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Forum Discussion
Can dropbox replace existing FTP process
Hello,
We are currently using FTP to share file with external vendor. The file is generated via scheduled batch job and placed in the FTP location for external vendor to download and process it fur...
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorI'm not sure how this setup works exactly and I won't be able to further advise on this but if you choose to share a folder with them, they'll need to accept the invitation and have a Dropbox account (and the needed quota) to accommodate it.
In this way, any changes they make on their end will be reflected on your end as well within the shared folder whether you use the website, our desktop app or the mobile application.
In case they don't even have a Dropbox account and you choose to share a link with them with view rights only, they'd need to access the shared link in question, download the files on their machine(s) and work on the files locally. Once they're done with their edits, they can upload the files back to your own account via a File request which you'd need to have opened from your end.
I hope this helps to some extent!
Hi Walter,
Please advise if there are APIs to upload/download a file. If APIs are available, then I can design the future process as below:
1) Write a program/code to upload the file using the Dropbox API (this program can be scheduled to run every day @ 10:00 PM). This file will be uploaded in a shared folder.
2) The external party can write a program to download the file using the Dropbox API (this program can be scheduled to run every day @ 11:00 PM). The file will be downloaded from the shared folder
If this is possible, then I can share the sample program to download the file with external party so that they don't have to write the program for the same.
Regards,
Dipesh Bagadia
Hi dbagadia,
There are number of scenarios You can choose from.
Most simple is, if You and the external party believe to each other so, the both of You can share the same account. In such a case You dont have to use any API. Just any device (desktop, laptop, phone, tablet...), where access to the shared files is need on (on both sides), can be installed Dropbox application and linked to the created Dropbox account. Then Your script could easily be corrected with just replacement the FTP transfer with copy/move to the Dropbox folder. Even more - actual work may be could be redirected to place inside the Dropbox directory, so even the copy/move wouldn't be needed. Depending on the network speed and data size, some time after last change inside Dropbox folder, the files will be available on opposite side, without any additional actions (scripts)!
Almost the same, but in case when You can't share same account, then every party should have own account and, as already Walter noted, some subfolder have to be shared. The files have to copied/moved/worked on in this shared folder. The rest is the same as above - without any additional actions (scripts)!
The next, little bit more complex case is when one of the external party (for some reason) is not suitable for them to have Dropbox account. In such a situation on Your side You can repeat the same setup as in first case. In addition You have to share the file with Dropbox link (again as Walter noted already). I am simplifying according that You noted that only one file have to be shared. So created Dropbox https link should be shared with the other party, embedded in script for downloading pointed file. The script could be curl based, for example.
I believe, if my assumption that only one file have to be shared is wrong, then You can easily extend the last scene to shared folder. :wink:
Hope this help to some extent.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. In either scenarios listed above, the file should be uploaded(downloaded) to(from) the shared folder without any manual intervention. While exploring 'Dropbox for HTTP Developers - Dropbox API V2', I found that there are below end-points to upload and download a file from a shared Dropbox folder.
https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/upload
https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/download
Please advise if there is any standard utility already created that consumes these APIs to Upload/Download a file to shared folder. I will try to create my own app that will Upload/Download a file to shared folder without any manual intervention.
Please let me know for any questions.
Regards,
Dipesh Bagadia
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