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Charlie B-AU's avatar
Charlie B-AU
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago

How to automatically overwrite files with the same name

Hi team,   I used to use Dropbox to organise current files against old versions by continuously overwriting the original version when uploaded to Dropbox.    So version 1 would be replaced by...
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  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    3 years ago

    Hi Nic35, the email to Dropbox feature wouldn't overwrite the existing files for security purposes. Only uploading files directly via the site, or overwriting files in the Dropbox folder would allow for files to be overwritten.

Hannah's avatar
Hannah
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
3 years ago

Hey Charlie B-AU, welcome to our Community.

 

When adding a file through the desktop app to a location where another file with the same name exists, the above behavior is expected.

 

But if you do this using the Dropbox website, the new file should overwrite the old one.

 

I've just tested this out on my end and it works, so would you mind sending over a quick screen recording of your experience?

 

Or perhaps a series of screenshots showing the behavior you see on your end.

 

Thanks!

  • Charlie B-AU's avatar
    Charlie B-AU
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    Thanks for the welcome & speedy response Hannah!

     

    Very sorry, I just realised I missed a key piece of information!

     

    I am using an automated FTP feed to email the report through to the folder. The manual upload worked as I would like, with it overwriting the original file.


    However, the automated email feed does not replicate this unfortunately.

     

    Any idea?


    Cheers,

    Charlie

     

     

    • Hannah's avatar
      Hannah
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      3 years ago

      Thanks for the update here, Charlie!

       

      Would you mind giving us a bit more info on how you're doing this with an automated email feed? 

       

      Are you using the Dropbox API?

       

      Any additional info will be helpful.

      • Nic35's avatar
        Nic35
        New member | Level 2
        3 years ago

        Hannah, 
        I had the same question and was surprised to see this in the forum. I'm experiencing the same issue as the OP stated - so hopefully it will expedite a answer for both of us. When using the [Email to Dropbox] feature under settings where it takes the email attachments and places it in the "Email Attachments" folder - its not overwriting the name, instead its appending (1) and so on. Is it possible to overwrite the name automatically or an automation process we can add to have the same desired effect? 

         

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