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Trouble with internal symlinks

Hello,

I am struggling with symlinks. I can't get them to work.
I have a folder structure like this:
Fotos/jpeg/ [files]
Fotos/colecciones( [links to some files]

The links are defined like "../jpeg/[file]", so those links are pointing to files that are in Dropbox - I tried before linking to the full path, with the same results I describe below.

What is happening:
- In the web browser, I cannot preview the files
- In an Iphone and an Android, same thing, can't preview the files
- In a raspberry pi where I download the files with rclone, they appear empty to, even with the follow symlinks option.
- In a Mac where I have my dropbox account linked, I can see the files no problem
- In my wife's Mac (the folders are shared), I can also see the files.

According to the documentation, what I am doing should be working as the symlinks are symlinks to files in Dropbox. https://help.dropbox.com/es-es/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/symlinks

How can I get those symlinks to work?

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Здравко

Hi @Claudio N.1 ,

Actually, you can't. Dropbox disabled symlink follow up for a long time already. When you use shared link to access some symbolic link you are accessing the symbolic link itself, not the pointed content! In case everything is in sync, as on your Mac, the symbolic link works as usual (there are both - link and pointed file, in sync).

Hope this clarifies matter.

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Здравко

Hi @Claudio N.1 ,

Hope this clarifies matter.

Claudio N.1

bummer 😞

Здравко

Hi again @Claudio N.1,

There might be a workaround (not very convenient, but something). You can create shared links for all files you pointed to with symbolic links now. The existing symbolic links can be replaced with web links (the created before shared links), one by one. When you get in your link folder, there is "Create" dropdown menu:

There select "More" and after that "Shortcut". Follows dialog view:

..., where you can refer to whatever you want on the web (including shared link). Name it the same as the pointed file (or the same way you name symbolic link). 😉 That's it.

Now you can share a link to web link(s) created before or to the containing folder. In all cases, when opened in a supported browser, it will point out correctly.

Hope this helps.

Claudio N.1

This looks interesting. Can I do it programatically using an API or something?

Claudio N.1

It seems I can using the API. This may help me https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-API-Support-Feedback/How-do-I-get-programmatically-Dropbox-links-of-all/td-p/358347

Anyway thanks @Здравко for your help!

Здравко

@Claudio N.1 wrote:
This looks interesting. Can I do it programatically using an API or something?

Hmm... 🤔 If you mean to receive a shared link, Yes, there are many ways you can do it for different links types (seems you have found the most typical one). If you mean to manage entire process, No. I don't know a way be automated "Shortcut" management (including creation). 🤷 This seems like a cons of Dropbox API, like many other things, available by Dropbox application and/or Dropbox Web, but not supported by the API yet (no officially, at least). Your thought could be a good feature request! 😉 Let's hope somebody of Dropbox staff will read it.