desktop with SharePoint Online document library?

Thank you 

[pendean]

Read this https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/543077/how-to-open-auto-cad-files-which-are-in-s...

[lngZA3VK]

Thank  you. I saw that one. 

what i don't get is how the Web App (edit) option is available in our sharepoint online when there is no autocad application installed on that desktop even. Is it something that Microsoft has built into SharePoint Online?

SharePoint Online is hosted by Microsoft and not us.

I don't know why it can't give us the option to just fire up the desktop version if we click on the file on the browser

anyone come across this? 

[pendean]

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@lngZA3VK wrote:

...what i don't get is how the Web App (edit) option is available in our sharepoint online when there is no autocad application installed on that desktop even. Is it something that Microsoft has built into SharePoint Online?...

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Yes, along with Autodesk. it's a collaboration from the year 2020-21 sometime? You can read all about it with a websearch.

[lngZA3VK]

in that option to use Web App, it says to 

Open it with Web App then choose "Open in Desktop" and it will be save to a OneDrive. I am assuming this is their own personal OneDrive and not the document library which was sync'd to their computer.

So in a way, they still have to sync the document library from sharepoint online and then save it there, which would sync it back to the document library in their sharepoint online site, correct?

[pendean]

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@lngZA3VK wrote:

in that option to use Web App, it says to 

Open it with Web App then choose "Open in Desktop" and it will be save to a OneDrive. I am assuming this is their own personal OneDrive and not the document library which was sync'd to their computer.

So in a way, they still have to sync the document library from sharepoint online and then save it there, which would sync it back to the document library in their sharepoint online site, correct?

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You are going to have to test it all out yourself to find those answers and workflows that work best for you all.

I recommend you also start your SharePoint queries at Microsoft's forum for tips from active SharePoint users in your situation 

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/sharepoint/bd-p/SharePoint_General

and AutoCAD topics to date:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/forums/searchpage/tab/message?advanced=false&allow_punctuatio...