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Re: Direct download using ?dl=1 returns html page

Direct download using ?dl=1 returns html page

Arne517
New member | Level 2

Hi,

 

I'm downloading a folder from dropbox using `curl` with the public share url, and the `dl=1` query parameter.

This used to work perfectly until this morning, when it started returning a html page instead. Is this change intentional, and if so, what would be the recommended way to directly download files then?

 

Thanks in advance

23 Replies 23

JonnyO
Explorer | Level 3

Sorry! Was forced to work around the problem that was happening to one specific file called "gdpr-logic.js". Tried recreating the link about 10 times without success.

My workaround after two hours of trying different things became:
1. Create a file (test.txt) and test dl=1 on that. Success on third attempt!
2. Copy the content of the failing js-file to test.txt. New link. Still worked.

3. Rename to test.js. Still worked.

4. Delete the failing gdpr-logic.js

5. Rename test.js to gdpr-logic.js. Still works!

 

Sorry! Hope my explanation can help you.

 

/Jonny

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff

@JonnyO Apologies, I'm afraid I don't quite follow. Is there something that still isn't working? If please let us know exactly how we can reproduce the issue so we can investigate. Thanks!

JonnyO
Explorer | Level 3
We can't reproduce the problem any longer. Our "workaround" from this morning above still works and if I try to create a new file and link now it works right away (haven't waited 30 minutes to see if it stops to work).
This morning we created a link for the file above. The link worked for about 30 minutes then we got noticed by a person that he couldn't get the file via the link. We tried and neither could we any longer!
That's when the workaround started... can't reproduce the problem any longer.

JonnyO
Explorer | Level 3

HELP!
Now I have one working link and one not working link.

Non working (gives the html downloading page): https://www.dropbox.com/s/87rw1j6ps309zms/gdpr-logic.js?dl=1
Working (direct downloading): https://www.dropbox.com/s/hl6tklzh159ca39/gdpr-logic.js?dl=1

What is going on?

/Jonny

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff

@JonnyO It looks like that first link was disabled. If you try it with dl=0, you get a 404 error page indicating the file is gone or the link was removed:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/87rw1j6ps309zms/gdpr-logic.js?dl=0

 

 

 

JonnyO
Explorer | Level 3
We had to remove the link and work around the problem (again) when we couldn't get it to work. Sorry! I'll post again if it happens and hope that it's in the afternoon when you guys are awake 🙂
Yesterday I even tried to recreate a link with no success. Today if I do the same test and recreate a link to it, the link works. Very strange!
/Jonny

KariP
New member | Level 2

Hi Greg,

there is still something wrong with the direct download links. If I open Jonny's link in Chrome or Firefox, it works as expected. The file is downloaded immediately.

However, if I open the link in Safari, then a HTML page opens up and it then redirects to the download. Is there a reason why Safari behaves differently from Chrome and Firefox?

Here's the link I tried: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hl6tklzh159ca39/gdpr-logic.js?dl=1

I can reproduce the same issue with other direct download links.

I'm testing with Safari Version 12.0.1 on Mac 10.14.1 Mojave.

PS. sorry if we are not supposed to hijack old threads..

 

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff

@KariP This difference is expected. Note that per the help article for this:

"The links may also redirect to *.dropbox.com/s/dl "

This is because different browsers have different support for some security features we use, so sometimes we need to fall back to that behavior instead.

jose2020
Explorer | Level 4

Hello, I'm having problems with downloads, the links are redirecting to the dropbox home page.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9kpj75omnjsruyd/BANDA%20AR-15%20-%20TREME%20TERRA%20TUPINAMB%C3%81.mp3?dl=...

Wikt0r
New member | Level 2

I can confirm. The dl parameter does not work. My example: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ow6ixn7ejqfambw/AACmMH1QK3Wiz5FcbXpi79Tra/Készletlista?dl=1

This redirects me to: https://www.dropbox.com/h

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