I am writing an app that needs to download all the files from a directory shared via a link.But when a link is a folder, /2/sharing/get_shared_link_file returns:HTTP/409 shared_link_is_directory/..So then I invoke /2/sharing/get_shared_link_metadata, I get:{ ".tag": "folder", . . . }There is just an indication of a folder, but no way to see the contents of it.However, when I access the same URL via a browser, I do see the contents and I am able to download the files without "mounting" the shared folder into my Dropbox.So it appears to be possible via a Browser, but not via the API.Is there a list_shared_folder API or something like it?

Dropbox API v2 now supports listing the contents of a shared link for a folder. This can be accomplished using the same interface as listing a folder in a connected user's account, via the list_folder functionality. To list the contents of a shared link for a folder, you instead provide the shared link URL in the `shared_link` parameter to list_folder:https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-list_folderIf you're using an official SDK, there will also be a corresponding method for this endpoint:In the .NET SDK that's available as `ListFolderAsync`:https://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-dotnet/html/M_Dropbox_Api_Files_Routes_FilesUserRoutes_ListFolderAsync_1.htmIn the Java SDK that's available via `listFolderBuilder` to get a `ListFolderBuilder` on which you can call `ListFolderBuilder.withSharedLink`:https://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-java/api-docs/v3.0.x/com/dropbox/core/v2/files/DbxUserFilesRequests.html#listFolderBuilder-java.lang.String-https://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-java/api-docs/v3.0.x/com/dropbox/core/v2/files/ListFolderBuilder.htmlhttps://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-java/api-docs/v3.0.x/com/dropbox/core/v2/files/ListFolderBuilder.html#withSharedLink-com.dropbox.core.v2.files.SharedLink-In the JavaScript SDK that's available as `filesListFolder`:https://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-js/Dropbox.html#filesListFolder__anchorIn the Python SDK that's available as `files_list_folder`:https://dropbox-sdk-python.readthedocs.io/en/latest/moduledoc.html#dropbox.dropbox.Dropbox.files_list_folderIn the Swift SDK that's available as `listFolder`:https://dropbox.github.io/SwiftyDropbox/api-docs/latest/Classes/FilesRoutes.html#/s:13SwiftyDropbox11FilesRoutesC10listFolderAA10RpcRequestCyAA0C0C04ListF16ResultSerializerCAH0if5ErrorK0CGSS4path_Sb9recursiveSb16includeMediaInfoSb0O7DeletedSb0O24HasExplicitSharedMembersSb0O14MountedFolderss6UInt32VSg5limittFIn the Objective-C SDK that's available as `listFolder`:https://dropbox.github.io/dropbox-sdk-obj-c/api-docs/latest/Classes/DBFILESUserAuthRoutes.html#/c:objc(cs)DBFILESUserAuthRoutes(im)listFolder:

API v2 doesn't return the file/folder listing for shared links, e.g., in SharedLinkMetadata/FolderLinkMetadata, unfortunately. I'll send this along as a feature request though. (A workaround would be to use the deprecated /1/metadata/link.)

Hi GregI am unable to migrate my app (Grab for Dropbox) to API v2 because of this issue.Please update us when you can deliver this for API v2 -- being able to list contents of a shared folder is a basic requirement, i'm surprised this is still missing from API v2. How are shared links supposed to be useful if you can't use the API to recurse the file structure?thanks

Hi GregPlease unmark this as solved. It's not solved until this works on a version of the API that isn't about to be switched off.Is this working in v2 yet? My apps depend on it

OK I've unmarked it as solved, was hoping that API v2 would support this functionality by now.It seems like we have only a couple of months left before v1 is switched off, don't we?Any idea if this is even on the radar of the dev team?It would be a real shame if we have to resort to scraping.

How to list a shared directory via Dropbox API?

11 Replies

Greg-DB
Dropbox Community Moderator
10 years ago
API v2 doesn't return the file/folder listing for shared links, e.g., in SharedLinkMetadata/FolderLinkMetadata, unfortunately. I'll send this along as a feature request though.

(A workaround would be to use the deprecated /1/metadata/link.)
rustyx2
Helpful | Level 5
9 years ago
Indeed, using API v1 I was able to get the file list. Thanks a lot for the tip!

I only hope that API v2 will support this before v1 is disabled :-O
tim
Explorer | Level 4
9 years ago
Hi Greg
I am unable to migrate my app (Grab for Dropbox) to API v2 because of this issue.
Please update us when you can deliver this for API v2 -- being able to list contents of a shared folder is a basic requirement, i'm surprised this is still missing from API v2. How are shared links supposed to be useful if you can't use the API to recurse the file structure?
thanks
Greg-DB
Dropbox Community Moderator
9 years ago
Thanks for the feedback Tim! I'll add your feedback to the feature request, and be sure to update this thread with any information if/when I have it.
xaphod
Explorer | Level 4
9 years ago
Hi Greg
Please unmark this as solved. It's not solved until this works on a version of the API that isn't about to be switched off.
Is this working in v2 yet? My apps depend on it
Greg-DB
Dropbox Community Moderator
9 years ago
This isn't available in API v2, and I don't have an update on this unfortunately.

(Also, Rustam opened this thread and marked the post as a solution, so I believe he can unmark it if he wants to.)
rustyx2
Helpful | Level 5
9 years ago
OK I've unmarked it as solved, was hoping that API v2 would support this functionality by now.

It seems like we have only a couple of months left before v1 is switched off, don't we?

Any idea if this is even on the radar of the dev team?

It would be a real shame if we have to resort to scraping.
Stephen C.14
Dropbox Staff
9 years ago
This is absolutely on our radar, and we are trying to prioritize it in light of the API v1 deprecation timeline. Will update the thread again when we make this fix.
dougnorton
New member | Level 2
9 years ago
v1 is gone what would be the replacement for
https://api.dropbox.com/1/metadata/link
Greg-DB
Dropbox Community Moderator
9 years ago
We don't currently have a replacement for that functionality on API v2. If your app uses that, please open an API ticket here to request an extension for access to API v1:

https://www.dropbox.com/developers/contact