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Bahri's avatar
Bahri
New member | Level 2
6 months ago
Solved

I shared a file directory with my coworkers, but they can't access it from their local device.

i tried to make shared folder and file between me and my coworkers. on my device the link worked as usual but on my coworker, the excel can't find the workbook link because different directory, for example on my excel it's 'C:\user\Jhon\Dropbox\Folder\Excel.xlsx and on my coworker it's 'C:\user\Dony\Dropbox\Folder\Excel.xlsx. so how to solve it so all linked file can work?

  • Welcome to our Community, Bahri!

    Can you describe to me the exact steps you took to share your files with them? 

    When saying that the link works normally on your device, do you mean that you shared your computer's file directory as a link (i.e. 'C:\user\Jhon\Dropbox\Folder\Excel.xlsx)? 

    If yes, then you’ll need to share your files with these steps instead. Like you also mention, the filepath of each file will be different on each user’s device, so they won’t be able to access your files, if you send them a link to your local directory.

    Let me know, if that helps.

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  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    6 months ago

    Welcome to our Community, Bahri!

    Can you describe to me the exact steps you took to share your files with them? 

    When saying that the link works normally on your device, do you mean that you shared your computer's file directory as a link (i.e. 'C:\user\Jhon\Dropbox\Folder\Excel.xlsx)? 

    If yes, then you’ll need to share your files with these steps instead. Like you also mention, the filepath of each file will be different on each user’s device, so they won’t be able to access your files, if you send them a link to your local directory.

    Let me know, if that helps.

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    Hi Bahri, just checking to see if you saw our last reply. 
    If you still need any help, feel free to reach out to us with the information we requested.
    If your issue has been solved, let us know what worked for you!

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    5 months ago
    Bahri wrote:

    the excel can't find the workbook link because different directory ... so how to solve it so all linked file can work?

    Have everyone move their Dropbox folder so it's in a common location, such as C:\Dropbox.

    The issue is that Office files use the full path to a file for all embedded links. As you noted, with Dropbox stored in each person's user profile, those paths will be different. This isn't that Dropbox can solve, so the only way to work with files in this manner is to make sure everyone has their Dropbox stored in the exact same location on their respective computers. That way the paths will be the same for everyone.

    Also note that anyone can move or even rename a shared folder within their Dropbox folder without it affecting other members. If you create a folder called Rich and share it with me, that name doesn't mean much for me, so I would rename it to Bahri that way I know who shared it with me. In such a case, even with our Dropbox folders in the same locations, any files linked within that shared folder wouldn't work because one member renamed the folder.

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