Hello folks,
We are currently deploying nextcloud files at the place i work at, and based on the feedback of the first few users, i have a bunch of questions.
Regarding collaborative work, is it possible to have multi users edit with microsoft office ? I know it’s possible with collabora online and onlyoffice, but collabora usually displays stuff incorrectly (when it’s not totally messing with the position of images in page) and installing onlyoffice … let’s say my coworkers have already enough issues with MS office, i don’t want the hassle of having to support them on onlyoffice.
Follow up questions, if it’s not possible, is it possible to modify the online editing tool ? I’ve seen there’s a connector for Ms office online but if i got that correctly, this means having to setup a MS office online server on my own, right ?
If not, is there a way to “fix” collabora so it displays stuff correctly (i mean, just like MS office does) ?
To use the system at an optimal level everyone should use collabora online. Multiple users can not work with the same file in office. There is one microsoft product called office online commonly used for sharepoint where you can do that. But the compability with the desktop suite of microsoft office is at almost a worse level then collabora online. So office online is not something i recommend (i have clients using it and trying to convince them to switch to collabora instead)
If you have a support license you can send in documents that are causing problems and collabora will try to fix that.
that is correct, you need M$ Office online server WOPI service available and configure the M$ office connector correctly in Nextcloud
Unfortunately, the advantages of Nextcloud are very limited if you continue to rely on Microsoft Office. And this applies not only to the functions, but above all to any cost savings. In practical terms, it is not worth using Nextcloud. With Microsoft 365, you pay for the Office licence and you practically get the cloud for free. That may not be entirely true. But this is how Microsoft is forcing users into the Microsoft cloud.
Collaborative work in Nextcloud is not really possible with Microsoft Office. But you can take a look at Transactional file locking to at least minimise incorrect data if different users edit Microsoft Office documents on the client side. The function is very limited. In the end, organisational measures will probably have to be used. Alternatively, you can switch to Collabora / ONLYOFFICE on Nextcloud or OneDrive / SharePoint on Microsoft 365.
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If you have a support license you can send in documents that are causing problems and collabora will try to fix that.
Ok so weirdly enough, i just tried something.
Here’s an example of the kind of “issue” that we encounter.
Here’s what a powerpoint i made looks like in MS office.
Here’s what it looks like in collabora
I tried putting the same file (litteraly did a copy paste) on my own nextcloud (which is the AIO running on unraid) and it displays just fine.
So i guess the issue is with that specific instance of nextcloud that we use at work. Could it be an issue of not being up to date ?
EDIT : just double checked, work nextcloud is hub 8 29.0.5 and my home version is hub 10 31.0.4 so i guess the issues are because of that.
With Microsoft 365, you pay for the Office licence and you practically get the cloud for free.
Thing is, we don’t have 365 
We are still using office 2016 so far with shared drives, but we are trying to modernize that.
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Yes that is a correct assumption. Nextcloud office (collabora online) has improved quite alot.
Maybe you should take a look at the invoice to see how much money you pay for Microsoft Office. I don’t think you can expect practically free software to be a 1:1 match. Because then nobody would buy Microsoft Office any more.
You have to look at it the other way round. Look at what you can create on a white sheet of paper in Collabora Online. And for practically nothing.
Then transfer it to Microsoft Office, see how bad it looks. And ask yourself why Microsoft is not able to display the document correctly despite all the licence costs.
I really hate to say it:
But if you want Microsoft Office, you have to use it …
Please note:
Office 2016 and 2019 - support ends on Oct., 14th 2025. Then no security updates will be published anymore. - So it will be the best time to migrate to a more recent office software now.
That leaves Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 if you only want to continue working on-prem, Microsoft 365 to use OneDrive/SharePoint or perhaps a complete switch to LibreOffice/Collabora Online.
I’ve been pushing an update for a while, as well as our OS; we are still using W10 and plans for an update to W11 are just being signed now.
I personally am leaning torwards a full nextcloud environment (using talk, notes and other nextcloud tools) because 365 is out of the question (you know, patriot act can extract data even if the datacenter is in the EU, that kind of stuff).
Problem is, users and direction are used to their ancient ways, so chances are they will decide of something at the last minute.
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