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Dropbox Transfer - a missed opportunity
Unfortunately I have not used Dropbox for many years because transferring a file was so complicated for the recipient. It has always been unclear (to the recipient) how to manage the link and whethe...
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorHey Jim W.46 - thanks for sharing your thoughts on this with us.
When it comes to shared links, have you tried adjusting them to have them force the recipients' browser to download it directly?
Let me know if that would do the trick for you, Jim.
Can anybody explain what a forced download means? It sounds like code that a web developer would put in a web page (?)
This is not related to the problem I am trying to solve, which involves mobile phone text messages, not web browsers.
I would like to send a link to a recipient by text message that would allow the recipient to view a video. So simple. Why can't this be done using Dropbox?
- Rich
Super User II
Jim W.46 wrote:
I would like to send a link to a recipient by text message that would allow the recipient to view a video. So simple. Why can't this be done using Dropbox?
It can be done using Dropbox. Create a shared link to the video, and send it via text. Simple. Just be mindful of the bandwidth and time limits for streaming content from your account.
Thanks Rich. The problem with Dropbox is that people tell you how easy it is to upload a file and create a link. Unfortunately the missing information is what hoops the recipient has to jump through to obtain and use the file.
Perhaps you or someone could explain from the beginning: 1) User receives text message containing link 2) Will he/she be "encouraged" to set up a Dropbox account? 3) What does the user have to do to download the file - what keystrokes are needed to do this? Does the user have to save it to their mobile phone file system? 4) Does the user need a Dropbox app? 5) To save the file does the user have to navigate somewhere or does it go into the download folder by default? 6) To use the file does the user have to find it first and then open/play it?
My original suggestion was that Dropbox could make all this happen effortlessly (click and play) It might require the text message app to cooperate - I don't know.
