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Forum Discussion
Embeddable videos without the ability to download
Hi All, I am working with a Business account of dropbox with the ability to switch off downloads. We are an event company and so we integrate embeddable links into the back end of our event platf...
JakewVP wrote:
But when I turn off the ability to download in the file sharing settings (File > Share > Settings) the link ending in '?raw=1' doesn't work embedded into the event site or pasted into the browser.
That's likely working as intended.
A link with ?dl=0 will take you to the Dropbox website so the file can be previewed. This has the added bonus of Dropbox being able to remove the download functionality from the page, and since you're just getting a preview, downloading that (since there's no real way to block the download of what you can see in a browser) doesn't get you the original file.
Now with both ?dl=1 and ?raw=1, You're telling Dropbox that the web browser should handle the file, either by downloading it or streaming the raw data. The raw data is the original file, and streaming it is just another method of downloading it, which you've disabled.
I doubt that this is going to work as you intend it to.
Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHello there JakewVP, I hope you're having a good day!
Can you clarify for me, is the issue occurring just when you change the link ending and try open the link via the browser, or when you embed the link with the end changed?
Also, are you receiving a specific error? Could you send along a screenshot of this, if so?
Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Can you clarify for me, is the issue occurring just when you change the link ending and try open the link via the browser, or when you embed the link with the end changed?
Also, are you receiving a specific error? Could you send along a screenshot of this, if so?
Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Hi Daphne,
The sharing link works fine either as ?raw=1 or ?dl=0, if I pasted either into my browser they work. I can also successfully embed the link ending with '?raw=1' into the event site, but it has the undesirable option to allow viewers to download. But when I turn off the ability to download in the file sharing settings (File > Share > Settings) the link ending in '?raw=1' doesn't work embedded into the event site or pasted into the browser. In both instances, I get generic error 403. It does work if I revert to the original '?dl=0' link but then that link can't be embedded.
Many Thanks for all your help with this- Rich
Super User II
JakewVP wrote:
But when I turn off the ability to download in the file sharing settings (File > Share > Settings) the link ending in '?raw=1' doesn't work embedded into the event site or pasted into the browser.
That's likely working as intended.
A link with ?dl=0 will take you to the Dropbox website so the file can be previewed. This has the added bonus of Dropbox being able to remove the download functionality from the page, and since you're just getting a preview, downloading that (since there's no real way to block the download of what you can see in a browser) doesn't get you the original file.
Now with both ?dl=1 and ?raw=1, You're telling Dropbox that the web browser should handle the file, either by downloading it or streaming the raw data. The raw data is the original file, and streaming it is just another method of downloading it, which you've disabled.
I doubt that this is going to work as you intend it to.
Hi Rich,
Thanks for explaining that, makes sense. Unless we can find a service or player that might be able pull from dropbox and play the videos securely we may have to go back to Vimeo in the short term.
Really appreciate all your help,
Many thanks
