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Forum Discussion
Sharing read-only folder by link and allowing recipients to "join" the folder
Hi, As the title says, I want to share a folder with a link (I don't have email addresses for all the intended recipients) in such a way that recipients can join the folder, but not be able to ed...
Hi Tim,
I'm a content designer here at Dropbox. We're looking into the language in the product to see if we can make it more clear. I reproduced what I think your request was and here's how I did it.
From the folder you want to share, click "Share with Dropbox". In the modal, under the heading "Share this folder", you want the line to read "Anyone with this link can view". You may need to click settings to create a new link. Under the tab "Link for viewing" select "Anyone with link" then save.
When you send the link to people and someone opens it while logged in to their Dropbox account, they'll see a blue button to "Join folder." When they click on it, they will get a "Request to join this folder."
After they send it, you'll get a notification that they've asked to join the folder. When you click on that, it's going to return you to the share modal of your folder, but now their email address is pre-populated (the one they use for their Dropbox account).
Now make sure the line under "Share this folder" still reads "Anyone with this link can view." (If you have a different default in your settings, it may read something else.)I've confirmed that when I update the shared folder, my recipient can view but not edit. You can remove people from the folder at any time in the same share modal.
I hope that works for you! Let me know if it doesn't.
Angelique
Hi Hannah,
I think I've confirmed now that the answer to my query is "No, Dropbox can't do this.".
The problem with your suggested solution, is that some choir members want to just access the folder and files directly in their Dropbox, without using the link every time. This particularly includes using the app with respect to mobile devices, or in the file system on PCs. Why should these users have to go back to a web browser each time to get the up to date version? What if they don't have an internet connection when they're trying to access the files? In the app or the PC Window Explorer integration it's possible to ensure files are downloaded/updated as soon as changes happen. Surely that's one of the main points of dropbox, to keep everything in sync. Otherwise we might as well just use a website?
And if it's possible to make the default for "edit" links, "join this folder", surely it should be possible for "read-only" links? This is why it seems strange (to me) that it's not possible.
Thanks for the response, and for your kind offer to pass the request on to the team.
Tim
AngeliqueL
Dropbox Designer
Dropbox DesignerHi Tim,
I'm a content designer here at Dropbox. We're looking into the language in the product to see if we can make it more clear. I reproduced what I think your request was and here's how I did it.
From the folder you want to share, click "Share with Dropbox". In the modal, under the heading "Share this folder", you want the line to read "Anyone with this link can view". You may need to click settings to create a new link. Under the tab "Link for viewing" select "Anyone with link" then save.
When you send the link to people and someone opens it while logged in to their Dropbox account, they'll see a blue button to "Join folder." When they click on it, they will get a "Request to join this folder."
After they send it, you'll get a notification that they've asked to join the folder. When you click on that, it's going to return you to the share modal of your folder, but now their email address is pre-populated (the one they use for their Dropbox account).
Now make sure the line under "Share this folder" still reads "Anyone with this link can view." (If you have a different default in your settings, it may read something else.)
I've confirmed that when I update the shared folder, my recipient can view but not edit. You can remove people from the folder at any time in the same share modal.
I hope that works for you! Let me know if it doesn't.
Angelique
