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What does the limit on shared folders mean?

Since Dropbox discontinued free Team Accounts, our account was converted to a Basic account. Apparently this change introduced limits on the number of shared folders we can have. All of our folders are currently sub-folders of a "Team Folder". When I try to share one of these subfolders to anyone outside the group to which the top-level "Team Folder" is already shared, I get the message:

This folder can only be shared with a link
The parent folder is 4 shared folders over the limit. Learn more

The "Learn more" link says that the top-level folder (which is the parent folder in this case) can only have 10 shared sub-folders, so I deleted and moved some folders to reduce the number of sub-folders in the top-level folder to 7. Nonetheless, I still get the error message cited above when I try to "Share with Dropbox".

What am I doing wrong?

Have I misunderstood the shared folders limitation?

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Shared Folders

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Comments

Jay

Hi @IMCZug, thanks for messaging the Community.

Do you have any other subfolders within subfolders that could be shared with different permissions on your account?

This will help me to assist further!

IMCZug

@Jay wrote:
Do you have any other subfolders within subfolders that could be shared with different permissions on your account?

Most likely, why?

Megan

Hi @IMCZug, sorry to jump in here!

Have you tried unsharing or moving any subfolders with those subfolders too?

IMCZug

@Megan wrote:
Have you tried unsharing or moving any subfolders with those subfolders too?

Thanks for responding. I have deleted some sub-folders and moved one, but this doesn't change the message I reported. When I tried moving sub-folders up to the root level, they lost their sharing access lists, so I moved them back. Can I at least move sub-folders up to the root level without breaking the sharing links I have already distributed?

Jay's response suggests to me that the sharing limit does *not* only apply to the parent folder, but to the parent folder *and its sub-folders*.

If this is the case, then both the error message and the "Learn more" link need to be a bit more specific.

For example, the error message should read:

This folder can only be shared with a link
The parent folder *(including subfolders)* is 4 shared folders over the limit. Learn more

If this is true, then I will need to find the contributing sub-folders. However, our directory tree is pretty extensive. Is there some way to find the contributing sub-folders without having to individually examine each sub-folder?

Здравко

Hi @IMCZug,

Yes, the message content is somewhat confusing, but the FAQ that link points to is clear enough, I think. At the beginning, do you have shared folders count above the absolute maximum (30 000)? 🙂 Most probably no, but for completeness, if you have, their total count should be decreased.

@IMCZug wrote:
... I have deleted some sub-folders and moved one, but this doesn't change the message I reported. When I tried moving sub-folders up to the root level, they lost their sharing access lists, so I moved them back. Can I at least move sub-folders up to the root level without breaking the sharing links I have already distributed? ...

😁 Of course, one shared folder share everything within, including all files and subfolders. If you move out something (file or folder) it's no more within and no more shared as a part of the shared folder. If you put something into shared folder (again file or folder) it becomes shareable as a part of it. You don't have to reorder your shared folders content, but the shared folders ordering within their containing folder(s). You can have 10 shared folders within one containing folder at most! 😉 This is the reason, most probably. In such a case, move some shared folder (one or more - as much as need) in some other folder, so no more a place (folder) be that contain more than 10 shared folders within. Take in mind that shared folders can't be nested too, while decide where to move particular folder to.

Hope this helps.

IMCZug

@Здравко wrote:

At the beginning, do you have shared folders count above the absolute maximum (30 000)?
No

You don't have to reorder your shared folders content, but the shared folders ordering within their containing folder(s).
Sorry, I don’t understand this

You can have 10 shared folders within one containing folder at most!
I originally had more than 10 folders under my top-level folder (which is shared). In an attempt to eliminate the message described, I deleted some, moved one to the root level and moved one to a sub-folder. The top-level folder (parent folder in the error message) now has only 7 direct sub-folders.

This is the reason, most probably. In such a case, move some shared folder (one or more - as much as need) in some other folder, so no more a place (folder) be that contain more than 10 shared folders within.
After closer examination, I find only two sub-folders with their own sub-folders. One has 13 (sub-)sub-folders, the other has many more.

Take in mind that shared folders can't be nested too, while decide where to move particular folder to.
Sorry, once again I don’t understand. I already have a lot of nested shared folders. The shared folder I moved from the top-level folder to a sub-folder is still shared, even though it is nested in a (shared) sub-folder of the (shared) top-level folder.

