How to automatically overwrite files with the same name

[Charlie B-AU]

Hi team,

I used to use Dropbox to organise current files against old versions by continuously overwriting the original version when uploaded to Dropbox. 

So version 1 would be replaced by version 2, then version 3 etc etc as they had the same original file name. "Inventory Report" for example.

However, since coming back to Dropbox all these years later, this function seems to no longer work. Instead it will use the original file name and add a bracketed number afterwards. Thus creating multiple files:

Version 1 - Inventory Report

Version 2 - Inventory Report (1)

Version 3 - Inventory Report (2)

etc

etc

Is there a way to automate this process to overwrite the files? Either via the automated folder function or a setting in Dropbox.

Note: I've tried uploading on different browsers and direct through my PC's shared folder. No luck with either fix.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers!

[Hannah]

Hey @Charlie B-AU, welcome to our Community.

When adding a file through the desktop app to a location where another file with the same name exists, the above behavior is expected.

But if you do this using the Dropbox website, the new file should overwrite the old one.

I've just tested this out on my end and it works, so would you mind sending over a quick screen recording of your experience?

Or perhaps a series of screenshots showing the behavior you see on your end.

Thanks!

[Charlie B-AU]

Thanks for the welcome & speedy response Hannah!

Very sorry, I just realised I missed a key piece of information!

I am using an automated FTP feed to email the report through to the folder. The manual upload worked as I would like, with it overwriting the original file.

However, the automated email feed does not replicate this unfortunately.

Any idea?

Cheers,

Charlie

[Hannah]

Thanks for the update here, Charlie!

Would you mind giving us a bit more info on how you're doing this with an automated email feed? 

Are you using the Dropbox API?

Any additional info will be helpful.

[Nic35]

Hannah, 
I had the same question and was surprised to see this in the forum. I'm experiencing the same issue as the OP stated - so hopefully it will expedite a answer for both of us. When using the [Email to Dropbox] feature under settings where it takes the email attachments and places it in the "Email Attachments" folder - its not overwriting the name, instead its appending (1) and so on. Is it possible to overwrite the name automatically or an automation process we can add to have the same desired effect? 

[Jay · Accepted solution]

Hi @Nic35, the email to Dropbox feature wouldn't overwrite the existing files for security purposes. Only uploading files directly via the site, or overwriting files in the Dropbox folder would allow for files to be overwritten.

[Charlie B-AU]

Hi Hannah & Jay, 

Unfortunately not using the API, just the email to dropbox feed. Which as Jay mentioned won't work due to security reasons. 

Do we know if the ability to turn off this security feature will become available? Or the move to integrating with the API be the only fix here?

Cheers,

Charlie

[Jay]

Currently, we don't have information on if this would be changed in the future.

If you wish, you can suggest this change for others to vote on, so the dev team can look into this further.