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Fairsarae's avatar
Fairsarae
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago
Solved

"View only" link says "Join Folder", "Copy to Dropbox", "Download". I don't want "Join Folder"

I create printables I share on Etsy, and because the files are so large, I send a dropbox folder link. It USED to be that the page the link went to would have the choices at top Copy to Dropbox and D...
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  • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
    JasonSilverDBX
    2 years ago
    🗯 Important Update: Removal of the Join Folder Option from View-Only Shared Folder Links 🗯
     
    We introduced the capability to join a folder directly from a view-only link to make collaboration even easier.  While well meaning, we don’t always get it right.  We've heard your concerns, and after careful consideration, we've decided to remove this feature.  This change will be implemented within the next couple of days by mid March.
     
    Going forward, recipients visiting a view-only folder link will no longer see the option to Join Folder. No action or setting modification is required on your part. This change affects both new and existing view-only folder links.
     
    Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to share any further thoughts or questions you might have.
JasonSilverDBX's avatar
JasonSilverDBX
Icon for Dropbox Product Manager rankDropbox Product Manager
3 years ago

Thanks authorsjuliusincestus  for sharing more about your use case.  Sharing a view only folder link would only permit a recipient to view content - not edit anything. 

 

However, I can understand for your situation, you want to keep the experience to a one way flow of content delivery to recipients.  I'm assuming these are customers or prospects of some sort, so you also want the experience to look polished and professional.  You need them to be able to download, but don't want to be bothered with "requests for access".  Nor to confuse your intended recipients with multiple options for viewing your content.  

 

If that all sounds right, then I can see why the addition of the "Join Folder" option that came with our introduction of content-based folder links doesn't hit the mark for you.  But there are some alternative methods that I think might work better for you.

 

  1. Are you familiar with Dropbox Transfer?  It may actually suit your purposes better since its intended as a way to deliver work to clients.  It even allows for custom logos for a professional look.  You can use it to send folders or files with a link.
  2. If you are only sharing a single file (your ebook), a shared link to the file would only allow view access and recipients would be able to download from a web preview without an account.  There is no "join" option.
  3. A forced download would also be an option.  This requires modifying the URL manually - see details here - and recipients wouldn't be taken to a web preview at all.  Instead visiting the link would initiate a download. 
samirj's avatar
samirj
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago

Hi Sir , sorry but this is really annoying , you guys have totally ruined it and made our life so difficult

 

i just wanted to know how to create link without join folder option , but support team had no answer and they were not even aware of new changes they clearly need some more training , totally wasted time on chat and didnt even provide any solution

 

why do we need join folder option on every sharing link ?

 

if we are collaborating with someone then we will just create shared folder once and continue working from it

 

and if we are creating new links everyday clearly means we are dealing with new person everyday 

 

before it was good if we wanted to have to join folder option on our link there was specific settings which we had to change , that too were inside not default

 

please let me know if you guys are planning on reverting this change or at least give option to disable join folder option on every link creation

 

this is so basic , please listen to customers , they are using your product more than you are on daily basis so they know better which feature should be there and which should not,

 

please change this

 

 

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