I have to differ with your opinion regarding the explanation of the error message.

It says, “Within a single folder, you can create up to 10 shared subfolders.”

There is no mention of sub-folders in this statement. Furthermore, there is no reference to the definition of a “shared folder”. As you pointed out, the sub-folders of a shared folder inherit the access list of the parent folder, and are therefore also “shared”. However, they were never explicilty “shared”, nor were they created as “shared folders”. Do they still count as separate, additional “shared folders”?

Здравко

@IMCZug wrote:
... It says, “Within a single folder, you can create up to 10 shared subfolders.” ...

Hi @IMCZug,

Yes, that's right.

@IMCZug wrote:
... There is no mention of sub-folders in this statement. Furthermore, there is no reference to the definition of a “shared folder”. ...

Yes, could be more descriptive, but "shared" folder is the one that has been explicitly shared and listed as a such in your shared folders list. Every other folder doesn't count as a shared (in spite can get shared as part of other shared folder)! 😉

Hope this clarifies matter.

IMCZug

Our club’s free Dropbox Team account was converted to a normal free account when Dropbox discontinued free Team accounts.

This left us with a top-level folder shared with all of the former team members. They are still referred to in the UI as “folder members”, but I cannot find any information describing how to mange these in an ordinary free account. All I can do is delete some of the obsolete ones.

How can I share a new folder to the same people? Do I have to send new Dropbox invitations to all of them?

Furthermore, the top-level folder lists an obsolete e-mail address as its “owner”. How can I fix this?

IMCZug

@Здравко wrote:
Yes, could be more descriptive, but "shared" folder is the one that has been explicitly shared and listed as a such in your shared folders list. Every other folder doesn't count as a shared (in spite can get shared as part of other shared folder)! 😉
Hope this clarifies matter.

Not at all! In fact, it makes the error message all the more incomprehensible. Our “shared folder list” lists *only one* shared folder: our top-level folder. How then, can a limit on the number of shared folders have been exceeded, much less “by 4”?

Meanwhile I have deleted (sub-)sub-folders so that no folder has more than (or even as many as) 10 sub-folders. However, this has not made a difference in the behaviour.

Mark

Hi @IMCZug

As you are not the owner you cannot add/remove people. The owner has to do that, or, delegate responsibility to others to do so. If they didnt do they or for whatever reason now cannot do that the only thing you can do is set up a new folder structure. Dropbox wont be able to change the owner for you. Being honest this is probably the quickest way to do it in your situation.

IMCZug

@Mark wrote:
As you are not the owner you cannot add/remove people.

This is clearly not the case. I have already removed 3 people from the access list.

Здравко

Ok @IMCZug, follows one little strange part. Let's find out all your shared folders. Open this page. Click on "Get Token" button. Finally click "Submit Call" button. How many entries are in the result? 🤔 If there isn't something private inside, can you post the resulted text (inside the field labeled "Response")?

@IMCZug wrote:
... Our “shared folder list” lists *only one* shared folder: our top-level folder. ...

In such a case there should be just one entry. 🤫

Let's see.

Megan

Hi @IMCZug, I hope you're doing well!

If you were able to remove people from the folder, it seems you have editing access to it.

As for the owner, you wouldn't be able to remove the existing one as a member to this folder. The only person able to pass ownership to someone else, would be the owner himself.

It sounds like you want to share the folder with more people, right? Have you tried these steps?

Let me know!

IMCZug

Thanks for responding. The "Response" field contents were quite long, but I didn't find a way to attach them here as a file, so I tried to embed them in a spoiler below. I couldn't tell whether the URLs in the text were sensitive or no, so I censored them to be on the safe side.

