What does the limit on shared folders mean?

Thanks for responding.  The "Response" field contents were quite long, but I didn't find a way to attach them here as a file, so I tried to embed them in a spoiler below.  I couldn't tell whether the URLs in the text were sensitive or no, so I censored them to be on the safe side.

Hi IMCZug,

I have no idea where you have looked before so you saw only one shared folder, but you have 12 shared folders in total. 8 of them are not mounted - "2020-12", "2019-12", "2019-08", "2019-02-07 AGM", "2019-01-26 Burns Night", "2018 Directory", "2017 Directory", and "Gottardino". Other 4 are mounted and you should be able see them in your folder tree. 3 of them are mounted in "/imcz team folder/events" - "2020-08-23 bbq", "2020-01-25 burns night", and "2022-01-29 burns night". One is mounted in your account root - "IMCZ Team Folder".

I don't know where unmounted folders originate from, but if they come from "/imcz team folder/events" formerly, 3+8 = 11 - something above the limit! 🤷 If you don't plain to use some of unmounted folders, just unshare them completely (Select "Unshare folder" from ellipsis menu associated to corresponding folders - those you didn't see before 😁 - take a look more carefully). Deleting a shared folder doesn't unshare it automatically! 😉

Hope this gives direction.

Thanks for your analysis.  Here is the screen where I see only one shared folder: 

I am hearing about "mounted" and "unmounted" folders here for the first time.  This isn't surprising, since I couldn't find any regular help articles about them.  The only mention I found was in the "DBX Sharing Guide" addressed to developers using the API (which I have used under your instruction for the first time today).  The folders you describe as "unmounted" are all folders I deleted (at least "Delete" is what I picked in the Dropbox UI) in an attempt to reduce the number of shared folders. If I understand you correctly, picking "Delete" didn't really delete them, it just unmounted them.

You suggest that I "unshare" the "unmounted" folders, but how can  a mere mortal like myself accomplish this, when they are not visible in my Dropbox UI?  What do you mean by "take a look more carefully"?  Where should I look?  Must I use the API for this, or is there some way for a non-developer to handle this?

P.S. I have now found the deleted folders under "Deleted files".  I don't find any way to unshare them there.  Can I just get rid of them with "Permanently delete", or do I have to:

1. Restore
2. Unshare
3. Delete
4. Permanently delete

IMCZug, you can do it in whatever is easiest way for you. In spite of you should be able do the same with just unshare it (as I have described). I should note here that you didn't follow my link! 👆 You're on different page (Recent, not Folders - see the screenshot again). 🙂 Be more careful!

---

Здравко wrote:

IMCZug, you can do it in whatever is easiest way for you. In spite of you should be able do the same with just unshare it (as I have described). I should note here that you didn't follow my link! 👆 You're on different page (Recent, not Folders - see the screenshot again). 🙂 Be more careful!

---

Thanks, but

1. The "Folders" tab looks the same as the "Recents" tab:
2. As previously reported, I cannot "just unshare it". The only options I have are "Restore" and "Permanently delete":
   
   That is why I asked whether I can just permanently delete these folders or must first restore and unshare them.

Thanks for your support.

Wow... 🤔 IMCZug, up to your last post I haven't idea that such a situation is even possible. Are you sure the two screenshots show the same account? 🤷 If so, that might be some new bug in Dropbox.

Shared folders (the first screenshot) should show all shared folders in your account (all 12 in particular case), without taking in account are they mounted or not. In your case no just unmounted are missing, but not all mounted are shown (3 of them are missing too)! I can't say anything more about, some Dropbox representative should assist, why this ever happens. I performed a test:

As you can see the unmounted folder is labeled "Not added to Dropbox". Using ellipsis menu, all possible shared folder operations are accessible:

In particular case "Add to Dropbox" (it appears while just hovering) and "Unshare folder".

