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flyingmonk2231's avatar
flyingmonk2231
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago

Downloading Dropbox files using curl or wget

I prefer working on a Linux instance through an SSH session. How could I download the Dropbox files directly from the link through a terminal command?

 

I tried  the following but it does not work:

curl https://www.dropbox.com/t/jdejjd83827HDHH?dl=1 -o test.zip -J -L -k

 

The link in the example above is a made-up link. But the format of the links I receive from a provider is similar. 

 

Could someone help? 

  • Elixir's avatar
    Elixir
    Star | Level 19

    For me the following are working: 

    wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/ew2jket9lisdf4oor/example.zip
    wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/d34o4xoo7c6bnfh3r/example.pptx

    Notice that I removed the `?dl=1` part from the shared link, otherwise the filenames are appened with that. 

    • flyingmonk2231's avatar
      flyingmonk2231
      Explorer | Level 4

      Thanks for your response.

       

      I must apologize for stating "files" in my first question. The link is for a folder, and because it contains huge files, the transfer was shared through a Dropbox Transfer link. 

       

      On the Windows platform, when I click this link (which looks like this https://www.dropbox.com/t/<an alphanumeric string>), it takes me to a Dropbox Transfer web page in my internet browser. There the address bar shows a totally different address. It looks like this "https://www.dropbox.com/transfer/<an alphanumeric string>".  At the center of the window,  I see a box-like in the image below. After I click the download symbol (downward facing arrow with a bar below it), the download starts with a ZIP file format. If I click the copy link button in the top right corner, I get the first link back. So this is just taking me in a vicious circle. I cannot peek into the folder for downloading individual files using the wget command.

       

      I hope this information helps me get some answers. Again, I am looking for a link for this folder that will allow me to download it to a Linux instance with no GUI support.

       

       

      • Здравко's avatar
        Здравко
        Legendary | Level 20

        flyingmonk2231 wrote:
        ...

        On the Windows platform, when I click this link (which looks like this https://www.dropbox.com/t/<an alphanumeric string>), it takes me to a Dropbox Transfer web page in my internet browser. ...


        Hi flyingmonk2231,

        The link you are looking on is a transfer link (not a shared link as far Elixir gets confused). Shared link could be previewed or downloaded (depending on link's GET parameter). Transfer link don't have ability for GET download, unfortunately (either with or without GUI). The transfer link you have received can be only viewed (and downloaded from there, of course). Actual download link is a POST https://dl-web.dropbox.com/zip_archive_token_download (not GET). Parameter describing downloaded content (archive_token) isn't accessible in advance. Let's hope such a opportunity will be added.

        Hope this adds clarity.