Local links

Problem

In our Dropbox Business account, we often need to share links to files or folders with colleagues who already have access and have Dropbox installed.

Currently:

• When we use the “Share” feature, the link opens in the browser.
• This is inefficient when the user just needs to open the local file/folder, especially for deeply nested folders.
• Or worse, the person sends the file as an email, and now we have multiple versions and confusion about which is the "source of truth".

Workaround: We have to manually send them the file path (e.g., /Users/bob/Dropbox/ProjectX/Report.docx), which:

• Requires the recipient to hunt it down in Finder/Explorer.
• Is error-prone due to path differences, renames, or accidental typos.
• Offers a worse user experience than comparable tools like Google Drive File Stream, which can open the file directly via a smart link from the web.

Proposed Solution

Introduce a new link format — .dropboxlink files — that can be double-clicked or opened to launch the Dropbox desktop app, which then opens the file or folder locally.

How it might work:

• The link includes a Dropbox-relative path (e.g., /ProjectX/Report.docx).
• When opened, the Dropbox app:
  • Resolves the correct local file path on that device.
  • Brings the file into sync if it’s online-only (with options if needed).
  • Opens the file in its native app or highlights it in Finder/Explorer.

Key Benefits

• Faster collaboration: Opens files/folders locally with one click.
• Less error-prone than copying/pasting paths.
• Easier onboarding: Helps users avoid learning about aliases, sync paths, or browser UX differences.
• Reusable: These .dropboxlink files could be stored on desktops, added to docs, or included in readme files for onboarding.

Design Considerations

• Security: Only opens if user has access.
• Device-aware: Dropbox app already tracks where the folder is located per device.
• Fallbacks:
  • If the file is no longer available, provide a browser fallback or a “Request Access” flow.
  • If offline or not synced, offer user-friendly prompts (e.g. “Make available offline”).