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Forum Discussion
Pysio13
2 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Shared Link / "scl" to "s"
Hello. My question concerns my recent issue with file sharing. Usually, my links were generated in this way: 'https://www.dropbox.com/s/'. However, lately, every file is being generated in this way: ...
- 2 years agoThank you BenDBX for splitting off a new thread specific to the 3rd party integrations issue, and especially for doing it in a way that migrates all the relevant posts to date! To properly wrap up this thread, below is a summary.
Why the new "/scl" link format?Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on the content being shared rather than on the user doing the sharing. This new content-based link architecture is already in place for edit access links to folders and newly created links to files, and can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL. (They also begin with "/scl" instead of the previous architecture's "/s".) It is the rlkey parameter which grants access to the content. That is why removing that parameter results in visitors having to sign in and request access. I talk more about this transition in this forum thread.Over the next few months, we’ll round out the shared link portfolio by bringing this new architecture to newly created view-only access folder links, or view folder links for short.Direct Download on new link architecture is Solved
Regarding this thread on “direct / forced” download not working on new links, this should be solved since a fix was implemented 2 weeks ago. That is, all new links should now function the same as legacy links for these purposes. This can be accomplished in two ways.- modifying the dl parameter in the URL
- modifying using dl.dropbox.com or dl.dropboxusercontent.com.
👉 In both cases you must retain the rlkey parameter for the URL to grant your recipients permission rights to access your file.
What is the DL parameter?
Anything following the ? in a URL are query parameters. It’s worth reemphasizing that dl parameter in new links did not break and will continue to function identically to those in legacy links. Manually changing the dl parameter does the following:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
- Default link. This will render the content in the Dropbox file viewer.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=1
- Downloads the content of the link (if the user has access to the content based on link settings). This query parameter takes precedence even if raw=1 is also added.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&raw=1
- Directly renders the content in the browser (if the link has a public audience and no other restrictions). Note that this link has an HTTP 302 redirect, so the application or browser must be able to follow the redirect.
What are the dl.dropbox... modifications?
These are link transformations from the early days of Dropbox. While we don't "officially" list these anymore in our Help Center, we are continuing to support them for now.https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0- Replacing www with dl works exactly like a ?raw=1 link: this will directly render content for public links in the browser. It requires following an HTTP 302 redirect.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0- Works like a ?raw=1 link, but the application or browser will not need to follow an HTTP 302 redirect to access the content.
Jay
Dropbox Staff
If you created a normal shared link, then there shouldn't be a login request, since the links should be visible to anyone with the URL. Is this a view-only shared link?
Are you part of a Dropbox Business team, which could've changed the permissions on shared links?
Could you clarify exactly how you created the link, and which steps you follow?
JasonSilverDBX
2 years agoDropbox Product Manager
Thank you BenDBX for splitting off a new thread specific to the 3rd party integrations issue, and especially for doing it in a way that migrates all the relevant posts to date! To properly wrap up this thread, below is a summary.
Why the new "/scl" link format?
Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on the content being shared rather than on the user doing the sharing. This new content-based link architecture is already in place for edit access links to folders and newly created links to files, and can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL. (They also begin with "/scl" instead of the previous architecture's "/s".) It is the rlkey parameter which grants access to the content. That is why removing that parameter results in visitors having to sign in and request access. I talk more about this transition in this forum thread.
Over the next few months, we’ll round out the shared link portfolio by bringing this new architecture to newly created view-only access folder links, or view folder links for short.
Direct Download on new link architecture is Solved
Regarding this thread on “direct / forced” download not working on new links, this should be solved since a fix was implemented 2 weeks ago. That is, all new links should now function the same as legacy links for these purposes. This can be accomplished in two ways.
- modifying the dl parameter in the URL
- modifying using dl.dropbox.com or dl.dropboxusercontent.com.
👉 In both cases you must retain the rlkey parameter for the URL to grant your recipients permission rights to access your file.
What is the DL parameter?
Anything following the ? in a URL are query parameters. It’s worth reemphasizing that dl parameter in new links did not break and will continue to function identically to those in legacy links. Manually changing the dl parameter does the following:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
- Default link. This will render the content in the Dropbox file viewer.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=1
- Downloads the content of the link (if the user has access to the content based on link settings). This query parameter takes precedence even if raw=1 is also added.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&raw=1
- Directly renders the content in the browser (if the link has a public audience and no other restrictions). Note that this link has an HTTP 302 redirect, so the application or browser must be able to follow the redirect.
What are the dl.dropbox... modifications?