Spoiler

{
"entries": [
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2020-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8744282768",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2019-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6714309536",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2019-08",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6012413712",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:35Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-08-23 bbq",
"name": "2020-08-23 BBQ",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8008777792",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:29Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-01-25 burns night",
"name": "2020-01-25 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6877718960",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:28Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2019-02-07 AGM",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4839369360",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:27Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2019-01-26 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4657492992",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2022-01-29 burns night",
"name": "2022-01-29 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2200238849",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder",
"name": "IMCZ Team Folder",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:24:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2018 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2135622464",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2017 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1436938714",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "editor"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"parent_shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"name": "Gottardino",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1344501040",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
}
]
}

Здравко

Hi @IMCZug,

I have no idea where you have looked before so you saw only one shared folder, but you have 12 shared folders in total. 8 of them are not mounted - "2020-12", "2019-12", "2019-08", "2019-02-07 AGM", "2019-01-26 Burns Night", "2018 Directory", "2017 Directory", and "Gottardino". Other 4 are mounted and you should be able see them in your folder tree. 3 of them are mounted in "/imcz team folder/events" - "2020-08-23 bbq", "2020-01-25 burns night", and "2022-01-29 burns night". One is mounted in your account root - "IMCZ Team Folder".

I don't know where unmounted folders originate from, but if they come from "/imcz team folder/events" formerly, 3+8 = 11 - something above the limit! 🤷 If you don't plain to use some of unmounted folders, just unshare them completely (Select "Unshare folder" from ellipsis menu associated to corresponding folders - those you didn't see before 😁 - take a look more carefully). Deleting a shared folder doesn't unshare it automatically! 😉

Hope this gives direction.

IMCZug

Thanks for your analysis. Here is the screen where I see only one shared folder:

I am hearing about "mounted" and "unmounted" folders here for the first time. This isn't surprising, since I couldn't find any regular help articles about them. The only mention I found was in the "DBX Sharing Guide" addressed to developers using the API (which I have used under your instruction for the first time today). The folders you describe as "unmounted" are all folders I deleted (at least "Delete" is what I picked in the Dropbox UI) in an attempt to reduce the number of shared folders. If I understand you correctly, picking "Delete" didn't really delete them, it just unmounted them.

You suggest that I "unshare" the "unmounted" folders, but how can a mere mortal like myself accomplish this, when they are not visible in my Dropbox UI? What do you mean by "take a look more carefully"? Where should I look? Must I use the API for this, or is there some way for a non-developer to handle this?

P.S. I have now found the deleted folders under "Deleted files". I don't find any way to unshare them there. Can I just get rid of them with "Permanently delete", or do I have to:

Restore
Unshare
Delete
Permanently delete

Здравко

@IMCZug, you can do it in whatever is easiest way for you. In spite of you should be able do the same with just unshare it (as I have described). I should note here that you didn't follow my link! 👆 You're on different page (Recent, not Folders - see the screenshot again). 🙂 Be more careful!

IMCZug

@Здравко wrote:
@IMCZug, you can do it in whatever is easiest way for you. In spite of you should be able do the same with just unshare it (as I have described). I should note here that you didn't follow my link! 👆 You're on different page (Recent, not Folders - see the screenshot again). 🙂 Be more careful!

Thanks, but

The "Folders" tab looks the same as the "Recents" tab:
As previously reported, I cannot "just unshare it". The only options I have are "Restore" and "Permanently delete":

That is why I asked whether I can just permanently delete these folders or must first restore and unshare them.

Thanks for your support.

Здравко

Wow... 🤔 @IMCZug, up to your last post I haven't idea that such a situation is even possible. Are you sure the two screenshots show the same account? 🤷 If so, that might be some new bug in Dropbox.

Shared folders (the first screenshot) should show all shared folders in your account (all 12 in particular case), without taking in account are they mounted or not. In your case no just unmounted are missing, but not all mounted are shown (3 of them are missing too)! I can't say anything more about, some Dropbox representative should assist, why this ever happens. I performed a test:

изображение.png

As you can see the unmounted folder is labeled "Not added to Dropbox". Using ellipsis menu, all possible shared folder operations are accessible:

In particular case "Add to Dropbox" (it appears while just hovering) and "Unshare folder".

