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Forum Discussion
sunspots
2 years agoHelpful | Level 7
File Request - Please provide an option to NOT rename our uploaded files
We receive tons of file submissions from our business partners daily. However, a large part of the time I spend managing these submissions is spent renaming the files because they're automatically prefixed or suffixed with the Dropbox username of the user that uploaded the file. This causes a lot of unnecessary work and wasted time.
I am requesting that you allow us - the paying Dropbox users - the option to determine for ourselves if the Dropbox username is desired . . . or, if the original unaltered filenames are what we'd like to have to work with.
Thank you.
PS - If I've linked you to this message, it was because you had created or responded to a thread that included the terms File & Request. I know this may not apply to everyone, but if you think that this is a reasonable feature to add (at least, the option to not have the Dropbox user prefixed or suffixed onto the original file name), then please vote for and link other Dropbox members that you think might benefit from this feature, and promote this idea!
Staab, Drew G, Teamchil, benebelt1, dwcapture, buildonrock, Artisticfuries, mccarthian, SuperStock, Macn101, MeritDeveloper, VJG21, Birsay, tc16, Rich, ramiromalcala, Mark, Ed, PPT320, Greg-DB, Filip H, Jay Tom Tom, hallofgame2k22, w_l, Hannah, Nancy, marplatense, jcm48, dappelgren
Hi everyone,
We are very happy to let you all know that the ability to remove the Dropbox username from a file name when submitting a File Request is now available.
When creating the File Request, simply click on the trashcan icon next to the "Sender's name" field to remove this from the incoming files.
We know that a lot of you have been very keen to see this feature added and we hope it now makes using File Requests a little bit easier for you all.
Thank you for you patience getting to here and for choosing Dropbox!
Have a great day!
Graham
46 Replies
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- Lusil5 years ago
Dropbox Staff
Hi there corysed, thanks for reaching out to us about file request submissions.
Currently, users uploading via a file request require to atleast enter the First name box and a valid email address.
However, you can have a look at this thread where other users have also shown their interest in such a feature.
Hope this helps to some extent!
- corysed5 years agoNew member | Level 2
Can't say that it helps, but I'll voice my desire to have this feature made optional in the thread you linked to.
- K-DB5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
How do I stop changes to filename when files uploaded using the file request function?
Yesterday, I tested a new file request that I set up. The uploaded file had my dropbox user name added as a prefix to the filename. I expected to get around 350 files uploaded from about 80 different people. If I proceed with this file request, I would have to rename all the filenames. It is very important that the beginning of the filename isn't changed and is able to be sorted into ascending order for the file request to be useful to me.
I did checkout some previous messages, dating back to 2015 with the same issue. Saying that there was no solution to this issue. It seems like the assumption that everyone wants to know who sent the file.
A possible solution would be to add three options to have the the username
- added as a prefix
- added as a suffix
- or not added at all
I hope this can be resolved, so I can use the File Request feature.
- Rich5 years ago
Super User II
K-DB wrote:
How do I stop changes to filename when files uploaded using the file request function?
There is no setting to prevent that from happening, or to change how it's renamed.
- K-DB5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
That's what I thought, this just means that the File Transfer function is totally useless for the task I had planned to use it for as I don’t want to have to rename 350 files.
Is there any process for requesting a review or change to File Transfer function?Is there any other way to get files put into DropBox from a large number of people without a DropBox account where the file name remains the same?
- dblatner5 years agoNew member | Level 2
I know this is an old thread, but I just found a simple way to do this:
On both Mac and Winddows, you can use Adobe's free Bridge software, as shown in this video:
https://creativepro.com/creativepro-video-how-to-batch-rename-files-in-adobe-bridge/
Or, for Mac only: TidBits has a terrific article about easy file renaming here: https://tidbits.com/2018/06/28/macos-hidden-treasures-batch-rename-items-in-the-finder/
- rdinsf5 years agoHelpful | Level 6
You should tell people before they send out a file request that the files will be renamed. No on expects that, and once you have received hundreds of files with mangled names it's too late.
- aelkins5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
I've just encountered the same thing. This is absolutly crazy.
- Daphne5 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey there, just wanted to drop in here!
We do have a post in our dedicated area of the Community here suggesting an option to disable renaming for uploads through file requests.
If you'd like to show your support for this, please visit the post linked above and give it an upvote. You can even share any additional thoughts by commenting underneath too.
Hope this helps!
- Mubasshir Tahmid5 years agoNew member | Level 2
I just contacted them via messenger. They said that they would try to fix this. You can contact via messenger as well.
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