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Ipad and Iphone viewing of long file names

Our company is having the issue that on the mobile app (using the ipad or iphone) often times the file name is too long to properly view what we are opening. I want to be able to read the entire file name so I know what i am opening since many of the beginning and last parts of the file are exactly the same for filing purposes so I want to be able to view the file name without having to open each one in order to find out. I'm hoping I make sense. Is there something I'm missing where I'm able to do this? I can't "right click" on the file name cause I'm mobile otherwise I would try that 🙂

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Elucubrator

Well, bugger me, Dropbox has finally fixed this with the latest update. I thought to re-check this today after the latest change, and straight away could see the filenames are displayed differently. The font is smaller, and the filename is truncated in the middle, so I can read the start of the file name, but also the end which is (with my file-naming convention), typically the differentiator. But the kicker is what happens with the display pane. It is now possible to close that — there’s a small “x” in the top left corner of the display/preview pane — and once that closes, the left pane with the file names expands to full screen view! And voila! I can now see the full long file names. Dropbox: THAT is the way to take advantage of the larger screen on an iPad, especially the 12.9” model. I’m still annoyed it took so long to remedy, but thank you for finally doing it.

All comments

Duke

That the iPad App is unable to clearly display even moderately long folder/file names renders it and Dropbox unusable. I am using a 12.9 iPad Pro, which has a good sized screen, but because Dropbox have chosen to squeeze the folder/file names viewer into a small portion of the left side of the app it is impossible to see what files are in the folders without individually clicking on each file to investigate. It is not possible to resize the folders/files viewer or display it in full screen.

Like many users I have many folders and files with long names - for my work they need to be named in this way. And not being able to quickly see the names of these files before opening them slows down my productivity considerably. I am a paying Dropbox user and now need to use it daily on an iPad. Unfortunately this App is not fit for purpose, and I am led to believe that Dropbox have no intention of fixing this issue. I will therefore have to move my business to another cloud service.

Ben C.19

Wow. I thought I was just being technology challenged with the long file name issue (by long file name... I don't mean long... just anything over, say, 12 characters).

This really is weird that it's not fixed.

I did have a look at that Readdle app mentioned, but looks like you need to download a bunch of things - generally I avoid that preferring to use online. Oh well. So much for trying to use my iPad for everything

lcsv

I found this thread after getting extremely aggravated trying to quickly find a Dropbox file on my iPad. After reading all of the comments and coming to the realization that there is no fix for this seemingly simple to fix problem (and it doesn't look like anyone at Dropbox cares), I found an app called 'File Manager' and it's free. It worked for displaying my full dropbox file names. Not sure it would work for a business but, for a personal user, it did the trick. It's sad that Dropbox is forcing us to go to third party applications instead of just fixing the problem.

jhsueh

I am unable to read the longer file names that I've uploaded onto Dropbox. Even when I turn my iPad to landscape format, it is still not able to read them completely. Is there a way to re-adjust that so it is possible?

Mark

No there isnt I'm afraid.

It is (annoyingly), however, a commonly requested feature.

lascafeteras

We are having the same issue some of you have been having for years. Dropbox what's the word?

Steven B.31

I think the short to medium term solution is the new Files app in iOS 11.

https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-11-preview/

(edit to add: As an immediate bandaid fix, I suggest Readdle's Documents app.)

heikkipekka

I can't see the full filename of a file
I can't see the full date of a file

What's going on? Who thought this is a good idea on iPad?

NO FULL FILENAME and NO FULL DATE ???

adecinque

I use Dropbox for work. I am a lawyer, and I store many files with somewhat long names. The filename include details like docket name, filing party, relief requested, date, etc. The names aren't crazy long, but they aren't short either. Example:

0023 1st Am. Complaint (Jan. 1, 2017).pdf

0024 Defendant Squiggle's Mot. to Dismiss (Jan. 10, 2017).pdf

0025 Plaintiff's Br. IOT Mot. to Dimsiss (Feb. 1, 2017).pdf

0026 Defendant's Mot. for Expedited Discovery (Feb. 10, 2017).pdf

0027 Plaintiff's Br. IOT Mot. for Expedited Discover (Feb. 20, 2017).pdf

The problem is that when I look at a folder of files on the iPad, the names are truncated. I see the first few characters of the name, then ..., then the last few characters. That is not enough information; all my filenames have similar beginnings and endings, so I see something like this:

0023 1st ... 1, 2017).pdf

0024 Def ... 0, 2017).pdf

0025 Pla ... 1, 2017).pdf

0026 Def ... 0, 2017).pdf

0027 Pla ... 0, 2017).pdf

In this view, I can't tell what file I need and have to keep clicking around until I find it. The search function isn't much help because the names are all somewhat similar. Also, I might have hundreds of files in a folder.

I see no way to increase the space allotted for names (perhaps by moving the divider between the files and the viewing window). Nor do I see a way to shrink the size of the text or to scroll through the name.

Is there a way to view the whole file name when looking at a folder of files on the iPad? If not, could you please add this feature? Thank you.

Tom H.21

The problem with Documents 5 is that you can't have "favorites" (bookmarked documents). So it's only half a help.

RobertBatten

And you don’t get the native integration with office documents you do in the dropbox app (open and edit in office from dropbox).

