User Guide — Browser-Based Document Editing (OnlyOffice)¶
Cesivi integrates with OnlyOffice Document Server to let you open and edit documents directly in your browser without installing desktop Office software.
Opening a Document in the Browser¶
You can open a supported document for editing from two places:
From the Document Library row menu¶
- Navigate to a document library (e.g. Shared Documents).
- Hover over a file row and click the ⋯ (actions) button.
- If browser editing is supported for that file type, you will see:
- Edit in browser — opens the document for full editing.
- Edit in browser (convert to DOCX) — for legacy Word formats (
.doc,.xls,.ppt). A copy is converted; the original is not changed. - View in browser — opens for read-only viewing (for PDF and similar).
- Click the appropriate action. The document editor opens in a new full-screen page.
From the library ribbon¶
- Open a document library.
- Select a single document by checking its row checkbox.
- In the ribbon at the top of the page, click Edit in browser (visible only when a compatible file is selected).
Editing in the Browser¶
The document editor is provided by OnlyOffice Document Server. For editor-specific help (formatting, track changes, spell check, etc.) see the OnlyOffice user documentation.
Key points:
- Auto-save: The editor auto-saves your changes periodically.
- Version history: After closing the editor, a new version of the document is saved in the Cesivi version history. You can access it via Version History in the row menu.
- Collaboration: If your Cesivi instance is configured for multi-user editing, multiple users can edit simultaneously.
Saving and Version History¶
When you finish editing:
- Use the editor's own Save or Close button inside the OnlyOffice editor.
- Return to the document library.
- To view previous versions: row menu → Version history.
Browser Editing Unavailable¶
If you see the message "Browser editing unavailable", the OnlyOffice Document Server is not reachable. Options:
- Download the file using the Download link on the error page to edit it in Office Desktop.
- Contact your Cesivi administrator to check the OnlyOffice server status.
See also: _docs/onlyoffice-admin.md — admin setup and configuration guide.
Legacy Format Conversion¶
If you open a legacy format file (.doc, .xls, .ppt), Cesivi shows a "Convert to edit in browser" prompt:
- Click Cancel to go back without changes.
- Click Download original to keep the original file locally.
- The conversion creates a new DOCX/XLSX/PPTX copy in the library; the original
.doc/.xls/.pptfile is unchanged.
Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA)¶
The OnlyOffice host page in Cesivi meets WCAG 2.1 AA with zero axe-core violations (PLAN-1647 closure):
| Element | Accessibility Contract |
|---|---|
| Host page landmark | <main id="main-content"> wraps all content — screen readers can navigate to it |
| Document editor iframe | title="Document editor: {FileName}" — frames are named per WCAG SC 4.1.2 |
| Error cards | role="alert" aria-live="assertive" — errors are announced immediately to screen readers |
| Conversion prompt | role="region" aria-labelledby="oo-convert-heading" — prompt is a named region |
| Load state | A polite live region announces when the editor is loading |
| ECB icons | Decorative icons are aria-hidden="true" — screen readers read only the label text |
| Keyboard navigation | All buttons (Back, Cancel) are <button type="button"> — reachable by Tab, activated by Enter/Space |
| No-JS fallback | <noscript> block announces that JavaScript is required |
Note: The contents inside the OnlyOffice editor iframe are provided by a third-party server and are outside Cesivi's accessibility scope. For editor accessibility, see OnlyOffice's own accessibility documentation.
Supported File Types¶
The supported file types depend on your OnlyOffice Document Server version. Typical support:
| Category | Extensions |
|---|---|
| Documents (full edit) | .docx, .odt, .txt, .rtf |
| Spreadsheets (full edit) | .xlsx, .ods, .csv |
| Presentations (full edit) | .pptx, .odp |
| Legacy formats (convert-to-edit) | .doc, .xls, .ppt |
| View-only | .pdf (viewing only; editing not supported) |
For the authoritative list, your administrator can check /_api/onlyoffice/supported-types.
Document: Cesivi v1.4 — PLAN-1647 (WCAG 2.1 AA surface #10). Admin guide: _docs/onlyoffice-admin.md.