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David B.93's avatar
David B.93
Explorer | Level 4
10 years ago

Email pdf vs sending a link

I want to email a pdf from drop box. It sends a link rather than sending the pdf. The corporation I am sending to will not let them open the link. How do I send the file rather than sending a link to the file?

  • You cant send direct from Dropbox.

    You need to download it first

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    8 years ago
    Except if you read the thread you'd see it wasnt a Dropbox restriction but an Apple one - and one that was changed over a year ago so it is possible to now do.
  • Kim M.25's avatar
    Kim M.25
    New member | Level 1

    I absolutely agree!! In this world of now, now, now - our clients and partners need to be able to open a file on their phone from an email from me - not have to go to a website/app in order to do so. I will be posting this a few times in different forums - and sending to support. This shortcoming is a HUGE issue for all of the people I do IT work for - and have insisted that they use DB. Because this is not a possibility - they resort to double filing in order to keep a copy in DB and then in another app that will allow them to email the file rather than a link. As a product marketed for business users - I feel like this feature is not a bonus - but rather a requirement. Please let us know when this feature will be added. FYI - since the favorites are stored on the device - I feel that some slight alteration of the code should allow the favorites to be emailed as actual files. This might be the fastest means to an ends for this issue.

    • Mlorrell's avatar
      Mlorrell
      Explorer | Level 4
      I could not agree more. This is such an inconvenience that it makes you consider alternatives. It is obviously to gain more users as the recipient opens an account.
      • Mark's avatar
        Mark
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
        Except if you read the thread you'd see it wasnt a Dropbox restriction but an Apple one - and one that was changed over a year ago so it is possible to now do.
  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    You cant send direct from Dropbox.

    You need to download it first

    • Bobmaas's avatar
      Bobmaas
      Explorer | Level 4

      Ive been having the same issue. When wanting to attach a PDF FILE in Outlook, works great on my iPad but wants to send the Dropbox LINK instead of the PDF. 

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

        Bobmaas wrote:

        Ive been having the same issue. When wanting to attach a PDF FILE in Outlook, works great on my iPad but wants to send the Dropbox LINK instead of the PDF. 


        That's a change that Microsoft made and is out of Dropbox's control. If you open a file in Dropbox and Export it to Outlook, you can still attach a file, but if you initiate the email in Outlook and try to attach a file from Dropbox, Outlook will only give you the Link option.

  • David B.93's avatar
    David B.93
    Explorer | Level 4

    I am using an Ipad. How do I down load it to the Ipad so I can send it rather than the link?

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

    I dont think you can I'm afraid - Apple lock everything down so you cant do things like that.

  • David B.93's avatar
    David B.93
    Explorer | Level 4

    Thanks Kim. Well said. I have hundreds of PDFs and it would remove the need for DB if I marked them as favorites and stored them on my Ipad. It is very time consuming to import into another app just to email them.

  • Tony G.16's avatar
    Tony G.16
    Explorer | Level 3

    I have just discovered I can now send an actual pdf ( not a link) from Dropbox using  my Outlook mail client on IOS

    That's a huge plus. Been waiting for that for a long time. 

  • Markhgray's avatar
    Markhgray
    New member | Level 2
    Did you sort this problem out. I have the same issue
    • ArnColón's avatar
      ArnColón
      Helpful | Level 5
      Did you try the steps listed above? Three ways I know to share Dropbox files “not links” using an iPhone. ...

      1) Via Adobe
      2) Via Apple’s Mail Client
      3) Via Apple’s Files

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