Question:
In Power UX, when I click on an attached file to open it, I get a choice to Edit, View or Download. When I just want to look at a file, I select View, but the file goes to the download tray anyway. Is there a setting to make the file just open up automatically?
Answer:
Yes, but this setting is not within Spitfire. When you select View, Spitfire hands off the file to your browser, which then checks to see if the file should be opened automatically. You can change the settings for specific file types on your workstation. Note that if you change this setting for Viewed files, Downloaded files will still just go to the tray and not open unless you specifically choose to open them.
To change the setting for a file type on your Chromium browser:
- In Spitfire, select to View a file of the particular file type (e.g., docx or xlsx or pdf).
- Go to the download tray at the top of your browser window and click the icon to open your Recent Download History.
- Right-click on your file.
- Select the option that starts with “Always open…” for example:
- The next time you choose to View a file of this file type, the file will open automatically. Note that you need to follow these steps for each file type you want to open automatically.
Important Considerations:
Security Risks:
- Be cautious when enabling this setting for unknown file types or sources, as automatically opening certain files (especially executables) can pose a security risk.
- It is possible that your corporate policy has disabled this setting.
- We cannot recommend this setting for all file types because some, such as xlsm–which include macros, can dramatically increase your risk.
Local Application vs. Browser Tab:
- In general, the browser will try to automatically open the file using your system’s default application for that file type (e.g., Microsoft Excel). If your system is configured to open files in a browser-based viewer or if the file is hosted on a platform like SharePoint or OneDrive that offers in-browser viewing, it might appear in a new tab. Otherwise, it will open in the dedicated application on your computer. It is the Operating System that determines new tab or full application, not Spitfire.
KBA-01885; Last updated: October 15, 2025 at 8:19 am