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Forum Discussion
Implementing Dropbox features in a custom file explorer: API limitations for desktop apps?
I'm developing a desktop application as an alternative to Windows Explorer / macOS Finder and want to integrate the following Dropbox features:
1. Reading thumbnails for images and other supported file formats
2. Retrieving sync status for locally visible Dropbox files/folders (selective sync)
3. Supporting common Dropbox commands in context menus (e.g., creating Dropbox links)
My goal is to mimic Dropbox's integration with native file explorers.
After reviewing the API documentation, it appears the Dropbox API is designed primarily for web applications and doesn't allow direct access to local Dropbox folder content. Is this correct? If so, are there any recommended approaches or alternative APIs for implementing these features in a desktop application?
No, Dropbox does not offer a way to programmatically retrieve thumbnails locally without having the user authorize the app to access their content via the Dropbox API.
- Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff
As Здравко said, the Dropbox API can be used by any app that can make HTTPS connections, whether that's a desktop app, web app, or something else.
For a desktop app, you can interact with the data in the local Dropbox folder, and/or use the Dropbox API as desired.
If you want to programmatically find the local Dropbox folder, check out this help article.
For information on using the Dropbox API, check out the information here. To address each of the pieces of functionality you mentioned in particular, using the API:
- To get thumbnails, you can use the /2/files/get_thumbnail_v2 or /2/files/get_thumbnail_batch endpoints.
- Dropbox doesn't offer functionality for checking or setting selective sync statuses or settings, but I'll pass this along as a feature request. I can't promise if or when that might be implemented though.
- To create shared links, you can use /2/sharing/create_shared_link_with_settings.
Здравко Greg-DB Thank you for your replies.
I understand that desktop applications can also use the API by http calls, to clarify, I want to know if the following are the only ways to get thumbnails(and other features), despite my software having full access to the local Dropbox folder:
1. register my app in dropbox app console
2. when users want to visit the local dropbox folder in my application, I need to proactively inform and get manual approvals from users to acquire dropbox API auth token via OAuth
3. for all the local image files displayed within my software, request the thumbnails via Dropbox API
Other than the above procedures, there is no other direct way to get the thumbnails, despite the software already having full access to local disks, is this correct?
- Greg-DB
Yes, as Здравко said, if you want to just access the file data locally, you can do so without using the API. If you want to have Dropbox generate thumbnails for you though, you'd need to use the API/OAuth flow.
And yes, it looks like there are some formatting issues in that help center article, so I'll ask the team to fix that up. Thanks!
LewisO wrote:...
After reviewing the API documentation, it appears the Dropbox API is designed primarily for web applications and doesn't allow direct access to local Dropbox folder content. Is this correct? ...
Hi LewisO,
In fact No - Dropbox API can be used in standalone applications as well as web based application - no any such limitations. If you mean that the application need to perform HTTP link then Yes, that's correct.
LewisO wrote:..., are there any recommended approaches or alternative APIs for implementing these features in a desktop application?
In fact there are such implementations - all plugins you want to mimic use such interfaces. Unfortunately, all those interfaces are not documented and, in this context, difficult to use.
Let's hope this will change at some point.
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