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Forum Discussion
Creating an alias or symlink to a file within Dropbox
Is there a way to create a symlink or alias for a file or folder that points to a file within another Dropbox folder? For instance, making a symlink or alias for a large video file that resides in one folder within a Dropbox account, and then creating a pointer within another shared folder so that I don't have to have a duplicate of this large file residing in two places at once. I understand that whoever I share the symlink/alias with in the first shared folder would also need to have access to the target or destination folder as well. Basically what I'm doing is creating a media folder for a video editor to access that I would like to have links/pointers to these large files in, rather than making copies of all the media elements for this shared media folder and taking up twice the space. Thanks!
- Hello Mackeroy, I hope you're well today!
Symlinks and aliases are not currently supported by Dropbox, but perhaps I could suggest a work around for this.
Since you can create a shortcut to a web link with these steps, perhaps you could use this feature to add a shared link to the file you want to access from another folder.
When you open a shared link to a file that you already have access to, and you're signed into your account online, it will simply point you to the file within your account.
Let me know if that would do the trick!
- Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Hello Mackeroy, I hope you're well today!
Symlinks and aliases are not currently supported by Dropbox, but perhaps I could suggest a work around for this.
Since you can create a shortcut to a web link with these steps, perhaps you could use this feature to add a shared link to the file you want to access from another folder.
When you open a shared link to a file that you already have access to, and you're signed into your account online, it will simply point you to the file within your account.
Let me know if that would do the trick!Not good enough!
I've got two folders in DropBox and I want to access the same file/folder from both. From any OS, directly in the OS file system. If I need to use a web link, then what's the point in using Dropbox rather than any of the gazillion cloud storage providers?
- Mark
Super User II
From Dropbox's point its around data integrity and safety - syncing only occurs on symlinks as and when the software restarts which means that it doesnt always have the most up to date files on all systems.
Can you explain how an Alias is not supported on a Mac? And then why NOT? Its is critical to using drop box. If I have hundreds of folders, I need to be able create short cuts to my files! No one has said this to me after many tech support calls!
Dropbox Support Ticket #15688184: Dropbox Support and Apple case 101599952443. This VERY frustrating!
Here is what the alias looks like greyed out on my desk top. The normal Mac OS alias has an arrow. These examples dont for some reason. They work fine except for they are "invisible"--I make them visible by shiftCommandperiod. If I create new ones or I just leave it this way they come right back. I think the Mac desktop folder has been affected by DropBox, because sometime actual files on the desktop will disappear too. I tested the theory with Apple tech support level 3 and had no problems with a new user account not connected to Drop Box.
The current help doc
Symlinks in Dropbox | Dropbox Help
says symlinks and aliases are supported. Are they or not?
