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Forum Discussion
Shawn V.2
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Ipad and Iphone viewing of long file names
Our company is having the issue that on the mobile app (using the ipad or iphone) often times the file name is too long to properly view what we are opening. I want to be able to read the entire file name so I know what i am opening since many of the beginning and last parts of the file are exactly the same for filing purposes so I want to be able to view the file name without having to open each one in order to find out. I'm hoping I make sense. Is there something I'm missing where I'm able to do this? I can't "right click" on the file name cause I'm mobile otherwise I would try that 🙂
Well, bugger me, Dropbox has finally fixed this with the latest update. I thought to re-check this today after the latest change, and straight away could see the filenames are displayed differently. The font is smaller, and the filename is truncated in the middle, so I can read the start of the file name, but also the end which is (with my file-naming convention), typically the differentiator. But the kicker is what happens with the display pane. It is now possible to close that — there’s a small “x” in the top left corner of the display/preview pane — and once that closes, the left pane with the file names expands to full screen view! And voila! I can now see the full long file names. Dropbox: THAT is the way to take advantage of the larger screen on an iPad, especially the 12.9” model. I’m still annoyed it took so long to remedy, but thank you for finally doing it.
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- Grant C.19 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Total frustration at the time Dropbox has taken to fix the ridiculously short file names that show in IOS - iPad.
This is such an obvious and painful fact when you have more than a few files which have similar files with show shortened to the point of mostly unusable.
Searching in community a comment was posted in 2015 and a response was it would be sorted soon!
Recently cancelled my paid Dropbox account and switched to OneDrive which finally added offline folders in IOS a little slower than Dropbox and has a slightly longer truncated file name view.
I still think Dropbox is a superior product but when it comes to doing the right thing displaying filenames Dropbox rates and F!
Maybe it will all be fixed in IOS 11 with the coming file system but the glacial improvement of key features like ridiculously short file names in IOS must surely mean Dropbox is doomed against a nowdays faster learning Microsoft.
- Elucubrator9 years agoHelpful | Level 5
I'm constantly frustrated by the DropBox iOS app (and many other apps too, for that matter) because the file-name column on the left is not adjustable and hides long file names.
Even on an iPad Pro 12.9" screen, I can't see which specific file I'm after. I have thousands of files that are named using a date-name convention, and sometimes I'll have a great many files on one day. This screenshot is an example of what I mean. Can DropBox introduce adjustable columns, or at least offer several different options such as left-third, centre, and right-third?
- Bit9 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Now they added a "view by content" on the left menu... they could add a "view by long filename" to let the app extend the filename column all over the space on the right. Then, when one clicks on the file, it could go back to the left as it is showing the file on the right. They reached the moon, seems ridicoulus they can't simply turn a bolt. I'll never understand, seems they don't use the app by themselves ?
- mindat9 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Has this feature been discontinued? The list of files remain truncated and clicking the right hand menus only sort, they do not reveal the full names unless it gives you the download the file screen. When there are 376 sequentially named jpgs, this is more than cumbersome. I am using a desktop computer.
- KeithPublic9 years agoNew member | Level 2
Is it possible that this still has not been resolved? The feature has been asked for over the course of years from what I've seen (at least since 2015).
Dropbox is literally unusable on my iPad because we use long file names to keep track of progress on projects. All I need to be able to do is adjust the width of the left column so I can see the entire file and folder name.
This one simple feature is the only reason I have to still use my computer at work instead of my iPad.
- HB64539 years agoExplorer | Level 4
KeithPublic, you are correct. They have not addressed it. The short answer is they don't care. Most users use a computer. My guess is there is not enough benefit to spend the resources on this change. Odd considering they have 100s of millions in investor funds. Would seem like a several hundred to several thousand dollar feature to add. This is sad really. I've changed to several other data storage services SPECIFICALLY due to this issue. My ipad sat in my desk drawer for over 6 months before I decided to switch services. If they add this feature I'll come back, but DB is just a backup hard drive for me now.
- rmoe9 years agoHelpful | Level 6
There is a work-around in iOS 11.
Open DropBox.
Slide up to see dock. Pick any program on the dock and slide up to create a separate window and then enlarge that window to half screen.
Now you can see the whole file names.
Messy, but it works.
- heikkipekka9 years agoHelpful | Level 6WOW!!! Can't believe you have to do this kind of things, just to be able to see file names.
But I can confirm, this works. Thanks! - Steven B.319 years agoHelpful | Level 5
thanks...that sure is a weird one! With the recent integration of Dropbox into the iOS 11 Files app, things are groovy.
- mindat9 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Dropbox is going to lose market share if they invest their efforts in just one os. The rest feel ignored.
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