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Gershon1's avatar
Gershon1
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

Apparent recent changes in how Drop box works

I could always email a Drop box link of my recorded lecture to my students and they would just download it and save it wherever they wanted. They did not need to have a Dropbox account. I just discovered that after clicking the link they need to open it in Dropbox.

They can then listen to it but cannot save it in a folder of their choice, if it is not in Drop box. 

Eventually it said it saved it in my Drop box public folder, however, when I clicked on the public folder it was not there.

It also seems I need to sign up and pay some money, whereas I have had a free account for over 10 years. It should not be necessary to sign in to Drop box to access a file. I want files stored where I want not where Drop box wants.

Any ideas?


  • Gershon1 wrote:

    I could always email a Drop box link of my recorded lecture to my students and they would just download it and save it wherever they wanted. They did not need to have a Dropbox account.


    Nothing has changed in how view-only shared links work. A recipient might get promoted to create an account but it's an optional step. They should be able to just close that modal and continue to the file. Dropbox also can't control where someone saves a file that they're downloading. Their browser controls that. Even if the person has a Dropbox account and uses the Save to Dropbox option, they can still select any folder that they want in their Dropbox, or they can just click the Download button and save it anywhere on their computer.

     

    If the link you're sending provides edit access, then a Dropbox account is required. Make sure you're creating a view-only shared link.

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    Gershon1 wrote:

    I could always email a Drop box link of my recorded lecture to my students and they would just download it and save it wherever they wanted. They did not need to have a Dropbox account.


    Nothing has changed in how view-only shared links work. A recipient might get promoted to create an account but it's an optional step. They should be able to just close that modal and continue to the file. Dropbox also can't control where someone saves a file that they're downloading. Their browser controls that. Even if the person has a Dropbox account and uses the Save to Dropbox option, they can still select any folder that they want in their Dropbox, or they can just click the Download button and save it anywhere on their computer.

     

    If the link you're sending provides edit access, then a Dropbox account is required. Make sure you're creating a view-only shared link.

    • Gershon1's avatar
      Gershon1
      Explorer | Level 3

      Thanks Rich.

      What you suggested is what always worked. I tried it earlier today when to did not work that way, which prompted me to consult the Drop box community.

      I did then try the download, but the popup menu to ask whether I want to 'open' or 'save as' the file never showed up.

      However, using your advice just now that pop up menu did show this time. Problem solved.

      Cheers,

      George Goldsteen

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