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Forum Discussion
Please don't block me from generating a link for a file that hasn't finished uploading
A new "feature" has been implemented where if I drop a new file in a DB folder, and then go to click on "Copy Dropbox Link", it simply won't perform the task until the file has finished uploading.
Apparently this is to "prevent 404 errors". The "error" page that comes up when you clicked on a link before it had finished uploading was actually a "Uh Oh! File hasn't finished uploading yet". This to me isn't an "error" page and shouldn't be treated as such. It's clear and communicates exactly what it needs to and doesn't warrant a restriction in functionality for the rest of the users.
The solution you've silently implemented has caused a monstrous delay in my daily workflow.
I work in a fast paced environment, generating new content every hour and sharing it with dozens of people in my team. The fact that I can simply drop files and right-click and "copy link" and THEN carry on with the rest of my tasks while keeping an eye out for the spinning icon in the tray and THEN send the copied link to my recipients, means that I am FLOWING.
When I have to do that dozens of times per hour, if you block me from generating a link as soon as I drop it in the DB folder, you're forcing me to having to RETURN back to DB a second time in the process. You've added a whole extra step, and it's absolutely killed my flow.
Hi everyone. We recently discovered a bug that caused this to break. It is now fixed. If you continue to have trouble copying a link to a file that is uploading/syncing please let us know.
It will be especially helpful if you can also tell us:
* What version of Dropbox you're using: Dropbox Windows, Mac, or Web
* The steps you're using to copy the link (e.g. right click, then choose "Copy Dropbox Link" )
OSX - Catalina
"copy dropbox link" is available in the context menu for newly added files to my dropbox folders, but when that file hasn't yet been completely uploaded, the function does nothing at all.
Either make it unavailable altogether until a file is sync'd, or allow me to copy the predictable dropbox link in advance to the upload.
Sometimes I upload a large file and I just want the link NOW, and I trust the file will sync later.
I am not asking for a file that has not been uploaded to be available. It is completely obvious that this would be impossible. I am asking about the behavior of the feature of the context menu to be fixed as it's irrational now. Either make the function unavailable or predict the link (which is certainly possible) and copy it to the clipboard.
Thank you jakeviator
I just saw your entire comment from yesterday, including the crossed out parts, and trying to piece it back together: are you saying it's gone back to instantly generating links, even without the 15sec delay??
My success that you mention is only that I have a 15sec delay. It does not copy instantly. It's better than what it was, but still a workflow killer.
Just to be clear I'm on dropbox v132.3.3750.
MacOS 10.14.6 (whatever stupid name it has) / Intel
We need to feed this info to Support.
If you don't mind, could you do a video screengrab of the functionality working as it should? Here's what I've been sending to dropbox, using Loom: https://www.loom.com/share/059ab0d6750a4ead8fd4af56a590bc91
P.S. Very interesting to see Illana's comments from July, since it's so different from their "nope, it's expected behaviour" response.
Please restore this feature. It is really a productivity kill to have to wait for a file to be uploaded to generate a link.
Sorry it's so hard for you I think you may be doing wrong things though
After making a lot of noise about this 2 years ago, this issue either fixed itself or was sorted in an update, but now it's back!
For months i've been able to chuck a file on dropbox, right-click it immediately and get a link to paste on a google doc for the various teams i work with.
Now, i need to wait for the file to upload before it gives me the link, so back to the old behaviour or old version.Anyone else have this issue? It's the ultimate workflow killer.
I'm not suire if dropbox updated by itself, i did not manually update it.
Restarting dropbox and the computer made no difference.
Windows 11 ,
Dropbox desktop yearly paid version v169.4.5684
Hi Jay, the issue seemed to fix itself, but now it has returned.
I can normally get the link while the file is uploading, but now i get an error saying 'path not found'.
One the file has uploaded, i can get the link as per normal without errors.
Windows 11 Pro, i have restarted dropbox, and the computer, Any ideas how to fix?
I do upload large files, 100 meg, up to 350 meg files (always zip files), every day and post links to teams on a google doc, but waiting for files to finish uploading slows my workflow down in a significant way.
- Agreed this is a royal pain in the ass. Put it back to how it was
Yeah, this was acting up for me again yesterday. What a pain 😞
Looks like this problem has come back again to haunt us. This is a feature that has worked flawlessly for years, but in the past few years has been broken a few times before being fixed.
The correct behaviour is that I should be able to drop a file into my drop box and copy a link to its location before it's finished uploading. Now, when I right click and select "Copy Dropbox Link" I get an error that says "Couldn't copy link - Something went Wrong - We're working to fix it"
Here's a link to the other discussion thread where this issue was first reported https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/Please-don-t-block-me-from-generating-a-link-for-a-file-that/m-p/530457#M45920
When you right click on a file that's uploading to 'Copy Dropbox Link' it used to work. It worked for years. Now getting Couldn't Copy Link /path/not_found/.
I know it wasn't a problem in the past as I very often upload video screen recordings and send the link to people.
Any idea why this not longer works?
Hi Nancy,
Yes correct, on the desktop application. I've done a screen recording of the process. I do this 5 to 10 times a day and until recently, was able to comp the dropbox link once the file started syncing. Now it does not work until is completed syncing.
Screen recoding - link removed.
Thanks for you help.
