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tarasmc's avatar
tarasmc
Explorer | Level 4
7 months ago

Consolidate all shared link options, so that we don't accidentally give edit rights

OK. I feel that most users, and certainly me, want a super easy way to create View hyperlinks (to share with friends) as opposed to Edit hyperlinks. The way you guys designed the Dropbox web interface is extremely confusing. There are so many different sharing windows -- Settings, the "chain link" icon, the Share folder button. There is no rhyme or reason how this works. When I go into the Settings or use the Manage option, it brings me to a settings box where apparently I can create Edit and View links -- but there's NO WAY TO COPY THEM from that window!! Like seriously, who came up with this crazy nonfunctional design??? Then when I set the settings, and return and use the "chain link" icon, it creates an Edit only link, EVERY TIME REGARDLESS OF ME attempt to set up a View only link! This is hard to catch and that is why I am so worked up about it. I do NOT generally want people Editing my files! I want them to VIEW my files. And I don't want to make a MISTAKE as to which type of link I'm sending, because sending Edit rather than View would destroy my files!  I have to cross my fingers and hope that I find the right UI "path" to copy my hyperlinks, and say a prayer and make the Sign of the Cross just praying praying that I'll find the right option!! Please take a look at this insane user design and please fix it ASAP! So crazy how complicated you've made something that should be extremely simple.

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Thanks for posting on our forum, tarasmc, and for sharing your feedback with us. 

     

    I’ve passed all your comments to our team, so that they can also see them. 

     

    As for making sure you don’t accidentally give edit permissions to your shared links, you can go to the Sharing tab of your account settings and change the default setting from “Can edit” to “Can view”. That should do it.

     

    Let me know if you need something else though.

    • tarasmc's avatar
      tarasmc
      Explorer | Level 4

      Nancy, thank you, I appreciate that tip and I just used it.  But I think it perfectly illustrates the problem -- now there are 4 or more separate screens, all for Sharing, but they are all different, do different things, are accessed by different pathways.  There is no consolidation of this feature which is scattered across many buttons, dialog boxes, and settings -- all in different ways.  It is highly confusing!  

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Glad I could help a bit! I totally understand though, and I’ve made sure all your feedback has been shared with our team.

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