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Can I move my Dropbox folder on an external and keep the same path for all users?

I understand that File Provider on Apple now provides for external drive syncing for Dropbox Folders, as long as it's APFS and encrypted.

We use Dropbox as a media asset management system, by targeting folders, where each collaborator has a common absolute path ie; Volumes/XYZ/1287. This ensures that media is always online in our editing applications without the need for relinking.

However File Provider seems to provide unique file paths for each user, which would break our workflow. Can anyone advise?

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Megan

Hey @Bluebicycle, thanks for posting here today!

Let me gather some additional info, and we'll get right to it. If I understand this correctly, it sounds like you wish to move the Dropbox folder to an external drive, is that right? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

You mentioned that "each collaborator has a common absolute path ie; Volumes/XYZ/1287". Could you clarify more about this? I'm asking because the Dropbox folder would have a unique user path whether you're using File Provider or not.

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

Bluebicycle

Hi Megan,

No our Dropbox folder is already mounted on an external drive, as described above, because we are still using the old Finder Extension API, and not yet moved to File Provider.

I believe File Provider now facilitates external Drive locations, but the path is bound to that users Home folder and unique to them. We want to continue as with old Dropbox App. It’s crucial we all as collaborators share the same common path.

Bluebicycle

Hi Megan do you have anything to add?

Jay

Hi @Bluebicycle, do you have any users on File Provider already? Are you able to move their Dropbox folder to an external drive while on File Provider, and if so, what is the full location of the Dropbox folder after you move it?

Bluebicycle

Nobody has made the jump across yet sorry. I'll see if I can upgrade one machine and do some tests. I just want the path to be identical for everyone, so they all work locally on common paths Eg: Volumes/XYZ Drive/This Week/ Media Files. Some may use an internal APFS container, but mostly that won't have enough storage. Path always identical. This is how it works currently.