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Name convention - upload date

Riad2000

I am using an automation for name conventions on a specific folder. I have files that I have created in another folder and that I move at a later date to this folder with the name convention. The automation for the name convention includes the date of upload. I had understood that "date of upload" meant the date of upload to this specific folder. But unfortunately the date of creation in the former folder is being used. Is my understanding wrong or is the renaming not working properly?

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Megan

Hi @Riad2000, happy Monday!

Essentially the "date uploaded" will change the name of the file, to the date this particular file was initially uploaded to the account.

Therefore, it seems the automation is working as it should, since it's showing you the date that the files were uploaded in the initial, former folder.

I hope this clarifies!

bluehenve

why does the filname get changed?

I have an issue with that on my Samsung A52.

The camera names videos like this: 20230720_000348.mp4, that is yyyymmdd_hhmmss.mp4

The time is when the video is started.

But dropbox alters the name and uses another time = the time when the video ended!

Give me troubles, that the filename is altered - is there a good reason?

regards, Henrik

Jay

Hi @bluehenve, according to the file itself on the device, what is the actual date of creation of the file? Does it match the time in the filename, or is it different?

bluehenve

Hi Jay

Thanks for replying - I sure hope you can help!

The issue is a major problem in my work, where I need the filename to mirror the starttime of the video.

I use the following terms in my description of the problem:

1) 'Dropbox normal upload': Dropbox > File > Upload > Select file to be uploaded > Upload
2) 'Dropbox camera upload': The AUTOMATIC upload that happens, when the cameratransfer-funcion is activated in the Dropbox settings.

On the camera the video filename is correct, 20230720_000348.mp4, taken from the time, that the video was started, 2023/07/20 00:03:48.

But the Dropbox 'Camera uploads' function changes it to 2023-07-20 00.04.08.mp4, due to the time that the video ended, 2023/07/20 00:04:08

And I see no way to change that, making my work fail.

I noted yesterday, if I use the Dropbox normal upload, the same video does NOT change filename, it stays as 20230720_000348.mp4.

Is there any way to solve the Dropbox camera upload issue?

regards, Henrik

Megan

Hi @bluehenve, sorry to jump in here!

Can you clarify the OS and Dropbox version that you're using on your end? Also, do you happen to have a few screenshots of what you mentioned?

It'll help me get the visual too.

bluehenve

Hi
Android 13
Dropbox 336.2.2
I can add pictures when Im at my PC

bluehenve

Jay

Just for clarification, is the right part of the image the file as it appears on your camera, or from after it was uploaded to Dropbox?

Is that filename, showing 21:33 on the Android device assigned by Dropbox or the Android device?

bluehenve

The right part is camera.
The filename is the item, that ends with .mp4!

Jay

Could you confirm that the date shown on the Android device (21:33) is the creation date, or the modification date of the file itself? The distinction between the two is important.

bluehenve

21:33 is the hour-minute starttime when the video was created.

21:34, which is a part of the filename, is the hour-minute endtime when the video was created.

The video is not modified.

Jay

Sorry, when you said 21:34, did you mean 21:32, because 21:34 isn't in your screenshots?

bluehenve

Yes

Jay

Has this behavior occurred since switching to a new phone, or has it always been like this on all your devices?

bluehenve

I dont know.
This is a real hard process for a simple question. Can we talk by phone?

I hope its possible to avoid that dropbox alters the mp4 filename as described!

Walter

Hey @bluehenve - sorry to jump in here, but would manually uploading the file via the website or the (+) button within the mobile app work better for you perhaps?

Also, not sure if this would help, but you could try setting a naming convention to see if that makes a difference.

In any case, keep us posted!

bluehenve

No, as I wrote 19/7, I need the Dropbox camera upload to name correctly.

bluehenve

Dear dropbox - Any chance that this will be fixed?

Megan

Hey @bluehenve, I hope you're doing well!

When using Android, we try to name files based on creation time, however, that information is not always available. In cases that creation time is not available, we fall back to modification time for the file name.

I hope this clarifies!