About API, you said "I have used under your instruction for the first time", there's always some first time. 😉 That was the yours! Are you ready to continue? If so, in your previous result ("Response") all folders have their "shared_folder_id"s. As an example I will share the entry describing my "Test1" folder:

    {
      "access_type": {
        ".tag": "owner"
      },
      "is_inside_team_folder": false,
      "is_team_folder": false,
      "name": "Test1",
      "policy": {
        "acl_update_policy": {
          ".tag": "editors"
        },
        "shared_link_policy": {
          ".tag": "anyone"
        },
        "viewer_info_policy": {
          ".tag": "enabled"
        }
      },
      "preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/qbr0oeqz8arcgti2vr6h0/h?dl=0",
      "shared_folder_id": "2302118193", //\\<=== Take a look here!!!
      "time_invited": "2021-12-06T13:29:10Z",
      "access_inheritance": {
        ".tag": "inherit"
      }
    },

Use those, listed by you, associated to the folders you want to unshare. Get in following page. Again press the "Get token" button, to be able do something. Next put in field "shared_folder_id" that id associated to someone of the folders you want to unshare (I put there 2302118193). Press "Submit call" too. The call result will come back immediately, but actual unshare may take some time (sometimes like a minute)! I'm saying this just to avoid confusion. You don't need to wait unshare be finalized. Just put next shared folder ID (for the next folder you want to unshare) and press "Submit call" again. Repeat the same for all folders you want to unshare. At the end, wait for a minute and check what's the state (call again shared folder listing). Are there now only folders you really want shared? 😉 Does the error message, topic of this discussion, appear again?

Hope this can help.

Thanks! Using the API to unshare all of the folders except the one I wanted to share to additional users eliminated the error message I reported in my OP.

However, when I try to share that folder using "Share with Dropbox":

Dropbox only offers to share a link:

which is not what I want: I want the recipient to have to be *logged in* to Dropbox in order to access the contents. I do not want a link floating around which empowers anyone having it to view (or worse) edit the folder contents.

What is weirder: after I canceled out of the above-described attempt to share this folder, subsequent attempts to share it produce the error message:

"There was a problem completing this request."

Must I also use the API to share this folder?

P.S. Just out of curiosity, I reran "list_folders", with the result that all 12 of the previously listed folders still showed up with a "shared_folder_id":

The "unshare_folder" calls had yielded the following responses:

How long should these jobs take to finish?

---

IMCZug wrote:

Thanks! Using the API to unshare all of the folders except the one I wanted to share to additional users eliminated the error message I reported in my OP. ...

---

 Hi IMCZug,

I see you was posting something, but seems Dropbox spam filter catches it for some reason (don't ask me why). Some Dropboxer can restore it. I can see it partially. 🙂 I'm glad, you have successfully resolved your initial issue.

---

IMCZug wrote:

...

However, when I try to share that folder using "Share with Dropbox":

Dropbox only offers to share a link:

...

---

I only can imagine what you are seeing here, but sharing a folder to some party or using a link is performed in the same UI place. 🤦 Really confusing!!! Try don't to fall in such a confusion. 😉 Read fields labels a bit more carefully.

---

IMCZug wrote:

...

which is not what I want: I want the recipient to have to be *logged in* to Dropbox in order to access the contents. I do not want a link floating around which empowers anyone having it to view (or worse) edit the folder contents.

...

---

Just to note that a shared link is read only and nobody can change something using only the link. So, relax.

Good luck.

I can't see my last post at all, even though it was visible yesterday right after I posted it!  It was quite extensive, so I hope that an admin or moderator will restore it!

To cut it down to the essentials, I am not sure that the unsharing worked.  The API function "list_folders" still shows all 12 of the original shared folders with "shared_folder_id"s:

 When I submitted the "unshare" commands, I got a series of responses like this:

{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:<very long alphanumeric string>"
}

How can I check the status of these jobs?

In my last post, I tried to include a screenshot of what I saw when I tried to share my top-level folder with an additional user.  I am trying again here:

Thanks again for your help!

---

IMCZug wrote:

I can't see my last post at all, even though it was visible yesterday right after I posted it!

---

It was caught by the spam filters, along with your latest reply. I've restored both.

---

IMCZug wrote:

...

To cut it down to the essentials, I am not sure that the unsharing worked.  The API function "list_folders" still shows all 12 of the original shared folders with "shared_folder_id"s:

Spoiler

{
"entries": [
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "Videos",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8480728224",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:43Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "no_inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2020-12",
"name": "2020-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8744282768",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-12",
"name": "2019-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6714309536",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-08",
"name": "2019-08",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6012413712",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:35Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-08-23 bbq",
"name": "2020-08-23 BBQ",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8008777792",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:29Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-01-25 burns night",
"name": "2020-01-25 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6877718960",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:28Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-02-07 agm",
"name": "2019-02-07 AGM",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4839369360",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:27Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-01-26 burns night",
"name": "2019-01-26 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4657492992",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2022-01-29 burns night",
"name": "2022-01-29 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2200238849",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder",
"name": "IMCZ Team Folder",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:24:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2018 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2135622464",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2017 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1436938714",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"parent_shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"name": "Gottardino",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1344501040",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
}
]
}

 When I submitted the "unshare" commands, I got a series of responses like this:

{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:<very long alphanumeric string>"
}

How can I check the status of these jobs?