Jcurtis

Yes please, fix this as a top priority, you will loose people if its not fixed.

Ian_A6

At the moment Files doesn’t solve the problem as the DropBox integration in the Public Beta 2 only opens an even smaller window in the middle of the screen for you to choose your file.

This is may be a restriction of it being a Beta, but the Files app has the same narrow left -hand navigation area as the Dropbox app so even the finished version may not solve the issue entirely (although would be an improvement as the screen real estate on the right is wider)

another point i would would make is that the Google Drive iPad app was updated a few months ago and they reduced the size of the file names area so that they now truncate !!

as far as I can see, only the Amazon Dive app now natively uses the entire width of the screen on an iPad, but I had multiple sync problems with Amazon Drive and had to stop using it.

MrMXF

I agree. This is beyond frustrating. I work in the media industry where files often start with fixed patterns associated with a date or client. I have hundreds of files in a folder that appear the same in the iPad app making the app impossible to use.

sound3833

Did you ever get an answer or solution to this problem? I find this a problem as well.

Thank you.

MrMXF

I didn't. I downloaded Readdle Document6 and it provides a better interface for viewing, but it's not got the same level of integration. I currently use Readdle to roughly locate the file in a list and then return to Dropbox to launch the associated app. It's pants, but it works. It seems that iOS11 may have some magic solution. I am not going to hold my breath....

QC2

Do you like Google Drive? I am thinking of moving our company away from Dropbox because of this issue.

Ian_A6

Google Drive worked fine from a sync point of view - not quite as fast as Dropbox, which really can't be beaten by any of the other services I've tried in terms of sync speed and reliability.

As I wrote in my earier post, however, it no longer solves the long filenames issue as they "improved it out" of their app (unless of course they've changed it back over the last couple of months

v3locim

I would suggest to try "Long Path Tool" program.

abar

Why has this not been addressed yet? I found many threads going back years complaining about being able to read long file names in the ipad app.

Our organizational system / business requires long-ish file names most of which start and end the same way on any given project.

There really should be a way to view the whole file name. Maybe add an option to close the preview pane?

Grant C.1

Total frustration at the time Dropbox has taken to fix the ridiculously short file names that show in IOS - iPad.

This is such an obvious and painful fact when you have more than a few files which have similar files with show shortened to the point of mostly unusable.

Searching in community a comment was posted in 2015 and a response was it would be sorted soon!

Recently cancelled my paid Dropbox account and switched to OneDrive which finally added offline folders in IOS a little slower than Dropbox and has a slightly longer truncated file name view.

I still think Dropbox is a superior product but when it comes to doing the right thing displaying filenames Dropbox rates and F!

Maybe it will all be fixed in IOS 11 with the coming file system but the glacial improvement of key features like ridiculously short file names in IOS must surely mean Dropbox is doomed against a nowdays faster learning Microsoft.

Elucubrator

I'm constantly frustrated by the DropBox iOS app (and many other apps too, for that matter) because the file-name column on the left is not adjustable and hides long file names.

Even on an iPad Pro 12.9" screen, I can't see which specific file I'm after. I have thousands of files that are named using a date-name convention, and sometimes I'll have a great many files on one day. This screenshot is an example of what I mean. Can DropBox introduce adjustable columns, or at least offer several different options such as left-third, centre, and right-third?

Bit

Now they added a "view by content" on the left menu... they could add a "view by long filename" to let the app extend the filename column all over the space on the right. Then, when one clicks on the file, it could go back to the left as it is showing the file on the right. They reached the moon, seems ridicoulus they can't simply turn a bolt. I'll never understand, seems they don't use the app by themselves ?

mindat

Has this feature been discontinued? The list of files remain truncated and clicking the right hand menus only sort, they do not reveal the full names unless it gives you the download the file screen. When there are 376 sequentially named jpgs, this is more than cumbersome. I am using a desktop computer.

KeithPublic

Is it possible that this still has not been resolved? The feature has been asked for over the course of years from what I've seen (at least since 2015).

Dropbox is literally unusable on my iPad because we use long file names to keep track of progress on projects. All I need to be able to do is adjust the width of the left column so I can see the entire file and folder name.

This one simple feature is the only reason I have to still use my computer at work instead of my iPad.

HB6453

KeithPublic, you are correct. They have not addressed it. The short answer is they don't care. Most users use a computer. My guess is there is not enough benefit to spend the resources on this change. Odd considering they have 100s of millions in investor funds. Would seem like a several hundred to several thousand dollar feature to add. This is sad really. I've changed to several other data storage services SPECIFICALLY due to this issue. My ipad sat in my desk drawer for over 6 months before I decided to switch services. If they add this feature I'll come back, but DB is just a backup hard drive for me now.

rmoe

There is a work-around in iOS 11.

Open DropBox.

Slide up to see dock. Pick any program on the dock and slide up to create a separate window and then enlarge that window to half screen.

Now you can see the whole file names.

Messy, but it works.

heikkipekka

WOW!!! Can't believe you have to do this kind of things, just to be able to see file names.

But I can confirm, this works. Thanks!

Steven B.31

thanks...that sure is a weird one! With the recent integration of Dropbox into the iOS 11 Files app, things are groovy.

mindat

Dropbox is going to lose market share if they invest their efforts in just one os. The rest feel ignored.