Attach documents from SharePoint

If your team keeps documents in SharePoint, you can attach them to a project’s document folders as links. SharePoint attachments are link-only: the file stays in SharePoint and Onplana stores just a reference, so the document is always current and nothing is copied or synced.

SharePoint rides your Microsoft connection. If you have already connected Microsoft for OneDrive or calendar, you only need to grant one extra permission (read access to your SharePoint sites) the first time.

Attach a SharePoint document

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

2. Select Add from cloud, then choose the SharePoint tab.

3. The first time, select Grant SharePoint access (or Connect SharePoint if you have not connected Microsoft at all). You approve access in Microsoft’s own sign-in window, and when you come back you land right where you left off: the same folder, ready to browse.

4. Pick a site, then browse or search its documents. Use the Sites link in the breadcrumb to go back and choose a different site.

5. Select the documents and select Attach.

Note

SharePoint documents attach as links only. There is no “copy to Onplana” option, the file always stays in SharePoint. Anyone who opens a linked document needs access to it in SharePoint.

When a connection expires

Microsoft periodically expires 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 links 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.

FAQs

Does connecting give Onplana access to all of SharePoint? Onplana requests read-only access so you can browse and attach documents. It never writes back, edits, or syncs anything, and it only ever follows the documents you attach.

I connected Microsoft for OneDrive but SharePoint asks me to grant access again. Why? SharePoint needs a separate read permission that the OneDrive connection does not include. Granting it adds the permission to your existing Microsoft connection without disturbing OneDrive.

A teammate cannot open a SharePoint document I attached. Why? SharePoint attachments are links. The document still lives in SharePoint, so your teammate needs access to it there. Share it with them in SharePoint, or attach a copy from another source if they need their own.

Can I copy a SharePoint file into Onplana instead of linking it? Not from the SharePoint picker, it is link-only by design. If you need a copy stored in Onplana, download the file and upload it directly to the folder (up to 100 MB per file).

My plan does not include SharePoint. What can I do? SharePoint attachment requires the Business plan. On other plans, download the document and upload it directly to the folder.

Best practices

1. Connect SharePoint at org onboarding. If SharePoint is your primary doc store, connect it during onboarding so attaching feels seamless from day one.
2. Use SharePoint for org-wide policies + templates; project workspace for delivery docs. SharePoint links keep canonical policies current; project workspace owns project-specific deliverables.
3. Pin canonical sites for quick access. The picker remembers recently used sites. Use them consistently so the picker stays useful.
4. Reconnect proactively on expiry. Expired tokens silently break previews. Reconnect via Settings → Accounts when the picker prompts.
5. Coordinate with IT on permission scope. SharePoint read scope is wide. IT may want to scope it to specific sites via Microsoft conditional access.

Troubleshooting / common pitfalls

• Grant SharePoint access does nothing. Pop-up blocker. Allow pop-ups for app.onplana.com.
• Site list empty. Two causes: (a) the user has no SharePoint sites; (b) conditional access blocked the consent. Check with IT.
• Search returns nothing. Search matches title + content; ensure the doc is indexed in SharePoint.
• Preview broken. Microsoft token expired. Reconnect.
• Attached link 404 for a teammate. They don’t have access to the file in SharePoint. Share it in SharePoint.

How this combines with other features

• SharePoint + Document libraries. Linked SharePoint files appear in libraries like any other file. See Organize document libraries.
• SharePoint + Office editor. Linked SharePoint files open in Microsoft’s editor, not Onplana’s.
• SharePoint + Cloud storage attach. Use SharePoint for org-shared docs; cloud storage attach for personal Drive/ Box/Dropbox. See Attach files from cloud storage.
• SharePoint + MS integration. Same Microsoft connection powers multiple integrations. See Connect Google and Microsoft.

Coming from another tool

Tool	Mapping
SharePoint Online	Direct concept; native linking
Confluence + SharePoint	Direct
Custom integration	Onplana’s is built-in
Manual SharePoint URL paste	Onplana’s picker is richer than URL paste
Microsoft Teams + SharePoint	Direct

Related

• Attach files from cloud storage — personal Drive/Box/Dropbox
• Organize document libraries — where files land
• Connect Google and Microsoft — integration setup