About API, you said "I have used under your instruction for the first time", there's always some first time. 😉 That was the yours! Are you ready to continue? If so, in your previous result ("Response") all folders have their "shared_folder_id"s. As an example I will share the entry describing my "Test1" folder:

    {
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
      "is_inside_team_folder": false,
      "is_team_folder": false,
      "name": "Test1",
      "policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
        "shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
        "viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
      "preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/qbr0oeqz8arcgti2vr6h0/h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2302118193", //\\<=== Take a look here!!!
      "time_invited": "2021-12-06T13:29:10Z",
      "access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},

Use those, listed by you, associated to the folders you want to unshare. Get in following page. Again press the "Get token" button, to be able do something. Next put in field "shared_folder_id" that id associated to someone of the folders you want to unshare (I put there 2302118193). Press "Submit call" too. The call result will come back immediately, but actual unshare may take some time (sometimes like a minute)! I'm saying this just to avoid confusion. You don't need to wait unshare be finalized. Just put next shared folder ID (for the next folder you want to unshare) and press "Submit call" again. Repeat the same for all folders you want to unshare. At the end, wait for a minute and check what's the state (call again shared folder listing). Are there now only folders you really want shared? 😉 Does the error message, topic of this discussion, appear again?

Hope this can help.

IMCZug

Thanks! Using the API to unshare all of the folders except the one I wanted to share to additional users eliminated the error message I reported in my OP.

However, when I try to share that folder using "Share with Dropbox":

Dropbox only offers to share a link:

which is not what I want: I want the recipient to have to be *logged in* to Dropbox in order to access the contents. I do not want a link floating around which empowers anyone having it to view (or worse) edit the folder contents.

What is weirder: after I canceled out of the above-described attempt to share this folder, subsequent attempts to share it produce the error message:

"There was a problem completing this request."

Must I also use the API to share this folder?

P.S. Just out of curiosity, I reran "list_folders", with the result that all 12 of the previously listed folders still showed up with a "shared_folder_id":

Spoiler

{
"entries": [
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "Videos",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8480728224",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:43Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "no_inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2020-12",
"name": "2020-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8744282768",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-12",
"name": "2019-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6714309536",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-08",
"name": "2019-08",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6012413712",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:35Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-08-23 bbq",
"name": "2020-08-23 BBQ",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8008777792",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:29Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-01-25 burns night",
"name": "2020-01-25 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6877718960",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:28Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-02-07 agm",
"name": "2019-02-07 AGM",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4839369360",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:27Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-01-26 burns night",
"name": "2019-01-26 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4657492992",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2022-01-29 burns night",
"name": "2022-01-29 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2200238849",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder",
"name": "IMCZ Team Folder",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:24:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2018 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2135622464",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2017 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1436938714",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"parent_shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"name": "Gottardino",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1344501040",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
}
]
}

The "unshare_folder" calls had yielded the following responses:

Spoiler

{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AABNQsO02UQd8AXGmaFcgroyNvamRiw7C0LLIqZq3DuboT8d-2AjNA7dRXlCWfbN8rMRBMUGMhw3z1J3ZOJXD7Tz"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AACAUEdbFIM4bIvpfipwlGDdHhcQ37pdP49vTGWzHJwSH_juHzWI0vWw5I6MvYoi8rv415wTqpWfMSPobeS3FvyJ"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AADApwRC06UOA5PajkG1ZSV3FrZpFptwOanBMruz6dBi3OQmXieEa0vCSAWMF3ONcokcShdgepphNR0G-ijmXgvU"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AAAi0AVvClN4XWFRrV-97HoqbX2_eL6h7L5RI_sk18WOPzKPEIBEvwD2J8itGFV5fsX1EA6LEU-oRpZMUUoAtCpz"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AACxmcIdyOx79fGUXydV1KrquVeaiYZl76mtqN1_3lykbs3YbiF_pWqpITVKAuy2ORp6x23-6mCAYqnQ1kcs-ure"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AABc0ebHQAKP3ZOUxaS5XcO2ZYjACjaUCoN9W2zeHu8GzU21IDYTtePBniNsowacVUCWTa0iB_o-RFWJ6zFoJMzX"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AADqewL2RuQGG1NysmUBYch-6MW49jFF4F8-pmL9oKpniVOL62h_f3K_DjjIGuiLHavjnRu2RLNOe-dxK83-g3ga"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AAD1O4YzkGFzFs4PE6isL0hgDTIuF2Xf0jDSf5x3Qw_F2VF-b7YZ0WaXeqhY_62v9C8eodL3ZjB0dltMWyTZuHiv"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AACJZwOyK4fOwR_BPibafI7mb1xmjx-eeKjM6_HjgAhDm2i6ybXaB38s5bIBs3k_Ww0selbCScEe0U9GJkeIA8Sr"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AABrMwj1LdI7IHmXwmJB5T2ERXT4LU4GrytaKmOneSL0AAGXjHFfeOPLR-5Z-_n-5U1HlKrtAAlhvMvOVuc8bZGQ"
}
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:AABhhxxGryMNbdobn4DJcVZvnWmzaOz3aZ8Hn1aglISKXNNYJ2k1OrK8uVRrzqtduGanotPNQQ1DXYzVVTSlmcOE"
}

How long should these jobs take to finish?

