Bob with OneDrive: find the file without leaving the thread

Matthew, founder of Bob · Published July 30, 2026

Short answer

Bob connects to OneDrive through the catalog and can use the authenticated file actions exposed by the live connection. Microsoft Graph represents files and folders as driveItem resources, and Microsoft Search can find files a signed-in user is allowed to access.

Bob's connection is bounded by the Microsoft identity, tenant policy, sharing permissions, OAuth scopes, and available catalog actions. The wider Graph API is useful context, not a guarantee that every file operation is available through Bob.

Five useful Bob and OneDrive workflows

1. Find the source document

"Find the current procurement policy in OneDrive and summarize the approval thresholds."

A title fragment, owner, folder, or modified date helps distinguish the right source.

2. Prepare a meeting brief

"Use tomorrow's Outlook calendar, the account plan in OneDrive, and the Salesforce opportunity to prepare my customer brief."

OneDrive supplies source material while Bob completes the broader job in Slack.

3. Compare versions

"Find the two latest launch plans and explain which commitments changed."

Confirm that the live action set exposes the file search and content access required for the comparison.

4. Ground an Outlook reply

"Read the contract summary in OneDrive and the latest Outlook thread. Draft an answer to the customer's open questions."

The draft remains separate from the send, which stays behind approval.

5. Perform an approved file action

"If the connection supports it, copy the approved template into the Northstar folder. Show me the source and destination first."

Bob can inspect what actions are available. Any external file change asks by default.

Connection scope and setup

1. Ask Bob in Slack to connect Microsoft OneDrive.
2. Open the hosted connection flow and authenticate with Microsoft.
3. Review the requested scopes and tenant consent.
4. Return to Slack and retry the file request.

The OneDrive catalog connection is workspace-scoped in Bob today. Use a least-privileged identity with the intended team files, and make that acting identity clear to everyone relying on the connection.

Limits worth knowing

• Actions vary by connection. Bob discovers the live OneDrive action set at run time.
• Sharing rules still apply. A connection does not bypass Microsoft 365 access controls.
• OneDrive and SharePoint can overlap. Identify the actual file location when a team uses both.
• Writes ask by default. File creation or modification should remain narrow and reviewable.

FAQ

How does Bob connect to OneDrive?

Through a hosted OAuth catalog connection that is workspace-scoped today.

What can Bob do with OneDrive?

Bob uses the authenticated actions exposed by the live connection and allowed for the connected identity.

Can Bob see every file in Microsoft 365?

No. Identity, tenant policy, sharing, OAuth scopes, and available actions all limit access.

Does Bob ask before changing a file?

Yes. External file changes ask by default unless a matching standing policy exists.

Start with a file search you can verify

Ask Bob to find a known document and cite the source. Then add Outlook, Excel, or Salesforce when the job spans more than the file.