Static URL

It would be extremely helpful if Dropbox URLs for shared files could be static, even when you overwrite the file. Having the URL change each time I save over an audio file makes Dropbox a poor option for using links within Radio Spider.

Find more posts tagged with

New

Status: New

Comments

Neal

Hi @averydav,

Thanks for sharing this idea! Can you just confirm a few things with me?

For normal Dropbox shared links, overwriting or updating a file should not create a new shared link. Shared links are generally stable for the file unless the link is deleted/disabled and recreated.

Do you use the file’s actual shared link (via Share / Copy link), and not the browser URL?

If you're still seeing the link change on overwrite, let me know!

Rich

averydav wrote:
Having the URL change each time I save over an audio file ...

As Neal mentioned, if a file is actually overwritten the link will not change. The problem you're seeing is likely due to how the save is taking place.

Some applications don't overwrite the existing file in place. Instead, they'll first delete the existing file and then save the new version in its place. If Dropbox picks up on that deletion quick enough, then it could appear as a deletion of one file and creation of another file, in which case the URL will change.

To prevent this, try pausing sync or exiting the Dropbox application prior to saving the file, then resuming sync or restarting the application after you're done working with the file.

Neal

Thanks for the assist @Rich!

Any more details you can share @averydav would be great!

Please note that we are working on an update to the Community and will be available read-only from Monday, March 30 to Wednesday, April 8.

dan_mt

I had a similar issue with links breaking every time I replaced a file in Dropbox. It's a real headache when you share a guide or a demo and then have to resend a new URL just because of a small update.

I actually moved away from using static files for this reason. I found that interactive tools handle this better because the URL stays the same even if you swap out a single screenshot or a step. It's much easier than fighting with Dropbox shared links. Are you looking for this specifically for docs, or just for general file sharing?