Sep 17, 2019

Send a link that will open a google doc in view mode - even if the recipient has the rights to edit

Here is the scenario. I have a team shared drive and my team members have "content manager" roles (ie they can edit etc).  We are working on some guideline documents that will be accessible to those in my team, as well as others outside my team (all in the same org).  The link to the document will be on our intranet accessed by members inside and outside the team. I know how to generate the "view only" link, so those outside of the team will see the file in view mode.  BUT, I would like that when the link is clicked by members inside the team (who have editing rights for the shared drive) that the file opens in view mode. They can then switch it to editing if they want as they have the rights to do so, but when they click the link I want it to open in view mode first. 

Is there any way to do this by editing the URL for instance?    Thanks!
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Recommended Answer
Sep 18, 2019
After some more searching I found the solution here:

To make a link open in:
  • Preview mode: → Replace /edit with /preview 
  • Force a copy: → Replace /edit with /copy
  • Force a copy with comment: → Replace /edit with /copy?copyComments=true
  • Create a template: → Replace /edit with /template/preview
  • In PDF:  → Google Docs & Sheets: Replace /edit with /export?format=pdf
    → Google Slides & Drawings: Replace /edit with /export/pdf
Original Poster Jim@Work marked this as an answer
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Recommended Answer
Hi, Jim,

Preview is different from view. It will work for preview, but if you want the document to open in view mode so editors can switch to editing mode when they like, it won't work. 

~Jo
Original Poster Jim@Work marked this as an answer
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All Replies (5)
Hi, Jim,
 
I don't believe there's any way to do that as long as the people with edit access are signed into their Google account. If they're signed in, the document will automatically open in edit mode, even if the link is set to "view" only. 
 
~Jo
Recommended Answer
Sep 18, 2019
After some more searching I found the solution here:

To make a link open in:
  • Preview mode: → Replace /edit with /preview 
  • Force a copy: → Replace /edit with /copy
  • Force a copy with comment: → Replace /edit with /copy?copyComments=true
  • Create a template: → Replace /edit with /template/preview
  • In PDF:  → Google Docs & Sheets: Replace /edit with /export?format=pdf
    → Google Slides & Drawings: Replace /edit with /export/pdf
Original Poster Jim@Work marked this as an answer
Hi, Jim,

I'm aware of those shortcuts, but I didn't recommend them because they won't work with someone who has been given editing permission. You said that you want the document to open in view for people with whom you've given edit permission (using their email), so even if they have the link, when they open the document and are signed into their account, the document will still open in editing mode.

~Jo
Sep 18, 2019
Hi Jo, 

I just added /preview to a file that I have editor rights on and it opens as a preview without any of the toolbars. Maybe something changed?

Jim
Recommended Answer
Sep 18, 2019
Hi, Jim,

Preview is different from view. It will work for preview, but if you want the document to open in view mode so editors can switch to editing mode when they like, it won't work. 

~Jo
Original Poster Jim@Work marked this as an answer
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