From webapp, write file to local and then sync back on close?

[Timpan]

I am using a web-based project management app and trying to integrate DB folders with it.

Is there a way to do the following:

1. Access a folder from a browser.
2. On selecting a file, automatically save it locally so that I can work with it (say in InDesign).

3. When done, automatically sync back with Dropbox.

Thanks!

[Greg-DB]

Dropbox does offer an API you can use for listing, uploading, and downloading files, among other operations. You can find everything you need to get started with the Dropbox API, including documentation, tutorials, and SDKs here:

https://www.dropbox.com/developers

Specifically, to list the contents of a folder, you can use:

• https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-list_folder
• https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-list_folder-continue

To download a file, you can use:

• https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-download

And to upload a new version of a file, you can use:

• https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-upload

Those are links to the documentation for the HTTPS endpoints themselves, but we recommend using one of the official SDKs if possible:

https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation

Those have corresponding native methods for the HTTPS endpoints. 

Hope this helps! 

[Timpan]

Thanks, Greg!

Is there a way to get the local Dropbox file location for the user from the browser, so that we can automate the process?

[Greg-DB]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Can you elaborate?

The Dropbox API operates by having your app communicate directly with the Dropbox servers, not the user's local filesystem. What you do with the result, e.g., the data for a file you downloaded from Dropbox, is up to you. For instance, it sounds like you may want to download it to the user's local computer. Exactly how you do that would be more of a matter of general web programming, so I can't offer much help with that side of things.

[Timpan]

Thanks, Greg.

Actually, what I am trying to do is be able to access a file located on our Dropbox (say, Photoshop file) through a browser, be able to open it in photoshop, then when I save it, to have the edited version on the Dropbox server, so that then another team member can edit it.

I didn't think this was possible (although Google Drive does it through Chrome), but wanted to ask, in case there is a soution.

[Greg-DB · Accepted solution]

I see, thanks for clarifying. While you can certainly upload and download files from/to the Dropbox servers in a web app in the browser using the Dropbox API, you may not be able to accomplish the local filesystem write/read operations that you want automatically. That would depend on the local file capabilities of the browser, but I can't offer guidance on that.