Attach files from cloud storage

If your team’s files live in OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, or Dropbox, you can attach them to a project’s document folders without re-uploading. Connections are personal: each person connects their own cloud account, and Onplana only sees the files they pick.

Attach a cloud file

1. Open the project’s Docs section, go to Document Folders, and select a folder.

2. Select Add from cloud and pick the provider.

3. If you have not connected that provider yet, select Connect. You approve access in the provider’s own sign-in window, and when you come back you land right where you left off: the same folder, the same picker, ready to browse.

4. Browse or search, select the files, and choose a mode in the footer: Link only or Copy to Onplana.

5. Select Attach.

Link or copy?

• Link only keeps the file in your cloud storage and stores a reference in Onplana. The file stays current, but anyone who opens it needs access to it in the provider.
• Copy to Onplana downloads the file into Onplana’s storage (up to 100 MB per file). Everyone on the project can open it, but it is a copy frozen at attach time and will not pick up later edits.

Tip

Files linked from OneDrive get a full-fidelity in-browser preview, rendered by Microsoft, so teammates with access can read a linked Word or Excel file without leaving Onplana.

Google Drive uses Google’s own secure picker window: Onplana receives access only to the specific files you choose, never your whole Drive.

When a connection expires

Cloud providers periodically expire access. When that happens the picker shows Your session has expired with a Reconnect button. Select it, approve access again, and you return to the picker where you were. Existing linked files are unaffected; reconnecting just restores your ability to browse and attach.

You can also review and manage your connected accounts any time under Settings, on the Accounts tab.

Best practices

1. Default to Link only for current files. Links stay fresh as the source updates; copies are frozen snapshots. Use links for living documents, copies for reference points.
2. Use Copy to Onplana for files outside your team’s cloud access. A linked file requires the viewer have access to the source. Copy = everyone on the project can open it.
3. Coordinate provider choice org-wide. Don’t have half the team on OneDrive and half on Google Drive for the same project. Pick one cloud per project for consistency.
4. Reconnect proactively when warned. Expired connections silently break previews. Reconnect via Settings → Accounts when prompted; don’t wait for broken links.
5. Review connected accounts quarterly. Disconnect accounts you no longer use. Stale connections leave OAuth tokens the provider can revoke.

Troubleshooting / common pitfalls

• Connect button does nothing. Pop-up blocker. Allow pop-ups for app.onplana.com in your browser settings.
• Picker doesn’t show my files. Two causes: (a) provider’s picker filtered by file type — change the filter; (b) Onplana doesn’t have permission to the folder. Reconnect with broader scope.
• Linked file preview broken. Connection expired. Reconnect; the link itself is still valid.
• Copy mode failed for a large file. Files over 100 MB can’t copy. Use Link mode instead.
• Account stuck at “connecting”. Refresh the picker. The OAuth flow may have hung; retry from a fresh window.

How this combines with other features

• Cloud + Document libraries. Mix cloud links + Onplana uploads in one folder. See Organize document libraries.
• Cloud + Sharing. Per-library restriction applies to cloud-linked files just like uploads. See Share libraries and lists.
• Cloud + Office editor. Cloud-linked Office files open in the provider’s editor, not Onplana’s. Copy to Onplana to use the in-browser editor.
• Cloud + Microsoft/Google integration. Connection setup overlaps with Microsoft + Google integrations for other features. See Connect Google and Microsoft.

Coming from another tool

Tool	Mapping
Asana Drive attachments	Direct concept
Slack file attach	Direct
Jira Drive/OneDrive integration	Direct
Microsoft Teams file picker	Direct
Notion file embed	Direct

FAQs

Does connecting give Onplana access to everything in my drive? For Google Drive, no: the picker grants access only to files you select. For the other providers, Onplana requests the provider’s standard file access but only ever reads the files you attach.

A teammate cannot open a file I attached. Why? You attached it in Link only mode, so the file still lives in your cloud storage. Share it with them in the provider, or re-attach it in Copy to Onplana mode.

What happens to attached files if I disconnect my account? Copies stay in Onplana permanently. Linked files keep their reference, but browsing and previews through your connection stop working until you reconnect.

My plan does not include cloud attachments. What can I do? Cloud attachment requires the Business plan. On other plans, download the file and upload it directly to the folder (up to 100 MB per file).

Can I attach the same file twice (Link + Copy)? Yes — they’re independent attachments. Useful when you want both the living link and a frozen reference snapshot.

Do connected accounts work for other team members? No — connections are personal. Each person connects their own account. Shared team accounts aren’t supported.

Is there an org-wide cloud connection? Not today — connections are per-user. For org-wide shared access, use SharePoint via the dedicated SharePoint attach flow.

Related

• Attach files from SharePoint — org-wide SharePoint integration
• Connect Google and Microsoft — integration setup
• Organize document libraries — where attached files land