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Understanding the Document Viewer in QAction (OnlyOffice)

Learn what the built-in document viewer does, which file types it supports, and why it is not a replacement for Microsoft Outlook or desktop email.

QAction includes a built-in document viewer powered by OnlyOffice that helps you quickly access and review files without leaving QAction—saving time, reducing downloads, and improving security by keeping documents in the system.

This article explains what the document viewer can do and which file types it supports. 

⚠️ Important: The document viewer is not an email application. It cannot send or receive emails and does not replace Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, or other email clients

What Is the Document Viewer?

The document viewer is powered by OnlyOffice Community Edition, an open-source document rendering engine embedded in QAction. When you open a supported file, the viewer displays it in a read-only preview right inside your web browser. You do not need to install Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, or any other desktop application to view the file.

How to Open a Document 

You can open documents in the viewer from anywhere files are listed in QAction (such as search results or folders):

  • Double-click a supported document to open a quick preview window
  • Right-click the document and select Preview Document to open it in a larger, full-screen view

Supported File Types

The document viewer supports the following file types:

Documents

  • .doc, .docx, .dotx, .rtf

Spreadsheets

  • .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, .csv

Presentations

  • .ppt, .pptx

Other Formats

  • .pdf
  • .txt
  • .vsdx (Visio)

Converted for Preview

Some file types are automatically converted for viewing:

  • Email files (.eml, .msg) → displayed as HTML
  • Image files (.tif, .tiff) → converted to PDF

Unsupported File Types

The document viewer is designed for document formats and does not support all file types.

Not supported:

  • Image files: .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp
  • Video files: .mp4 and other video formats

Workaround:
Download these files and open them using your computer’s default applications.

What the Document Viewer Does NOT Do

A common misconception is that the document viewer is a replacement for Microsoft Outlook or other desktop email clients. It is not. The document viewer is strictly a file previewer. It does not:

  • Send or receive emails
  • Manage calendars, contacts, or tasks
  • Replace Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, or any other email application
  • Edit or modify documents (the viewer is read-only)

While you can preview saved .eml and .msg email files in QAction, this is simply displaying the contents of those files. It does not connect to any mail server or allow you to compose messages.

Common Questions

Do I still need Microsoft Office installed on my computer?
You do not need Microsoft Office to preview documents in QAction. The built-in viewer handles rendering. However, if you need to edit a document you will still need the appropriate desktop application.

Why can I not preview an image file like a .jpg or .png?
The document viewer is designed for document formats, not image files. Image files such as .jpg, .png, .gif, and .bmp are not currently supported for preview. You can download these files and open them with your computer's default image viewer.

Can I edit documents in the viewer?
No. The document viewer is read-only. To edit a document, download it and open it in the appropriate desktop application such as Microsoft Word or Excel.

Troubleshooting

A document will not open

  • Confirm the file type is supported
  • Refresh your browser and try again
  • Download the file to ensure it is not corrupted
  • Contact your system administrator if the issue continues