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Forum Discussion
Replicate Dropbox Transfer Functionality VIA API
I really enjoy the use of the Dropbox Transfer functionality to send copies of files to end users that may or may not have a Dropbox account, require that the use a password, be notified that the file was downloaded and have the access to the files deactivated after a deadline.
My understanding is that there is currently no way via the Dropbox API to automate this process using Dropbox Transfer. (If I am mistaken, I would love to be shown how I can do this)
In the meantime, while we wait for Dropbox to expand the API to cover Transfer, it has been suggested to me that I just create folders and share them to the intended users.
A) Is there a way to password protect these folders for a particular user to access them? Especially if they may or may not have an existing Dropbox Account?
B) Is there a way to be notified if the files are accessed or downloaded from these folders?
C) Is there a way at creation to set a date that would expire/deactivate the share on a particular date?
- Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox does not currently offer API functionality for Dropbox Transfer, but I'll pass this along as a feature request. I can't promise if or when that might be implemented though.
A) The Dropbox API does offer the ability to programmatically create shared links with passwords, via the /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings endpoint. Click on "SharedLinkSettings" in the /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings API documentation to see all of the settings that are available. Note that some settings are only available to some account types though.
B) Unfortunately the Dropbox API does not offer a way to be notified if/when the files are accessed/downloaded from shared links, but I'll pass this along as a feature request as well; likewise, I can't promise if or when that might be implemented. (If you're on a team however, you can monitor activity using /2/team_log/get_events[/continue], though that may be noisy.)
C) The /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings endpoint also supports an 'expires' setting for configuring the expiration of the shared link.
- Greg
Thank you for the guidance I will be looking into this more
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