Dropbox has changed, what it means for our forums

Dropbox removed its Public Folder.

So now, you may find yourself trying to download Capx files (or even view images) or anything that were shared through the public folder of dropbox and end up with a 404 error, file not found.

Some of those files will likely be lost for good.

For others, it is likely possible to get them by asking them to their author, if he/she's still active in the forums.

The best thing to do is to post in the topic where you have found a file you want to download.

In your post, make sure to alert the person who posted the original file using nickname (with the proper capital letters and proper name, otherwise the alert won't work).

Let them know the URL of the post they posted the capx in and ask them nicely if they can post it again using another service or share it some other way.

Tip by shinkan:

Normally when you want to share a file you'll get a link similar to this:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n78c9dywrulcz ... .capx?dl=0 (some random link from the forum)

So when you click on it new dropbox page will open where you can sign in, download file etc etc... it's just to many clicks...

Instead all you need to do is to change the last dl=0 to dl=1. So the link looks like this:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n78c9dywrulcz ... .capx?dl=1

Then when you click on it download will start immediately without annoying new pages, clicks, confirmations etc.

So, yeah that's it. Little tip to speed things up <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile">

Best regards and take care!

Tip by Ethan:

add ?raw=1 to have images appear in the post rather than an link to the image.

example

[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/xde26qjwppul63s/as-ssd-bench%20%2018.01.2017%2019-45-54.png?raw=1[/img][/code:1fe5hvm2]

[img="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xde26qjwppul63s/as-ssd-bench%20%2018.01.2017%2019-45-54.png?raw=1"]

thanks.

Perhaps we could have a sticky of decent file, and image hosts.

I... never realized I could use the shared folder like that >______> I always manually shared the files with the generated link.

Apparently for Dropbox, the files in the shared folder will still remain after March 15, 2017, but will no longer be automatically shared. You just need to manually share each file again via the share button -> create/copy link. The problem is that old links to the file will no longer be valid and need to be updated with new ones.

As far as I know, Dropbox remains the most accessible, clean, and easy to use free file hosting service. Supporting direct links to files for public use without requiring an account is a huge advantage over something like Drive.

Box.com gives you 10Gb free with sharing.

https://www.box.com/cloud-storage

I have a dropbox account for my business but not happy with their system anyway so I may move to Box or another cloud system.

I... never realized I could use the shared folder like that >______> I always manually shared the files with the generated link.

Same.

Box.com gives you 10Gb free with sharing.

https://www.box.com/cloud-storage

I have a dropbox account for my business but not happy with their system anyway so I may move to Box or another cloud system.

Heck given that XDK is halting Cloud builds soon, I wonder how long until Dropbox and all other hosting sites stop being free and start charging 100%.

> I... never realized I could use the shared folder like that >______> I always manually shared the files with the generated link.

>

>

Same.

> Box.com gives you 10Gb free with sharing.

> https://www.box.com/cloud-storage

> I have a dropbox account for my business but not happy with their system anyway so I may move to Box or another cloud system.

>

Heck given that XDK is halting Cloud builds soon, I wonder how long until Dropbox and all other hosting sites stop being free and start charging 100%.

All the free sites just use that as a gimick to get people to put all their files on their site and then stop doing free and demand payment and people go along becuase they don't want to lose their links and files.

You can get a cloud account yourself pretty cheap but I don't like the security on many of them and no easy way to share files publicly.

Kyatric

Maybe something Tom and Ashley will consider for the new website is setting up an index of capx files with a brief summary where we can share popular capx.

We can do that now on tutorials but not everyone that writes a capx wants to write a tutorial and we could use an easier way to locate those when people ask questions in the forum.

It shouldn't be for all capx and the mods should review and add files they think are useful.

Just a thought!

[quote:2lf1ql6x]and the mods should review and add files they think are useful

The mods have other things to do and moderate the forums/website on their free time.

Each time your suggestions contains "mods should" you're considering adding a work load on people who do voluntary work.

I've been pretty much doing what you are suggesting in the How do I FAQ for the better part of 6 years now.

I've always asked to have people proposing to put in some useful links because I can't read and see all the capx around. You can see in 6 years, there have been a handful of proposal in the topic at best.

In the end I still add as much elements I find useful to it when I go through the forums, but it is far less than there actually are good capx posted.

And moreover, in the end, most people don't go through the How do I FAQ anyway and go on to post the same questions over and over in the forums. It has been so for years, despite the resource being there for them.

Also to consider : Capx are the creation of their authors. Most capx evolve over time and versions. So the original author is the one to be around to maintain the capx and make it still working. When this user has gone out of reach/activity generally another user takes over and maintain his own version of the file.

The tutorials contains a section "example capx" in which you could just post the link to the forum topic the capx is an answer to. No need for a tutorial in that case.

That can already be handled by the users as long as they use the tools already at disposal.

At last, I have a feeling this topic has not been understood for what I meant it to be.

Currently, when you click an existing Dropbox link, there are chances for it to return a 404 error.

If it does DO warn the person who posted the link. Some inactive users won't do anything about it, and sure those files are likely lost.

But other will update and share their capx again.

I was doing this topic thinking of the How do I FAQ which can easily bring people to encounter "missing capx" and images.

It deviated pretty quickly on a subject about other file hosts and suggestion to reinvent the wheel. I don't understand why and to keep the topic on track I prefer to lock it for now.

Please keep in mind that anyone with a legacy Dropbox account will still have their public folder - and it will still function as always.

I have several links on the forum over the years that are linked to my public folder, and they still work. It's probably still worth clicking the links to check for functionality.

*EDIT*

My public folder still works as normal - but - possibly not for much longer. Legacy accounts have been given a "grace period" of continued functionality from what I've been told. As far as I'm aware now, even legacy accounts will no longer be able to link via the public folder. I guess time will tell - how long though, I'm unsure of.

~Sol