Box Apps

Box Apps for Computer

There are several slightly overlapping apps available for Box that allow you to see and edit your files. Note that none of these are required if you work from the browser, but all are nice add ons. We will provide a brief overview of the functions of each, and then below that we will provide some more information about each.

Box Drive

Box Drive gives you full access to all of your file on Box, streaming them directly to your desktop. You will see them under a folder named "Box".  You may not have offline access to your files.

Box Sync for Windows or Mac

Box Sync is the previous sync tool for Box. It no longer works properly for most computers and it is recommended that users uninstall it and then install Box Drive.

Box Edit or Tools

Box Edit allows you to edit content on Box using native applications (Microsoft Office, photo editor, etc. ) installed on your computer. No syncing is required. When you click Open on a file from the browser, the desktop application opens. Then when you click save from the application, the file will save in Box. This app is not needed if you are using Box Drive and opening files from the Box streamed folder.

Box for Office

Open and edit and save files in Box directly from MS Office without opening a browser. 

More details on Box Apps.... 

If you want to install one of these apps, go to https://clemson.box.com and log in (you may need to complete Duo two factor authentication).  From Box, you will see your name in the upper right hand corner. Click on the arrow beside your name or the circle with your picture and then click on Apps. You will see a lot of apps you can install. At the top you will see "Search Applications".  You may type in the one you are looking for if it does not appear at the bottom.

Box Drive

Before installing Box Drive, make sure you don't have Box Sync already installed - and if you do - uninstall it and restart your computer before installing.  Once you have Box Drive installed, if you  open the files folder, you will see Box as an option you can open. You will see all of the folders you have in Clemson Box with a cloud icon beside each - which indicates the files are stored only on Box servers. You can see the files and folders though on your computer - and you can open files, save them, move new files there, delete files. 

If you plan to be offline, you can make specific folders (not files) available offline. To do that, navigate to the folder that has the file you would like to open offline. Right click on the folder and selec Make Available Offline.

In a few minutes you will see a checkmark beside the folder letting you know it will be available. When you are finished (and back online), you can right click on the folder again and select Make Available Online Only.

Box for Office

If you install this app from in Box, it will add a feature to your already installed MS Office 2010 or newer that allows you to save files directly into Box.  Or you may open files in Box in Office product and edit or save.  This works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook.

Once the app is installed, if you open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint and click on File Open or File Save As, you will see a new location Box to use.  The first time you select it, you will need to Sign In.  It will ask for  your Email Address (use username@clemson.edu - no "g"), click Next, you will see a Clemson login screen, you may get a request for Duo two factor authentication.  Then you will see the option to Browse Box for find the folder where you want the file saved if you selected Save As.  If you selected Open, it will let you browse to find the file you want opened. You do not need to have Box Drive installed to use this - it is a separate application.

Box for Office Online

Note: there is also a Box for Office Online. This gives you the ability to edit files in your Box from the browser using MS Office 365 Online for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.  This works even if you do not have MS Office installed on your computer.

In this example, an .xlsx file was clicked on and we are in preview mode. If you click on the arrow beside Open, the top choice takes you to Microsoft Office Online (in this case Excel - but works for Word and PowerPoint too).  

Once you select "Microsoft Excel Online" in this case, it opens a fresh browser tab and you see your file in the online version of Excel. It has most of the commonly used features of desktop Excel.

Box Tools

Note that in the screenshot above where we clicked on an Excel file and then clicked on the triangle beside Open - there was a choice of Microsoft Excel Online or Microsoft Excel (desktop version) - there was a link to download Box Tools. If you click on that option, it will install Box Tools. With Box Tools, if you selected Microsoft Office, it would open the file in Microsoft Excel (desktop version) - allow you to edit from there - and save to there when you are finished.  This works for MS Word, Excel or PowerPoint files. If you install Box Tools once, it works for all three Office products.

If you have other questions about Box Apps, feel free to email ITHELP@clemson.edu or call 864-656-3494.