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What is the difference between sharing a link or Dropbox Transfer?

What are the exact differences between choosing a folder and sharing the link of that folder to a person who doesnt have Dropbox, or using Dropbox Transfer to send that folder to the same person? Do not suggest me that that person should download Dropbox. He is not allowed to use it in his workplace since they use a different system. I have Dropbox Professional with University of Florida, I am employed there.

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Shared Links

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Megan

Hey @acanestrelli!

As Mark said, when you update any of the content saved inside a folder shared with the link, the changes will reflect for the recipient as well.

Keep in mind that with Dropbox Transfer, there's no way to edit the files selected. Also, Transfer allows you to share content that you might keep in your device, but that isn't necessarily inside your Dropbox account.

Shared links technically don't have a size limit as to what you can upload and share with the end user, while Transfer has.

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Megan

Hi @acanestrelli, I'd be happy to help!

Let's start with shared folders. Essentially when you add someone to your shared folder, you're sharing a copy of the content with the end user.

Someone should have a Dropbox account in order to become a member, and the available space to host the folder to their account.

With shared links, you can simply choose to send it to your colleague, and they wouldn't need a Dropbox account. The link doesn't take up space on their end if it has viewing rights, and you can also disable downloads for it.

Dropbox Transfer enables you to choose files from within Dropbox or on your computer to quickly and easily send to others for download.

Transfers automatically expire after a period of time and enable users to download all of the files with one click.

I hope this helps!

acanestrelli

Thank you but it doesnt answer my question: what are the exact differences between choosing a folder and sharing the link of that folder to a person who doesnt have Dropbox, or using Dropbox Transfer to send that folder to the same person?

Mark

Being honest, there isnt really much difference bar the UI.

Transfer downloads in to one Zip file quickly and easily regardless of how big it is. It is a snapshot of the data at the moment the link is created.

Links are live and update as you change things, but, its not as easy to download everything in one go AND people get confused sometimes over how they work.

acanestrelli

Seems like a big difference. If I send a link today, i change something tomorrow in the folders, and my colleague downloads them in one week, he gets the updated files with shared link, but the non updated data with the Transfer function right? This should be on the Transfer video tutorial, we need a video with better explanations

Mark

Dropbox transfer is designed, and explained, as just a grab of data at X point in time and shared. Its not a live living system like links are.

Megan

Hey @acanestrelli!

As Mark said, when you update any of the content saved inside a folder shared with the link, the changes will reflect for the recipient as well.

Shared links technically don't have a size limit as to what you can upload and share with the end user, while Transfer has.

yassism

First clue would be the name. You're TRANSFERRING the folder and it's contents to your recipient. When you are SHARING a link to your dropbox folder - you are giving the recipient access to it's contents whenever they choose to open it. LASTLY, you are being POLITE when you acknowledge the clear and patient guidance you received from multiple people six months ago on this topic.