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Forum Discussion
Please don't block me from generating a link for a file that hasn't finished uploading
A new "feature" has been implemented where if I drop a new file in a DB folder, and then go to click on "Copy Dropbox Link", it simply won't perform the task until the file has finished uploading.
Apparently this is to "prevent 404 errors". The "error" page that comes up when you clicked on a link before it had finished uploading was actually a "Uh Oh! File hasn't finished uploading yet". This to me isn't an "error" page and shouldn't be treated as such. It's clear and communicates exactly what it needs to and doesn't warrant a restriction in functionality for the rest of the users.
The solution you've silently implemented has caused a monstrous delay in my daily workflow.
I work in a fast paced environment, generating new content every hour and sharing it with dozens of people in my team. The fact that I can simply drop files and right-click and "copy link" and THEN carry on with the rest of my tasks while keeping an eye out for the spinning icon in the tray and THEN send the copied link to my recipients, means that I am FLOWING.
When I have to do that dozens of times per hour, if you block me from generating a link as soon as I drop it in the DB folder, you're forcing me to having to RETURN back to DB a second time in the process. You've added a whole extra step, and it's absolutely killed my flow.
Hi everyone. We recently discovered a bug that caused this to break. It is now fixed. If you continue to have trouble copying a link to a file that is uploading/syncing please let us know.
It will be especially helpful if you can also tell us:
* What version of Dropbox you're using: Dropbox Windows, Mac, or Web
* The steps you're using to copy the link (e.g. right click, then choose "Copy Dropbox Link" )
Please fix this issue it is very needlessly time consuming for many of us!
Same here. This is an absolute productivity killer for me. I'm often uploading large audio files and sending in an email to clients in countries that are still sleeping. Now I have to wait minutes/hours in order to send the e-mail. I can't go to bed, I can't move on to other projects, I have to sit and watch the upload now.
It WAS a BRILLIANT feature. The placeholder page was PERFECT. Make the client wait for the file to upload, NOT ME, DROPBOX'S CUSTOMER.
Why would they remove this feature? What goal does it accomplish? How does this make the product better?
Can't get a straight answer from ANYONE. The fact that they killed this feature is an absolute disgrace. And the absolute know-nothings in tech support are telling me I've made up the functionality and that it never existed. What a joke.
I want this feature back. There's seemingly no reason to get rid of it. To somehow save on the cost of showing a placeholder page?!? WHY?! YOU ARE LITERALLY RUINING TIME I COULD BE SPENDING WITH MY FAMILY.
This has been killing my workflow too, I've tried googling the issue many times before without finding this thread, now realising it's not just me who has this issue, I urge dropbox to please BRING IT BACK!
Please bring this feature back!! As a filmmaker sending files of the day and night it's absolutely key to not have to wait up for a file to finish uploading
Yes..this annoys me as well.. being able to generate a link while something is still being uploaded is absolutely necessary! You have my vote times 100!
In past versions of Dropbox, it has been possible to copy a file into a Dropbox folder and, while it is uploading, right click and create a share link to prepare for sharing the file. In the current version (v125.4.3474), I am unable to create a share link until the file has completed uploading. Is this a bug or a feature that has been altered?
They've apparently messed with it and it's ruining my business.
PLEASE REINSTATE THIS FEATURE DROPBOX. IT WASN'T HURTING ANYONE.
Yup, it's a new update they actually purposefully implemented. Not a mistake believe it or not.
Please share your thoughts and upvote here if you think this is a terrible idea: Please don't block me from generating a link for a file that hasn't finished uploading
What a bummer! This was one of the most handy things in Dropbox.
We need this back!
EDIT: Apologies, I read these posts out of order and saw terra1983 had recent success with Pre-Sync Copying. 131.4.3968 has returned the functionality for me, and there's no pause! This is great news. THANK YOU DROPBOX
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Yes - major thanks to terra1983 who is documenting (very cohesively) the exact frustrations I've had dealing with Dropbox support. The lowly chat support says that this functionality never existed, when I have full documentation I've laid out (including the "file is still uploading" screen) proving otherwise.
In July, Iliana - an Advanced Support Specialist - was the first person who was actually helpful and agreed that this was a broken feature. She documented the history and said:"The copy link was not discontinued -- this is definitely a bug. It was a feature that was discontinued years ago, but it was revived per customer request. The history I could find on this shows that links would be created while the file was being uploaded, but if the upload took more than 20-30 minutes, it would stop. Sorry for any miscommunication on the forum threads. We have spoke to the team that released that incorrect information about discontinuing.The engineers have done some work that should be fixing this issue, I just haven't confirmed which version the fix will be in. Tomorrow, the new desktop version 127 should go out. We will want to check if the fixes made the cut tonight/tomorrow. If it's not in v127, it should be in v128. I will check on it again around this time tomorrow. "She stuck with the ticket until it was ACTUALLY resolved and working again - albeit with the 15 second delay - in Version v127.4.4265 which I downloaded on 7/20/21.Since then, I guess about a week ago, I went to copy a link and never got the confirmation popup. This indicated to me that this functionality is, once again, broken. I am currently on v130.4.4978 and am still experiencing this issue.If Pre-Sync Copying starts working for someone, if they could please let me know which version they're on so I can attempt to update and reclaim my life - it would be VERY much appreciated.terra1983 I swear it worked instantly yesterday, though today I'm experiencing the 15 second delay.
Yes, Ilana was much more helpful and human than anyone I've encountered at dropbox.
I'm not super-sweating the 15 second delay, it's certainly much better than waiting hours for multi-gig files.
byHanko Agreed.
15 seconds is a lifetime when you're under a deadline and exchanging files with collaborators and clients. While you're waiting for those 15 seconds, you COULD jump back into your other software to carry on whatever else you're doing, but often you get distracted and end up forgetting to send the link. So I literally have to sit and wait. I never have to sit and wait for anything else in my workflow. Total killer.
Copy Dropbox link' feature is there, but now only copies the link once the file is uploaded to dropbox.
It's always been handy to have the link available immediately, but now i can't get the link until the upload has been completed. It's a huge time saver for me - I drag the large file to Dropbox, copy the link, paste it to an email or message, and move on to my next task. When it's finished uploading I hit send. Or, I send the link without the upload completed and send the email knowing it won't be read until the upload is completed
It's weird how much this is slowing me down!
Please restore this feature!
Thank you,
Jennifer (I pay for Dropbox)
