generate file preview link

[rajshree1996]

How can we generate a preview link for a file and use that link to display the file in our web app? can we also attach link expiry

[Greg-DB · Accepted solution]

There are a few different options that you may want to try:

• You can use /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings to create a shared link for any file, and set an expiration (if the account is on a Professional or Business plan). You can also modify these links for different behaviors. 
• You can use /2/files/get_temporary_link to get a direct temporary link to any file data, but the expiration is always set to four hours.

By the way, 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. 

[rajshree1996]

2 solution works.

when trying the first one I am getting the unauthorized error in API explorer when I add expires in settings.

{ "error_summary": "settings_error/not_authorized/", "error": { ".tag": "settings_error", "settings_error": { ".tag": "not_authorized" } } }

If I don'nt use settings object then it is giving me the expected response.

[Greg-DB]

The shared link expiration functionality is only available to Dropbox Professional and Business accounts. Attempting to set an expiration from other account types will fail like that.

[rajshree1996]

can't we generate the image preview for all file types?

It seems previews will be of the same type as file. pdf preview link will preview a pdf only.

[Greg-DB]

I'm not sure I follow your question. For reference:

• The /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings endpoint can be used to create a shared link for any type of file. The shared link page by default will show a preview of the file if possible. E.g., it can display a preview of the relevant text, image, PDF, etc., depending on the type of the linked file. If you modify the link for direct access, it will return the original file data.
• The /2/files/get_temporary_link endpoint returns a temporary link that will just return the original file data.
• The /2/files/get_preview endpoint will directly PDF or HTML preview data directly, as determined by the supported file types covered in the documentation.