Unique Share Links Between Users

[christineqian]

Hi! I have a question about share links to files and folders. Are share links to the same folder, generated by different users, unique? A coworker and I tried sharing links with each other and we noticed that sometimes links to the exact same folder would be different. Are links somehow tied to user? And if so, what happens if that user leaves the system? 

[Mark · Accepted solution]

They are tied to a user, yes. So if a user leaves the system (i.e. deletes account etc.) the links are also removed as well. 

[christineqian]

Thanks Mark! Is there any way to prepare a backup for if that happens? We have spreadsheets full of share links that I'm afraid might expire if whoever created them leaves. 

[Rich]

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@christineqian wrote:

Is there any way to prepare a backup for if that happens? We have spreadsheets full of share links that I'm afraid might expire if whoever created them leaves. 

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No, that's not possible. You can backup your files, but there's no way to backup or preserve the links to those files should the creator of the link cancel their account.

[jimssss]

I have encountered the same issue: one of our Dropbox team created a spreadsheet with many share links to files within our Team folders. When she left the company all the links are broken. Can anyone suggest a way to reference a collection of Dropbox files from different locations within our Team folder structure for use by Team members? Perhaps it could be done using a hyperlink within Excel starting at the top of the Dropbox directory. Has anyone had success creating robust references to files, ones that survive employee turnover?