reconstitute file tree structure from list_folder recursive response

[BobHabig]

Hi,

I am using the list_folder endpoint with the recursive arg. I am looking for a way (in javascript) to take the results and create an object that is organized into the nested file tree structure one would see while interacting with Dropbox. I am not from a CS background and may be unaware of a good algorithm for this, but regardless, I would love some help if anyone could lend a hand.

here is an example of the recursive response (paths only): 

/l_one

/l_one/common

/l_one/common/2016

/l_one/common/2017

/l_one/common/2018

/l_one/common/2016/folder_one

/l_one/common/2016/folder_two

/l_one/common/2016/folder_three

/l_one/common/2016/folder_four

/l_one/common/2016/folder_five

/l_one/common/2017/folder_one

/l_one/common/2017/folder_two

/l_one/common/2017/folder_three

/l_one/common/2017/folder_four

/l_one/common/2017/folder_five

/l_one/common/2018/folder_one

/l_one/common/2018/folder_two

/l_one/common/2018/folder_three

/l_one/common/2018/folder_four

/l_one/common/2018/folder_five

/l_one/common/2016/folder_one/file_one.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_one/file_two.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_one/file_three.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_two/file_one.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_two/file_two.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_two/file_three.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_three/file_one.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_four/file_one.pdf

/l_one/common/2016/folder_four/file_two.pdf

same idea for pdf's in 2017 and 2018

of course what i want is  nested JS object:

fileTree = {
  l_one: {
    common: {
      2016: {

        folder_one: [*pdf's here*],

        folder_two: [*pdf's here*],
        ...
        ...
      },
      2017: {...},
      2018: {...}
    }   

  }

any help is greatly appreciated!

* I am not necessarily looking for Dropbox api endpoint tips - if there is a better way to use list_folder, I am interested, but I am mostly looking for a javascript specific way of building this object.

[Greg-DB]

As you mentioned, this is probably more of a question about handling data in JavaScript then about the Dropbox API itself. (It sounds like you have a good idea of how to use list_folder already. Make sure you do check has_more and call back to list_folder_continue if/as necessary though.)

I don't believe we have any sample code for building the tree like this unfortunately, but hopefully some other developer on the forum here has something they can share!

[BobHabig]

I do think we missed the opportunity to take advantage of the has_more / continue feature of the API. My current deadline for a demo is too close to try that, but that is likely the best overall way. With that, I can build the Object I'm looking for step by step instead of having this challenge in front of me. Thanks for the tip, and yes - hope someone else has some insight for how to go about this.