IMCZug

@Megan wrote:
Hi @IMCZug, I hope you're doing well!

If you were able to remove people from the folder, it seems you have editing access to it.

As for the owner, you wouldn't be able to remove the existing one as a member to this folder. The only person able to pass ownership to someone else, would be the owner himself.

It sounds like you want to share the folder with more people, right? Have you tried these steps?

Let me know!

I am now the folder's owner and have removed the obsolete e-mail address of the former owner.

However, I am unable to share the folder to anyone new. Please see my other thread (to which you also responded) for the gory details 😉

Здравко

@IMCZug wrote:
Thanks! Using the API to unshare all of the folders except the one I wanted to share to additional users eliminated the error message I reported in my OP. ...

Hi @IMCZug,

I see you was posting something, but seems Dropbox spam filter catches it for some reason (don't ask me why). Some Dropboxer can restore it. I can see it partially. 🙂 I'm glad, you have successfully resolved your initial issue.

@IMCZug wrote:
...
However, when I try to share that folder using "Share with Dropbox":
Dropbox only offers to share a link:
...

I only can imagine what you are seeing here, but sharing a folder to some party or using a link is performed in the same UI place. 🤦 Really confusing!!! Try don't to fall in such a confusion. 😉 Read fields labels a bit more carefully.

@IMCZug wrote:
...
which is not what I want: I want the recipient to have to be *logged in* to Dropbox in order to access the contents. I do not want a link floating around which empowers anyone having it to view (or worse) edit the folder contents.
...

Just to note that a shared link is read only and nobody can change something using only the link. So, relax.

Good luck.

IMCZug

I can't see my last post at all, even though it was visible yesterday right after I posted it! It was quite extensive, so I hope that an admin or moderator will restore it!

To cut it down to the essentials, I am not sure that the unsharing worked. The API function "list_folders" still shows all 12 of the original shared folders with "shared_folder_id"s:

Spoiler

When I submitted the "unshare" commands, I got a series of responses like this:

{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:<very long alphanumeric string>"
}

How can I check the status of these jobs?

In my last post, I tried to include a screenshot of what I saw when I tried to share my top-level folder with an additional user. I am trying again here:

Thanks again for your help!

Rich

@IMCZug wrote:
I can't see my last post at all, even though it was visible yesterday right after I posted it!

It was caught by the spam filters, along with your latest reply. I've restored both.

Здравко

@IMCZug wrote:
...
To cut it down to the essentials, I am not sure that the unsharing worked. The API function "list_folders" still shows all 12 of the original shared folders with "shared_folder_id"s:
Spoiler
{
"entries": [
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "Videos",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8480728224",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:43Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "no_inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2020-12",
"name": "2020-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8744282768",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-12",
"name": "2019-12",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6714309536",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:36Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/newsletter/2019-08",
"name": "2019-08",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6012413712",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:35Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-08-23 bbq",
"name": "2020-08-23 BBQ",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "8008777792",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:29Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2020-01-25 burns night",
"name": "2020-01-25 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "6877718960",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:28Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-02-07 agm",
"name": "2019-02-07 AGM",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4839369360",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:27Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2019-01-26 burns night",
"name": "2019-01-26 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "4657492992",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder/events/2022-01-29 burns night",
"name": "2022-01-29 Burns Night",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2200238849",
"time_invited": "2022-08-05T12:15:26Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"path_lower": "/imcz team folder",
"name": "IMCZ Team Folder",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:24:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2018 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "2135622464",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"name": "2017 Directory",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1436938714",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:39Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
},
{
"access_type": {
".tag": "owner"
},
"is_inside_team_folder": false,
"is_team_folder": false,
"parent_shared_folder_id": "1278902481",
"name": "Gottardino",
"policy": {
"acl_update_policy": {
".tag": "editors"
},
"shared_link_policy": {
".tag": "anyone"
},
"viewer_info_policy": {
".tag": "enabled"
}
},
"preview_url": "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/.../h?dl=0",
"shared_folder_id": "1344501040",
"time_invited": "2022-03-23T17:20:38Z",
"access_inheritance": {
".tag": "inherit"
}
}
]
}
When I submitted the "unshare" commands, I got a series of responses like this:
{
".tag": "async_job_id",
"async_job_id": "dbjid:<very long alphanumeric string>"
}
How can I check the status of these jobs?
...

