Re: I have an xml file which i share with my own smart TV app, but it doesn't work.

deco10

I have an xml file which i share to my own smart tv app. It has worked several years and suddenly today it doesn't work anymore. I did contact the support but they wanted me try here.. My question is, is it any problems with rendering? raw=1

It was gor some couple of years ago buy they fixed it. What's cha3from yesterday to today??...

lisadbx

https://dl.dropboxusercontent/scl/fi/<token.a>/filename.xml?rlkey=<token.b> should not have any redirects. Could you try it with "" around the URL, in case it's not handling some special characters

deco10

@lisadbx
That url is downloading the file...

Why can you not see what changes you made before this occurred? I have used raw=1 until this problem occurred..

tahjdbx

Could you try using the https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/RANDOM_STRING/FILENAME.xml?rlkey=RANDOM_STRING_for_rlkey&dl=0 format link but in the sharing settings setting it to public(if you're ok with this being a publicy shareable link). This should allow the page to render without prompting a log in.

Здравко

@tahjdbx, As seems you're totally out of topic. 🤷

The issue is not that some prompt that invites for authorization comes up! The complain is about fact that is needed a link without redirect and a way to avoid 'attachment' directive in the header - something that seems missing for no redirect links while available for redirect links only. I still don't understand why at all such thing would be need, but it's matter of different topic.

Dropbox decides alone what type of directive to set on non redirect link. While for an image, for instance, is a header like:

content-disposition: inline; filename=...

... but for XML file it looks like:

content-disposition: attachment; filename=...

... and there is no way this to be changed (as far as I know) for such types of links. That's it.

Maybe the solution would be both 'attachment' and 'inline' to be dropped completely from such types of links (only filename to stay) or parameters 'raw' and 'dl' to keep matter (not to be ignored, as they are now).

Hope this clarifies the matter of issue. 😉

deco10

I have put the xml in "the tv" instead to point to the Dropbox folder. I see that the logos, jpg, is showing fine and they are using the old structure and with raw=1..i have copied the jpg:s url and tried in webbrowser.. It's redirecting as the xml file but somehow jpeg is working.. Noticed this is the same "cd/0/inline" for both files but when redirecting. I don't understand why jpeg is working but not xml files

deco10

It works somehow now 😂.. I haven't done anything. And i use raw=1..its redirecting as before but now it works..

lukaszg

hi there,

Sorry for potentially noob question but Im trying to understand this issue better.

Im struggling to understand why some of my dropbox videos can be embedded on the page and other not. Im sharing the video, generating link, changing dl=0 to raw=1 and still 50% of the videos works like this and 50% does not. Links generated are completely different and Im sure it has something to do with that. they both work on dropbox, both open in browser when copy-paste generated code but one can be embedded on toy website and one not:

example of Link whihc is not working:

removed

help!

Здравко

Wow... @lukaszg, You just find out something very interesting and stupid - all new links are no more raw!!! Hope this is some confusion and bug that will be fixed soon! Otherwise - no more new embedded links. Hope this is not something intentional by Dropbox.

The reason of inability to embed is that, as seems, all new links don't point to raw content directly (or after redirection), but to a HTML content that on its own redirects. Most of the audio/video players (including browser embedded players) cannot recognize HTML content as something that can be played and they don't expect to be redirection inside (so just they skip it).

RIP for the media links if stay so. 😯😡

Again - let's hope this is just some confusion and stupid move.

lukaszg

wow bravo me 😛

but to be honest, I spoke to Dropbox team yesterday and they seemed to be completely unaware what's the issue.

The way I made it work (and this is also how I got to your response in a first place) is by copying dropbox share code into a new browser window and than using this new link to embed on the website. I would like to know if this new link, is this some sort of preview which will expire after some time or is this a reliable link (it works on the website now but I need it to stay there forever 😄 )

so dropbox gave me this:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5tnvka4fke1uqxkrhbist/aaa.mp4?rlkey=nf7i5v4lbpqdgneasq046bo0f&st=91v7...

I changed dl=0 to raw=1 opened it in browser which changes it to this :

https://ucbda9a5ff06a102bcc834670f77.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/cd/0/inline/CSTBCvlwUMuWVJRjMpaMmwSPi...

this link work as an embed on my page but I dont know for how long?

Здравко

@lukaszg wrote:
.... I would like to know if this new link, is this some sort of preview which will expire after some time ...

If it is not changed, such links have limited validity (typically 4 hours). 🤷 So better don't rely on for long time.

The only workaround for now is Dropbox Embedder usage instead of raw link:

Good luck... to all of us.

PS: Oh... I forgot to notice that:

@lukaszg wrote:
...
but to be honest, I spoke to Dropbox team yesterday and they seemed to be completely unaware what's the issue.
...

Would be strange they be aware of... it's rare they to know something...

As seems broken inter-department company communication. The "specialists" there are just PR staff. 😁 Usually they know that something changed when complains start raining.