These are link transformations from the early days of Dropbox. While we don't "officially" list these anymore in our Help Center, we are continuing to support them for now.
https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
- Replacing www with dl works exactly like a ?raw=1 link: this will directly render content for public links in the browser. It requires following an HTTP 302 redirect.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
- Works like a ?raw=1 link, but the application or browser will not need to follow an HTTP 302 redirect to access the content.
- dianetran2 years agoExplorer | Level 4
delete
- Elchtest2 years agoNew member | Level 2
In Virtual Reality standalone devices, where we don't have easy copy'n'paste, it was critical that downloads could happen by just using the Dropbox ID/token from the old URLs in tools that supported it (e.g. use chkqhymog6ev02d and the tools build https://dropbox.com/s/ and the dl=1 around it). Now not only the first token is longer (6 chars more in my example), but we have to type in the endlessly long rlkey through the VR keyboard with a laser. That does not make it viable anymore using Dropbox links unless an URL shortener is used.
Please change it back to the old system which was working so well. It is not clear why this was changed at all.
- Aion2 years agoExplorer | Level 3
This really isn't a good enough alternative. The new format breaks a lot of situations, such as media embedding in an application such as Discord. There really should be another API to generate a direct-access URL. Why you think it's okay to completely upend current workflows and not care about certain use-cases is beyond me. I'm looking into alternate storage solutions to take my business elsewhere in the meantime, unless this gets resolved, and I'm sure others are too.
- bri4n570rm2 years agoNew member | Level 2
Hello!
I still have problems with correct displaying of the images in Mozilla Hubs, here are the steps I took https://github.com/mozilla/Spoke/issues/1286
Thanks.
- Hannah2 years agoDropbox Staff
Hey bri4n570rm, unfortunately, for security reasons, we cannot access the link you're providing.
If you'd like to send us screenshots with the steps you're following, please attach them directly to your reply, by clicking the camera icon above the reply box.
Thanks!
- fivetran-sinchanahegde2 years agoExplorer | Level 3
I'm currently facing issue with Dropbox share link for a CSV file. The link format is like this: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xyz/test.csv?rlkey=qwerty&dl=0. When I attempt to change dl=0 to dl=1 to force a download, it doesn't work. Additionally, using https://dl.dropbox.com to access the file directly is also unsuccessful.( getting this exception com.dropbox.core.v2.sharing.GetSharedLinkFileErrorException: Exception in 2/sharing/get_shared_link_file: SHARED_LINK_NOT_FOUND)
However, I found that if I replace rlkey=qwerty&dl=0 with just dl=1, it works as expected.
While we plan to handle this issue when files with such links come up, we are also looking for a permanent solution. How can we ensure that similar cases are handled correctly in the future?
- dessa22 years agoNew member | Level 2
Signed Mac installer PKG type.
Share as View only to anyone now requires user to sign up or login to Dropbox.
No starter.
- toyheart2 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Hi, if I want to add timestamp to new sharelink format, what can I do? When sharing video or audio, want people to watch or listen start from specific timestamp, not from beginning. Before I just add #t=12:30 to the end of sharelink, then the video/audio will start from 12:30, but now it seems not working.
- Hannah2 years agoDropbox Staff
Hey toyheart, thanks for your nudge here.
We appreciate your feedback and while it's currently not possible to do this, a workaround could be to add a comment on the specific part of the video that will include the timestamp.
Here are the steps on how to do this.
I hope this helps!
- toyheart2 years agoHelpful | Level 6
You said 'currently not possible', does this mean it will be possible in the future?
Also I like to add video/audio files to my notes with timestamp too. So should I keep making notes like this? adding a timestamp '#t=12:30' to the end of share link, as you will bring this feature back sometime in the future.
- balmukund00710 months agoNew member | Level 2
Dear Jason,
I have created one IPA file using XCode. This IPA file is enterprise IPA file.
I have upload the ipa file into drop box and below URL is-
Above ipa url link uploaded in plist file to download the ipa i iphone device.
Plist url link below are using for downloading-
Below link are also i have tried for downloading-
1. https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi with raw=1
2. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi with raw=1
I have tried all the possible thing as per your answer, but still i am not able to download the IPA file into iPhone device using manifest.plist link.
Tell me what i have to do.
kindly help me out
Thanks,
Bal Mukund Kumar
- Hannah9 months agoDropbox Staff
Hey balmukund007, thanks for your contribution to this thread.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi should work if you have a valid public link; does the link itself preview on a browser without an issue?
And can you also send us a screenshot of the link settings (click the share option next to the file on dropbox.com and then on the gear icon)?
- JNLin6 months agoExplorer | Level 4
Hello @balmukund007
I have the same question. Have you solved this problem? If so, how to modify the URL on your side?
Thanks for response.
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