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Question

What is the validity time of the link to a file uploaded using a ZAP to Dropbox?

O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

I am using ZAPIER to integrate to dropbox. The process is as follows:

  1. Write file to dropbox folder with a specific file name (ZAP task)
  2. Get a link to the file added in step 1 above via ZAPIER and include the link in an email (ZAP task)

My question: How long will the link I got via ZAPIER be valid for?

 

To put some context into my question, I ran the process and the links expired within twently four hours.

This post has been closed for comments. Please create a new post if you need help or have a question about this topic.

14 replies

SamB
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +11

Hi @OnlineInterpretersWorldwide, great question! 🙂

I’m not sure what the default is, but there are settings in Dropbox for defining the shared link expiration. So I’m thinking that adjusting those settings might help to fix the issue here. You can find details on how to do that here: How to set an expiration date for a shared link

Eager to ensure you’re all set so please let us know whether adjusting the file expiration settings in Dropbox solves it! 

O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

Hi @OnlineInterpretersWorldwide, great question! 🙂

…..there are settings in Dropbox for defining the shared link expiration. So I’m thinking that adjusting those settings might help to fix the issue here. …..

Thx@SamB. 

I have my settings set to “no expiery date”…. It seems as though the ZAP is doing something at the time it calls dropbox for a link to the file. 

I connected the first line support, but they don’t have access to this level of detail, so they have escalted the ticket up to the devloper team (I believe) to find an answer.

 

In the meantime, does anyone use this integration to dropbox? Does anyone have any experience with it?

O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

Here is one of the actual files that is representative of the whole folder:

 

File link from drobox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

Here is the link I have in the email when the zap attaches the file to an email using a ZAP: https://uc78f60ec0a523371f33f8f56bcc.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/cd/0/get/B4Bu1CCU7SwX0O457Caov-UGnf7M...

 

Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

Hi @OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

This is the view link of the file. (ends with dl=0)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

 

You need to use the direct download link of the file. (ends with dl=1)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=1

 

You can use a Formatter > Text > Replace step in the Zap to prep the URL.

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

Hi @OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

This is the view link of the file. (ends with dl=0)

You can use a Formatter > Text > Replace step in the Zap to prep the URL.

 

Thx Troy.

Not sure I understand what you are saying as my work flow is:

  1. I generate the pdf in a seperate app (also using a ZAP from a 500 record database)
  2. The ZAP has a task to write the generated file to dropbox with the email address as the name
  3. The next ZAP task generates an email from a template in which I specify the dropbox account, folder and file name structure i.e. the email - via parameters in the ZAP

 

The emails get generated and sent out. The links generated work for 24 hrs and then tehy give the following error message:

 

So the link is notlonger active. However if I generate a link in dropbox for the same file, it is active. 

 

Conclusion is that ZAPIER is adding some Meta Data to the link that makes it valid for 24hr only.

Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@OnlineInterpretersWorldwide

We’ll need to see detailed screenshots with how your Zap steps are configured in order to have full context, thanks.

 

My previous feedback was for using the direct download link of a Dropbox file vs the view link for a file from Dropbox.

 

Depends how you are using the file link in the email: body of email as a link OR as an attachment

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

Here is a pdf with the screenshots of each step i.e.:

  1. I generate the pdf in a seperate app (also using a ZAP from a 500 record database) - no screen shot
  2. The ZAP has a task to write the generated file to dropbox with the email address as the name - screenshot nr 2 - I do this as soon as the file enerated in step 1 has a URL valid for one hr only. However the file uploaded to dropbox is still accessible when I go into the folder in my dropbox account
  3. The next ZAP task generates an email from a template in which I specify the dropbox account, folder and file name structure i.e. the email - via parameters in the ZAP - Screenshot 3 is the Zap that adds the dropbox link to the cusotomer record in SendInBlue.
    Screen shot 1 shows how I call the dropbox link in my email app i.e. SendInBlue. 

SO the link I have uploaded to the Cusromer record in SendInBlue from dropbox with the ZAP seems to have the Meta Data that has the restrictions in it. The file is visible in my dropbox account. The ZAP generated link to the dropbox file has the limited time validity.

1 Attachment
Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

You may need to add a Zap step for Dropbox:

 

The mapped variable for the Direct Media Link seems to be a temp file as you’ve mentioned.

Here is the link I have in the email when the zap attaches the file to an email using a ZAP: https://uc78f60ec0a523371f33f8f56bcc.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/cd/0/get/B4Bu1CCU7SwX0O457Caov-UGnf7M...

 

Try instead to use:

You need to use the direct download link of the file. (ends with dl=1)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=1

You can use a Formatter > Text > Replace step in the Zap to prep the URL.

 

This doesn’t show how the Link field is being used in the email template. (in the body of the email or as an attachment)

 

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

The thing is @Troy Tessalone my ZAP works. All the tasks are carried out and be seen in the logs and the tests. I even ran the ZAP on 200 of the 500 records and everything was fine….for the first 24 hrs. The only problem is that the link becomes inactive after 24hrs. The link validity is the issue and not the link itself. The link works fine for the first 24hrs.

 

If I rerun the ZAP the links genertaed are also ok….for 24 hrs...then they give an error 404.

Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

Correct, you need to use a different link because the one you are trying to use is a temp link that expires.

 

You need to use the direct download link of the file. (ends with dl=1)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=1

You can use a Formatter > Text > Replace step in the Zap to prep the URL.

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

Thanks for your patience @Troy! I do appreciate your effort and you spending time analizing all my verbage and making suggestions.

 

I have used

It generates the link. I need to wait for time to go past and see if the link generated retains its validity.

 

Will come back to you!

Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

You’ll need to make sure you change the generated link from dl=0 to dl=1.

 

You need to use the direct download link of the file. (ends with dl=1)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfklswowbelfd58/rsababady%40gmail.com%20%281%29.pdf?dl=1

You can use a Formatter > Text > Replace step in the Zap to prep the URL.

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
O
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

A very kind person on the ZAPIER support team went through the API documentation of dropbox and found out that there is an issue with the validity of the link generated by the ZAP used in the way I was using it. The recommended way to get the url from dropbox is by using this action.

 

 

and Bob’s your uncle. Works every time.

Troy Tessalone
Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@OnlineInterpretersWorldwide 

Glad you got it working.

 

I proposed that option as well.

 

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Premier Certified Zapier Expert | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
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