...

---

Hi IMCZug,

Actually shared folders now are 13, not 12 (you have shared or accepted sharing folder "Videos" in addition). As I said unshareing usually delays in time and is performed as a async job. Every such a job identifies with corresponding "async_job_id", which let you trace what's going on. Such tracing can be performed using check status. Take a look what's the real reason to fail the operation. If I have to bet, you are not the owner of the folders. Only folder owner can unshare it. If you're not the owner relinquishing is an option. Perform such an action from here. If needed make sure you have a copy - select "true" as "leave_a_copy"! Relinquished folders are lost by default.

---

IMCZug wrote:

...

In my last post, I tried to include a screenshot of what I saw when I tried to share my top-level folder with an additional user.  I am trying again here:

---

As you don't want shared link, just avoid using "Create and copy link". Fill the field above with the emails of account(s) you want to share to and press "Share folder" button. No very "smart" (as I said before), but it's so.

Hope this clarifies matter.

---

Здравко wrote:
Actually shared folders now are 13, not 12 (you have shared or accepted sharing folder "Videos" in addition). As I said unshareing usually delays in time and is performed as a async job. Every such a job identifies with corresponding "async_job_id", which let you trace what's going on. Such tracing can be performed using check status. Take a look what's the real reason to fail the operation. If I have to bet, you are not the owner of the folders. Only folder owner can unshare it. If you're not the owner relinquishing is an option. Perform such an action from here. If needed make sure you have a copy - select "true" as "leave_a_copy"! Relinquished folders are lost by default.

1. I have no idea where "Videos" comes from.  I cannot see it in the Dropbox UI.
2. I am pretty sure I am the owner of all files and folders.  IAC, I am the owner of the parent, top-level folder.  I cannot check the others, because I am getting the message, "There was a problem completing this request." whenever I try to access sharing on any element (file or folder) in the UI.  I am surprised that list_folders didn't list the owner.  Is there some other way to check ownership through the API?
3. When I try to "check_share_job_status" on any of the jobs listed to the response to my "unshare" requests, I get
   

   invalid_async_job_id

    wrote:As you don't want shared link, just avoid using "Create and copy link". Fill the field above with the emails of account(s) you want to share to and press "Share folder" button. No very "smart" (as I said before), but it's so.

   Hope this clarifies matter

   ---

   Thanks for the tip! I'll try it, once I get the folder sharing cleaned up.

    

   P.S. How to you get separate quoted sections with your responses in between?  I haven't been able to do so.  I would be happy to directly edit the HTML, but haven's found a way to.

    

1. I have no idea where "Videos" comes from.  I cannot see it in the Dropbox UI.

...

Hi IMCZug,

If you are looking for "Videos" folder in your directory tree you will not see it since not mounted. Otherwise you should be able see it in the shared folder list.

1. ...
2. I am pretty sure I am the owner of all files and folders.  IAC, I am the owner of the parent, top-level folder.  I cannot check the others, because I am getting the message, "There was a problem completing this request." whenever I try to access sharing on any element (file or folder) in the UI.  I am surprised that list_folders didn't list the owner.  Is there some other way to check ownership through the API?
3. ...

The easiest way to check owner, editor, or viewer is taking a look in"Who can access" (on top of share folder panel - take a look on your post before). Every account there should be labeled accordingly. At most one of them can be "owner"! Generally, owner might be missing, meaning that the owner has left (relinquished) the folder without to transferred ownership to another account in advance. Of course, there is a way to do the same through the API. 🙂 Just list shared folder members for the same result.

1. ...
2. ...
3. When I try to "check_share_job_status" on any of the jobs listed to the response to my "unshare" requests, I get
   

   invalid_async_job_id

    ...

Are you certain entire job id is copied (everything within the quotes) and not passed too much time? 🤔

...

P.S. How to you get separate quoted sections with your responses in between?  I haven't been able to do so.  I would be happy to directly edit the HTML, but haven's found a way to.

 Just quote whatever you want on desired places. 🤷 Nothing more. That's exactly what I'm doing. About editing in HTML, it's possible in your browser' editor tool, but take in mind that not all tags (and not all other entries) are allowed in posts. Before press "Post", check in "PREVIEW"! (just to be sure that everything got accepted) 😉