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Help - need to share files privately - group members want to be anonymous

How can I share a document with a group of people and not have each member of the group see the other members? I have a very large file I need comments on - but my group members do not want to share their email addresses with others so they prefer to remain anonymous to the group.

As it is a very large file and I have 20 members, I prefer not to set up 20 separate shared folders and use up that much space if I don't have to. Also, I cannot send a link as that link can be shared with people outside of the group I want the document to be shared with. So that is not an option. Is there anything I can do?

Can I assign each member with a unique name only I will be able to identify? will everyone in the group see everyone else's email address?

Lastly - I am on DB Pro - I do not see when a member of a group looks at a file unless they comment or edit the file. Shouldn't I be able to see each time they view the file?

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Rich

I want to clarify something...

The suggestion I made did NOT involve a share link to the file (though share links are discussed on the same help article that I referenced). When you select a file and click share you now have two options; creating a link or inviting someone to the file. I am referring to inviting someone to the file. This is done in a way that is similar to a shared folder. An invitation to view the file is sent to the person and only that person can see it.

310EI

@ioa wrote:
How can I do this so the people I invite cannot download the document, they can only view the document and comment on it? Thank you again for your help!

Hello, ioa...

Unfortunately you cannot prevent people from downloading files (view this Forum post).

However, you could consider protecting your sensitive documents to be read-only by assigning a password to prevent modifications. It's not a perfect solution but it can be effective (view search).

RELATED ARTICLE:

How to Create Read-Only Documents You Can Open without a Password in Word.

No worries... you're welcome for the help.

All comments

Rich

ioa wrote:
How can I share a document with a group of people and not have each member of the group see the other members?

Invite each person to the file (this is not a shared folder or a share link, it's a separate function for sharing a specific file with a specific person).

https://www.dropbox.com/help/167

Shouldn't I be able to see each time they view the file?

No. You can see when they make a change within a shared folder (add , move or change a file, etc.), but it does not track when someone eimply views a file.

Vicky

Hi,

Unfortunately these features are not available on Dropbox.

Furthermore, there's currently no way to see if a file has been viewed, or other usage statistics for files in Dropbox.

ioa

Thank you Rich

@Rich wrote:
@ioa wrote:
How can I share a document with a group of people and not have each member of the group see the other members?

Invite each person to the file (this is not a shared folder or a share link, it's a separate function for sharing a specific file with a specific person).

https://www.dropbox.com/help/167

Thank you for your fast reply Rich - as I understand it, all of the people I share the file with will be able to see the other people and that is what I am trying to avoid as they do not want to share their email addresses with others. Also, if I use this particular share function, are the people able to comment on the file. I do not want them to edit, but I would like them to comment if they have any. Thanks again!

310EI

@ioa wrote:
How can I share a document with a group of people and not have each member of the group see the other members? I have a very large file I need comments on - but my group members do not want to share their email addresses with others so they prefer to remain anonymous to the group.

Hello...

To test-drive what can actually be seen by each member, please fell free to leave a comment on one of the picture files located inside my example folder.

Afterwards, I'll leave a comment as well. You may be able to see each Dropbox member's account name who leaves a comment (eg: 310EI), but I don't think that you should be able to see my email address from within the comments section. We'll find out together.

ioa

Cool - I am on my way there now - Thank you!

310EI

@ioa wrote:
Cool - I am on my way there now - Thank you!

You're welcome.

310EI

@ioa wrote:
Cool - I am on my way there now - Thank you!

Hello, ioa...

Leave another comment please.

ioa

done - when I tried going back earlier it said I had to request access - but I left another comment as you requested. Thank you for this test!!!

310EI

@ioa wrote:
As it is a very large file and I have 20 members, I prefer not to set up 20 separate shared folders and use up that much space if I don't have to.

Hello...

In case you're interested to learn more about my preferred method to use Dropbox's sharing a LINK to a Folder/File, please refer to my old forum post to test-drive how sharing a link is viewed by your recipients.

In addition, it explains the differences between Dropbox's two sharing methods and offers a few other sharing tips.

310EI

@ioa wrote:
done - when I tried going back earlier it said I had to request access - but I left another comment as you requested. Thank you for this test!!!

Hello, ioa...

I left a response in the comment section explaining what happened. You're welcome for the test... no problem.

ioa

Just to clarify - and I asked the first part of this question on the comment as well. This was set up in the way Rich described by inviting a viewer to a specific file and not a shared folder? is it, With a shared folder the group will see email addresses, but this way they only see a name? also, comments are seen by everyone? and lastly, if you send a link to non dropbox members, in addition to the invite you send to members, are they included in the comment mix? and what do you see as their identifier? THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Rich

310EI

@Rich wrote:
I want to clarify something...

The suggestion I made did NOT involve a share link to the file (though share links are discussed on the same help article that I referenced). When you select a file and click share you now have two options; creating a link or inviting someone to the file. I am referring to inviting someone to the file. This is done in a way that is similar to a shared folder. An invitation to view the file is sent to the person and only that person can see it.

Understood... I corrected my previous post.

ioa

One last question -- if you do send a link to non dropbox members, besides the invite you send to actual members, are they included in the comment mix? and what do you see as their identifier?

THANK YOU RICH & 310El for all of the great info!!!!

310EI

@ioa wrote:
Just to clarify - and I asked the first part of this question on the comment as well. This was set up in the way Rich described by inviting a viewer to a specific file and not a shared folder? is it, With a shared folder the group will see email addresses, but this way they only see a name? also, comments are seen by everyone? and lastly, if you send a link to non dropbox members, in addition to the invite you send to members, are they included in the comment mix? and what do you see as their identifier? THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Hello, ioa...

As you can see in one of the posts above, Rich clarified his method.

My preferred method, which I use to show other forum members my example folder is to copy the link to that folder. It allows me to easily post that link in a public forum granting you access to; view, download or leave comments (you cannot edit or delete anything in that folder).

In addition, I don't usually use Dropbox's invitation system to share the copied link. I send the link to people with an email program (eg: Thunderbird) using Bcc where the email addresses are hidden. This way I have a record of who I sent the link to in my SENT folder for future reference.

I looked at my example folder in another browser (Firefox) where I'm not logged-in to my Dropbox account, I was able to view the comments. However, in order for people to post comments, they'll need a free basic Dropbox account.

The identifiers that we were able to see in the comments section was "ioa 1" and "310 EI" (whatever a member uses as their name located under the >Settings >Profile Tab when logged-in to Dropbox.com).

310EI

@ioa wrote:
Lastly - I am on DB Pro - I do not see when a member of a group looks at a file unless they comment or edit the file. Shouldn't I be able to see each time they view the file?

Hello...

You can read through my old forum post regarding using a URL shortening service that tracks how often your links are clicked (examples included).

It may not be what you had in mind but I figured it's worth a look just in case you're interested.

ioa

I'm Back...
Thank you for all of the help last week! I have a one more additional question - using the same parameters as I did before, (inviting a number of people with or without dropbox accounts to view and comment on a file - trying to keep each person's participation private from the others) - my new question is, How can I do this so the people I invite cannot download the document, they can only view the document and comment on it? Thank you again for your help!

310EI

@ioa wrote:
How can I do this so the people I invite cannot download the document, they can only view the document and comment on it? Thank you again for your help!

Hello, ioa...

Unfortunately you cannot prevent people from downloading files (view this Forum post).

RELATED ARTICLE:

How to Create Read-Only Documents You Can Open without a Password in Word.

No worries... you're welcome for the help.