Hi @IMCZug,

Actually shared folders now are 13, not 12 (you have shared or accepted sharing folder "Videos" in addition). As I said unshareing usually delays in time and is performed as a async job. Every such a job identifies with corresponding "async_job_id", which let you trace what's going on. Such tracing can be performed using check status. Take a look what's the real reason to fail the operation. If I have to bet, you are not the owner of the folders. Only folder owner can unshare it. If you're not the owner relinquishing is an option. Perform such an action from here. If needed make sure you have a copy - select "true" as "leave_a_copy"! Relinquished folders are lost by default.

@IMCZug wrote:
...
In my last post, I tried to include a screenshot of what I saw when I tried to share my top-level folder with an additional user. I am trying again here:

As you don't want shared link, just avoid using "Create and copy link". Fill the field above with the emails of account(s) you want to share to and press "Share folder" button. No very "smart" (as I said before), but it's so.

Hope this clarifies matter.

IMCZug

@Здравко here. If needed make sure you have a copy - select "true" as "leave_a_copy"! Relinquished folders are lost by default.

I have no idea where "Videos" comes from. I cannot see it in the Dropbox UI.
I am pretty sure I am the owner of all files and folders. IAC, I am the owner of the parent, top-level folder. I cannot check the others, because I am getting the message, "There was a problem completing this request." whenever I try to access sharing on any element (file or folder) in the UI. I am surprised that list_folders didn't list the owner. Is there some other way to check ownership through the API?
When I try to "check_share_job_status" on any of the jobs listed to the response to my "unshare" requests, I get
invalid_async_job_id
wrote:As you don't want shared link, just avoid using "Create and copy link". Fill the field above with the emails of account(s) you want to share to and press "Share folder" button. No very "smart" (as I said before), but it's so.
Hope this clarifies matter
Thanks for the tip! I'll try it, once I get the folder sharing cleaned up.

P.S. How to you get separate quoted sections with your responses in between? I haven't been able to do so. I would be happy to directly edit the HTML, but haven's found a way to.

Здравко

I have no idea where "Videos" comes from. I cannot see it in the Dropbox UI.
...

Hi @IMCZug,

If you are looking for "Videos" folder in your directory tree you will not see it since not mounted. Otherwise you should be able see it in the shared folder list.

...
I am pretty sure I am the owner of all files and folders. IAC, I am the owner of the parent, top-level folder. I cannot check the others, because I am getting the message, "There was a problem completing this request." whenever I try to access sharing on any element (file or folder) in the UI. I am surprised that list_folders didn't list the owner. Is there some other way to check ownership through the API?
...

The easiest way to check owner, editor, or viewer is taking a look in"Who can access" (on top of share folder panel - take a look on your post before). Every account there should be labeled accordingly. At most one of them can be "owner"! Generally, owner might be missing, meaning that the owner has left (relinquished) the folder without to transferred ownership to another account in advance. Of course, there is a way to do the same through the API. 🙂 Just list shared folder members for the same result.

...
...
When I try to "check_share_job_status" on any of the jobs listed to the response to my "unshare" requests, I get
invalid_async_job_id
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Are you certain entire job id is copied (everything within the quotes) and not passed too much time? 🤔

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P.S. How to you get separate quoted sections with your responses in between? I haven't been able to do so. I would be happy to directly edit the HTML, but haven's found a way to.

Just quote whatever you want on desired places. 🤷 Nothing more. That's exactly what I'm doing. About editing in HTML, it's possible in your browser' editor tool, but take in mind that not all tags (and not all other entries) are allowed in posts. Before press "Post", check in "PREVIEW"! (just to be sure that everything got accepted) 😉