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Justin P.2's avatar
Justin P.2
Collaborator | Level 10
8 years ago
Solved

Is there a way to choose whether .zip files are previewing on the Dropbox website?

I'm a long time Dropbox user and today I went to check if some older links were still active that I had sent to a cleint.  Most of the files are send out are zipped for various reasons.    It ...
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sync
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  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    8 years ago
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how this functionality change has impacted your workflow MRMJP, I’d happily follow-up with you on this discussion & I hope my post finds you well! 
     
    You’re absolutely right when it comes to this recent feature implementation, therefore at the moment when previewing an archive file, you can navigate through the archive file structure and preview individual files within the archive. Previously, compressed files (such as .zip & .rar) couldn’t be viewed on the web interface & in case you had received (or sent) a shared link containing this filetype, you’d (or the recipient would) have to download them locally, in order to view the contents. 
     
    That all being said, I appreciate the time you’ve devoted in writing us the specifics of how this alteration has worked for you so far & for that reason I’ve made sure to transfer your comments up the ladder for future reference. 
     
    In any event, please let me know here if you have any more thoughts or questions & I’ll do my best to check back with you. Wishing you a fruitful May & a wonderful rest of the day ahead! 
Dumbbox's avatar
Dumbbox
Explorer | Level 4
7 years ago

How is this useful? A link to a zip file should just be a download. Opening the zip file in the interface but not allowing the contents to be downloaded or viewed is as dumb as a bag of hammers.

Please make this work the way it used to. Does anyone at Dropbox actually use the service? Sheesh.

Justin P.2's avatar
Justin P.2
Collaborator | Level 10
7 years ago

Thanks for your feedback guys. I can't believe this is still like this.

If anybody truly thinks this is a good idea or nessecary then maybe a smaller and more hidden button can be used to navigate inside the zip file.


But, it should not be first thing clients are tempated to do which it is now.


If I send a link to a zip file I want one thing, and one thing only to happen and that is for the client to see a HUGE downlaod button front and center which they click on, and the zip file downloads.

There is ZERO value IMO allowing cleints to navigate inside a zip file and then get confused about how to download it which they can't unless going back to the first page.

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