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Richard F.27's avatar
Richard F.27
Explorer | Level 4
8 years ago

Dropbox Public Folder

I understand that the current sharing functionality of the Public folder will change on or about March 15, 2017; my question is: will the NAME of the Public folder change on or about March 15, or will it still be called Public?

  • It will still be called Public, however, all links within it will cease to work.
  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    It will still be called Public, however, all links within it will cease to work.
  • Southy's avatar
    Southy
    New member | Level 2

    Hi

     

    I currently use the Public folder a lot for putting information in there so all can see, I link people to it so they can read this information....

     

    I gather Public Folder is going off line as of Sept 2017....  What do I use instead?

     

    Regards

    Southy

  • FireMapper's avatar
    FireMapper
    New member | Level 2

    I work in Public Safety with many different agencies. I have used the public folder to share files without much input from the user. A QR code was issued during an incident and daily maps were placed in this folder for the user to retrieve. Will this function still exist?

    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
      No.

      Once the Public folder stops working (March for free users, September for paying) all links to it will fail.
      • Terry P.'s avatar
        Terry P.
        Collaborator | Level 10

        Shame on you, Dropbox, for letting down your loyal paying base of users in such cavalier fashion.

         

        Terry, UK

  • chradra's avatar
    chradra
    New member | Level 2

    I have problem. My public folder can not share to all people. Earth logo on folder disappear. I have to fix this?  // Thank you

      • anonymous's avatar
        anonymous
        Deprecated?? It's the thousands of users of forums and other internet sites that are deprecating Dropbox when they try to look at a diagram like this:

        https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/54783344/pertronix%20mod%20with%20switchgear%20bypass.jpg

        By the way:
        In general English usage, the infinitive "to deprecate" means "to express disapproval of (something)". It derives from the Latin verb deprecare, meaning "to ward off (a disaster) by prayer". In current usage, for one to state that a feature is deprecated is merely a recommendation against using it.
    • jigarme's avatar
      jigarme
      New member | Level 2
      This is a **bleep**ty situation, taken at the worst time Dropbox could. Thought of implications whoever made the decision? Onedrive suddenly got lot more business and they are probably still thinking why!
  • itztwin's avatar
    itztwin
    New member | Level 2

    Hi I just made this account and have a file of photos i want to make public. Ive heard free accounts cant do that anymore. I dont have the money to make a pro account so is there any other way i can make it public. i dont want to have to send these photos to the 100+ people that want to see these photos. please help. thanks!

  • grainnelando's avatar
    grainnelando
    New member | Level 2

    I want to make a folder public and apparently have to drag it to the Public folder in order  to do this. However, I can't see the Public folder. Where is it? I'm a Drobox Plus user so should still have the Public folder. Thanks

     

  • bluseycat's avatar
    bluseycat
    New member | Level 2

    I don't understand exactly what's happening on September 1 when the Public Folder ends.  I understand that material in the folder will stay there, but how will I access afterwards and how will people I have shared with access the materials?  Will I have to redo all the sharing links in my dropbox?  I've shared a lot of stuff with people by creating individual folders for each of them.  How do I continue those collaborations?  New links emailed for every file and folder or is there some other way?  I am so confused.  I pay for a 2T account (I think).  Thank you.

  • billmoree's avatar
    billmoree
    New member | Level 2

    I love Dropbox and it is critical to my business.

     

    But you keep writing "Share Link, which replaced the Public folder functionality in 2012 (with emphasis)."

     

    Maybe it "replaced" Public Folders in your mind, but if people aren't using "Shared Links" (whatever that is) and we've been using Public folders this whole time, then they haven't really replaced anything, have they?

     

    If you could explain WHY you are removing Public folders, maybe I can get my head around this.

     

    I have been a Pro/Premium user (with Ratpack) since 2011, and Public folders is the only Dropbox function that I use. THAT is what Dropbox is, in my mind.


    I think that you may have gotten out ahead of your customers here, and haven't communicated what and why you are doing this.

     

    • zmtiger's avatar
      zmtiger
      Explorer | Level 3

      I am just another user, but I'll have a go at this.

       

      In the beginning you could not share folders with other users or non-users.  Only create links to individual files to share.  For me this was a big limitation.  As a work around a DropBox user could place many files in the Public folder.  The Public folder could be shared.  For me this was handy for sharing photos and videos to friends and family.  But I had a file system for my photos that was outside the Public Folder.  So I had two sets of data.

       

      Later the option was created to allow for the sharing (creating a link) to any folder in your DropBox.  For some users this solved things.  Others may not have noticed because they were using a workflow revolving around the Public Folder.

       

      I use the links to folders now.  But I do share an HTML text/markdown file with my client that uses the Shared Folder.  I am now on the hunt for a easy place to share this list.  I don't think that it will render the same using a DropBox shared link.

       

      Hopefully this will help explain the how.  We'll all have to wait for an official reason why this change is necessary.

  • hungxd2992's avatar
    hungxd2992
    Helpful | Level 6
    I know on September 1 that the public folder will be out of operation, but I have some very important links shared from the public directory, let me ask until September 1 the links in my public directory valid for everyone? Thanks.
  • emanuensis's avatar
    emanuensis
    New member | Level 2

    HUMBUG!
    i would guess this msg is a "no-reply" because they did not want to get an earful.

    They took away HTML interpretation, then they took away the PUBLIC folder, now they are removing permanence. Is there ANY utility left, in the ?service?

    --

    "from Dropbox <no-reply@dropbox.com>

    Hi...

    Welcome back to Dropbox! We're emailing to let you know that your account under ... is safe and marked as active...

    Happy syncing!
    - The Dropbox Team"