If your team stores documents in OneDrive but runs projects in Notion, the cleanest solution is building a OneDrive file hub in Notion — a central file directory that stores OneDrive URLs rather than uploading copies. You get a searchable hub inside Notion, and files always open in OneDrive (no extra downloads, no sync headaches).
The problem: uploads behave like downloads
When you upload a file to Notion, you are storing a copy inside Notion. That is useful for simple attachments, but it is not a great experience if your workflow requires live editing in OneDrive.
The solution: a “File Directory” database that stores OneDrive URLs
Create one central database called File Directory and treat each row as one file.
Recommended properties
- File name (title)
- OneDrive URL (URL property)
- Market (relation to your Markets database)
- Brand / Region (select or relation, if you need it)
- Doc type (select, like Deck, Invoice, Contract, Plan)
- Owner (person)
- Last updated (last edited time)
How to make it feel native in each market page
On each market page, add a linked view of the File Directory database and filter it to:
- Market contains this market
This gives each market its own “files” section, while still keeping one source of truth.
Optional: keep things tidy with a few views
- By market (grouped by Market)
- By doc type (grouped by Doc type)
- Recently updated (sorted by Last updated descending)
Optional automation: keep Notion metadata in sync when files change
If you need live metadata updates (renames, new files, etc.), use Make to watch a OneDrive folder and create or update the matching Notion row.
- Trigger: file created or renamed in OneDrive
- Action: upsert row in Notion File Directory (match on OneDrive file ID or URL)
FAQ
Can Notion open and edit OneDrive files directly?
Not in a true two-way way. The reliable pattern is storing the OneDrive link in Notion so files open in OneDrive.
Should I use tags or relations?
Use relations when you already have a Markets database. It keeps everything consistent.
Next step
Building a OneDrive file hub in Notion takes about an hour to set up — and saves your team from endless download-and-reupload cycles. If you want help structuring the exact architecture for your workspace, book a free discovery call with Connex and we'll map it out together.
