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bob-locascio's avatar
bob-locascio
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

Add admin as development user

I am new to DB api.  I created an app.  But when I went to Generate an Access Token, I got an error stating only the admin can do that.  So I want to add the admin as a Development User (is that the correct step?) so she can generate a token, but I do not see how to do so.  When she goes to the app console, she does not see the app.  Help.

  • Greg-DB's avatar
    Greg-DB
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    It sounds like you're referring to getting an error like "You must be a team administrator to authorize this app".
     
    This error occurs when the user attempts to connect an app with any "team" scopes but the user isn't a team admin. The "team" functionality can only be used by Dropbox teams, and can only be authorized by Dropbox team admins.
     
    If your app only needs to use "user" endpoints, such as for just uploading and downloading files, you should disable any team scopes on the app. If the app does need to use any "team" endpoints though, it will need team scopes, which can only be authorized by a team admin.
     
    You can remove any unnecessary scopes from the "Permissions" tab of the app's page on the App Console and then try to connect the app again.

     

    In any case, note that only the owner of the app can see the app on the App Console, and each app can only be owned by one account. If you need to have someone who isn't the owner of the app connect the app to their account or team, you should implement the OAuth app authorization flow. You can find information on that in the OAuth Guide and authorization documentation.

    • bob-locascio's avatar
      bob-locascio
      Explorer | Level 3

      Thanks for this info.  This answers why I can't do what I want to.  But it doesn't tell me how to do what I need to do.  I do need team scopes, to access (copy, move, delete, team folders & files), via Salesforce code, based on events happening in SF.  The challenge is the dropbox admin for my team is not technical, that's my role.  

       

      So, will I have to talk her through creating the app we'll use, so she can generate the token, so I can code my api calls?  If she creates the app, will I as a team member be able to see it's settings, so I can get the token and app keys? 

       

      Thanks!

      • Greg-DB's avatar
        Greg-DB
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        You don't actually need team scopes to access files/folders from the team as long as the connected account has access to those file/folders. An app with the "full Dropbox" access type can access anything that the connected account can access. So, for example, if your own account has access to the contents of a team folder, a full Dropbox app connected to your own account (with just the relevant user scopes like "files.content.read", "files.metadata.read", etc.) can also access those using the user files endpoints. I recommend reading the File Access and Team Files guides for more information on interacting with files/folders.

         

        By the way, if you do need team scopes for some team-level operations, you wouldn't need to have your team admin register the app themself. You could implement and use the OAuth app authorization flow to have someone else authorize your app. If you did have someone else on your team register an app though, you wouldn't be able to access the app on the App Console. Only the one app owner can access the app's page on the App Console.

         

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