We're making changes to the Community, so you may have received some notifications - thanks for your patience and welcome back. Learn more here.

Forum Discussion

Pysio13's avatar
Pysio13
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago

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: ...
Previewing
Share
Shared Links
  • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
    JasonSilverDBX
    2 years ago
    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.  
    1. modifying the dl parameter in the URL
    2. 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's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

Currently, there isn't a method to create a specific type of shared link URL. The functionality of opening the link on the site should remain the same, however.

Ufodynasty's avatar
Ufodynasty
Helpful | Level 5
2 years ago

Just out of curiosity, you aren't by chance referring to pulsus when you talk about a game? I came across this thread when I ran into the exact same issue. I temporarily mitigated it by creating a new dropbox account and creating a new shared link, however, if this persists I think pulsus will have to change the way it handles song uploading. If its not pulsus, you can still create a direct download link to the file by changing the dl=0 in the sharing url to dl=1.
From other support ticket browsing, my understanding is that dropbox is trying to end support for dropboxusercontent in favor of url parameters. If this is the case I will be very sad because it will break my use case.

  • Stratoman's avatar
    Stratoman
    Helpful | Level 7
    2 years ago

    Hi,
    I am using the links on the Geocaching.com site.
    I have over 335 caches and most have photos from Dropbox as Geocaching.com does not support third party servers other than their own or Dropbox.
    I cannot now create a new cache page as the new /scL/ link no longer render.
    I always change dl=0 to raw=1 after copying it into the html page.
    Thankfully all the old links still work find as they have already been created.

    I will contact Geocaching.com as this must be a serious issue for many CO's

    Stratoman

    • aaronpanganiban21's avatar
      aaronpanganiban21
      Helpful | Level 7
      2 years ago
      I made a post about this same issue as well.
      It started after the integrated Dropbox thing on desktop for Mac didn’t upload a file properly, then as I was attempting to remove it via browser, it froze Finder and I had to restart my machine.

      Then since then “scl” has been popping up but also, when I hit “copy link” or “create link” on the browser side for Dropbox, it has the word “key” in the link.

      I know I’m supposed to just keep it to one forum post so that support can run through it properly (I think) but I’m really trying to figure out this thing.

      My web developer and I had zero issues literally few days prior.
  • Stratoman's avatar
    Stratoman
    Helpful | Level 7
    2 years ago

    Hi Ufodynasty,

    Thanks you for your reply.
    I changed dl=0 to dl=1 on the new link and it worked perfectly in Geoching.com

    Shame Dropbox didn't give notice of this change to save all this hassle.


    Many thanks
    Stratoman

About View, download, and export

Need support with viewing, downloading, and exporting files and folders from your Dropbox account? Find help from the Dropbox Community.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!