Skip to main content

Edit your files directly on Shadow Drive

Updated

Shadow Drive allows you to view and edit files directly within the application—without requiring external software or downloading them to your local device. Whether you're working with text files, spreadsheets, PDFs, or media, Shadow Drive offers built-in tools for editing and synchronizing your content. This guide explains how to edit and manage files on Shadow Drive, including supported formats and editing features.

Notes:

  • This feature is in BETA status and still under development.

  • Rich media file editing is supported by the Collabora integration on Shadow Drive.

    You can find more information on how to use Collabora while editing one of your files, by clicking the "Help" button on the top right corner of your screen.

You can resize, change the colors and contrast of your pictures, and even draw on them, as well as update the content of your text files.

Additionally, you will be able to read and edit spreadsheets, PDFs, and slideshows directly on your browser.

Please take a look below for more details on these features.

Supported File Formats

You will be able to read and edit the following file formats with Shadow Drive:

Notes:

  • File formats specific to Apple, such as .numbers, are not supported on Shadow Drive.

  • Unsupported file formats can be converted to OpenDocument formats (.odt, .ott, .ods, .ots, .odp, .otp) when uploaded to Shadow Drive, upon confirmation. The original file will be kept and not modified.

Microsoft Office Formats:

  • Word : .doc, .docx, .dot, .dotx -

  • Excel : .xls, .xlsx, .xlt, .xltx

  • PowerPoint : .ppt, .pptx, .pot, .potx

OpenDocument Formats (ODF):

  • Text: .odt, .ott

  • Spreadsheets: .ods, .ots

  • Slideshow: .odp, .otp

Text Formats:

  • Plain text: .txt

  • Rich Text Format: .rtf

  • Markdown: .md​

    Note: .md files are not supported by Collabora.

    These files can still be edited directly by using the edit mode from Shadow Drive.

     

Portable Document Format:

PDF: .pdf

Other Formats:

  • Spreadsheets: .csv

  • Pictures: .jpg, .png, .gif

Vector graphics formats:

Scalable Vector Graphics: .svg

How to edit or read your files directly on Shadow Drive

To access the edit and read mode on Shadow Drive, you simply need to click on the name of your file on Shadow Drive web version.

See more information about specifically editing text files or media files below.

Note: It is also possible to edit text files (.txt and .md only) on the mobile Shadow Drive apps, via the Shadow Drive editing mode.

The Collabora integration is only available via the Shadow Drive web version.

How to Edit Text Files

With Shadow Drive, you can edit .txt, .rtf and .md text files.

Notes:

To edit a text file:

Access the Shadow Drive web version or mobile version which can be downloaded here.

Click the Files Icon and find your text file.

Click on the name of your text file to open the edit mode.

Once in the edit mode, you can edit your text file with generic text options.

Your edits will be automatically saved and synchronized so you do not have to save your edited files manually.

How to Edit Media Files

Note: It is also possible to edit your media file from Shadow Drive with an external software.

To do this, in your  Files menu, click the  three dots next to your file then "Edit locally".

The editing mode allows you to alter the appearance of your media files directly on Shadow Drive.

To access the editing mode:

Access the Shadow Drive web version.

Click the Media Icon and find your media file.

Click on the name of your media file.

Click the Edit button on the top right corner of your screen.

 

Once in the editing mode, you can edit your file with the following options from the horizontal menu on the left side of your screen.

Each option lets you do several actions that will appear at the bottom of your screen.

 

To save your edits, click "Save" on the top left corner of your screen. Unlike text files, edits are not automatically saved.

You can also revert to the original picture at any time by clicking "Reset".

 

Adjust

  • Crop: Click "Original" in order to show the dropdown menu and crop the picture differently. You can choose to do a custom crop or use the predefined options.

  • Rotate: Click "Rotate" to rotate your picture and use the slider to choose the angle of rotation.

  • Flip: Click "Flip X" to flip your image horizontally or "Flip Y" to flip your image vertically, as if were a mirror version of your picture.

Draw

  • Add text: Click "Text" then directly click on your picture and hold it in order to create the rectangle where you want to write.

    You can then further customize your text such as choosing the font, color, size, the opacity, adding a stroke, etc.

  • Add images: Click "Image" then "+ Add image" to add a picture directly from your device on top of the existing one.

    You can then click on the added picture and move it to your preferred location, and customize it further with the options at the bottom of the screen (edit opacity, add a stroke, add shadow, choose a predefined position).

  • Add predefined shapes: Choose from a range of predefined shapes at the bottom of your screen and click one of them to add it on top of your picture.

  • Draw: Click "Pen" in order to draw directly on your picture.

Filters

Choose from a range of predefined filters to alter the colors of your pictures.

Fine-tune

  • Brightness: Adjust the brightness.

  • Contrast: Adjust the contrast.

  • HSV: Adjust the Hue, Saturation and Value ratios of the picture.

  • Blur: Blur the entire picture.

  • Warmth: Change the colors of your picture to make it look less or more warm.

Resize

Resize your picture. Click the padlock icon to lock the ratio between width and lenght when resizing.

Related articles