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readymade's avatar
readymade
New member | Level 2
6 years ago

Download directly video file to dropbox

Hi, I would like to add url video file example http://www...com/video.mp4 to be directy downloaded to my dropbox. Because I don't want to be download to my PC and then to my dropbox. My internal ha...
Download
Space and storage
Lusil's avatar
Lusil
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
Thanks for getting back to me, readymade. 
 
At first, I wanted to clarify that the Dropbox folder in your File Explorer is part of the desktop app. 
 
As per your main concern though, there is one way that I can think of to save a URL to your Dropbox account without syncing it to your Dropbox folder on your computer, and that is with the help of selective sync. 
 
In other words, if you don’t have any space on your hard drive but you want to add content to your Dropbox, you can do the following:
  • Create a new folder in your Dropbox folder or from the website. 
  • Click on the Dropbox icon that’s next to your computer’s clock. 
  • Select your avatar that’s on the top right corner of the menu that appears. 
  • Click Preferences. 
  • Go to the Sync tab. 
  • Select Selective sync.
  • Find the folder that you just created and remove the tick mark that’s next to it.
Now, you can save a file in that selectively synced folder, keeping it in your Dropbox account but not syncing it to your computer, thus saving space on your hard drive. 
 
Additionally, since you mentioned that it’s a URL that you want to save, you can drag and drop the URL into the folder that you selectively synced. This way, you will have the URL available in your Dropbox account without syncing it locally on your device. 
 
I understand that this may not be the simplest list of workarounds, but I do hope it helps to some extent. 
readymade's avatar
readymade
New member | Level 2
6 years ago

Thanks a lot @Lusil

but I'm quite doubtfully, maybe because I did not understand your solution, maybe because you did not undertand my issue.

If I do not synchronise the folder and the files inside will not be visible in my laptop. 

And I do not want to save a link but the video. Insert the video url download (in a plug in?) and download directly to a dropbox without previusly be downloaded to my pc. 

My hard drive space is too short

  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    6 years ago
    Hey again readymade. 
     
    readymade wrote:

    If I do not synchronise the folder and the files inside will not be visible in my laptop. 

    If you choose to selectively sync a folder, then yes, the files inside it will not be visible on your laptop (saving space on your hard drive) but they will be available on your account through the website. 
     
    Since the Dropbox folder on your device is just like any other folder on your computer, the files inside it take up space on your hard drive. As such, if you download a video onto your computer (whether you place it into your Dropbox folder or not), it will take up space. 
     
    readymade wrote:

    And I do not want to save a link but the video. Insert the video url download (in a plug in?) and download directly to a dropbox without previusly be downloaded to my pc.

    I’m afraid there isn’t a way to do this.
     
    The indirect way or workaround to this would be to:
    • Temporarily download the video to your computer.
    • Upload it to your Dropbox through the website into a folder you’ve selectively synced on your device.
    • Once the video is saved in your Dropbox account, remove it from your computer. 
    Once again, I understand this isn’t ideal. Nonetheless, let me know if there’s anything else I can help with. 
  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    6 years ago

    Hi readymade,

    There was a small error in Lusil's explanation. In fact to work would be need You to use 'Smart Sync'! If 'Smart Sync' isn't active then You are right - file will be locally saved and without any sync. If 'Smart Sync' is active then files saved will engage minimal space (in fact buffering) and will be forwarded directly to the dropbox server in Your account.

    Hope this helps to some extent.

    • readymade's avatar
      readymade
      New member | Level 2
      6 years ago
      Здравко  a écrit :

      Hi readymade,

      There was a small error in Lusil's explanation. In fact to work would be need You to use 'Smart Sync'! If 'Smart Sync' isn't active then You are right - file will be locally saved and without any sync. If 'Smart Sync' is active then files saved will engage minimal space (in fact buffering) and will be forwarded directly to the dropbox server in Your account.

      Hope this helps to some extent.

      thanks to additionnal explanation. In fact, yes, it's the purpose of cloud to take much more space in the hard drive (buffering). But what is smart sync'

      Is there a way to save my video without taking space to my PC? 

      Website server (where there is the video) > Dropbox

      and not Website server (where there is the video) > PC > Dropbox



       

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