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Forum Discussion
Dropbox full because of shared folder
Hi, i have a dropbox account and the free space that i have is full because of the files inside the shared folder that i have with some friends.
Is there a way to avoid that the shared folder that ...
Your English is very good Michele - well done!
And no, if you need read write access to that folder if will use your quota. If you just need read only access leave the share and ask the other person sends you a read only Shared link.
You can LEAVE and REJOIN a shared folder when ever you like.
So one method of getting space is to LEAVE the shared folder. And REJOIN it when you need it.
If you ONLY need some files from the shared folder and ONLY at some times, I would additionally ask the owner of the shared folder for a LINK to it, in that way you can use the link to it and download via web the files you need when you need them.
Although I don't agree with Dropbox, and this is the primary reason I won't spring for Pro, I understand why they did this.
It's simple, really. Say, someone creates 10 free accounts. 10 x 2GB = 20GB. Now, that person, from each account shares a folder with his main account. That person just got more, free, space.
Im no fan of some of the things DB do.
However on this "Using of space in my account for files in shared folders" issue, I would like to point out the following.
FACTS:
1. DB do not store separate copies of files no matter if you share that file or not, if it is the same file in two accounts of people totally unconnected, DB only store one copy of the file.
2. SHARED FIILES SHOW IN YOUR ACCOUNT, SO YOU HAVE THEM.
3. SHARED FILES SHOW IN OTHERS ACCOUNTS, SO THEY HAVE THEM.
4. SHARED FILES UPDATE IN ALL ACCOUNTS WITH THEM, COOL BONUS!
Now many people dont understand (1), but thats how its done, you didnt think they actually gave 100's of millions of people freely 2GB of actual storage space did you?
If your accounts empty it doesnt use any space anywhere!
If you fill your space with unique files (say photos you have) then good for you, you managed to squeeze 2GB of actual storage out of them.
If you uploaded the ISO image of Office2010 well I suspect someone else has already so they point your image of it and that persons image of it and the other 45,728 people with that images to the SAME FILE! (how is that possible when you might change your file? If you change your file then they make a separate copy with your changes and point your one at that).
So maybe now it becomes clearer that you dont actually have ANY files in your account, just pointers to files they store for everyone.
So what is a shared folder, all they are doing is instead of pointing each file listing in your account at the file they have stored, they point the folder (the shared one) at the same folder every one else is pointing at, so anyone updates a file in the folder and everyone gets the update. (try renaming a big folder in your account, and watch how long that takes, it takes so long because they must move each file from the old folder name to the new folder name, they cant actually rename the folder doe to how they make them, try renaming a shared folder, and BANG its done, because all they did it renamed YOUR pointer to the folder, rename a folder in the shared folder and watch it take ages again)
Many say, but its not MY shared folder, will it IS YOUR SHARED FOLDER, your sharing it arent you? you have the files in the folder dont you? Why do you insist its not yours, you have the files, you have what permission you agreeded to have on accepting the files, stop whining that your expected to have room for the files!
Imagine you were offered a photocopier that can reproduce on demand any book in a library in your capital cities archive, and now your crying that you have to use your paper in the copier!
WHY WHY WHY when its someone elses book your getting a copy of! HOW DARE THEY!
mahahahahahahah
