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Pysio13's avatar
Pysio13
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago

Shared Link / "scl" to "s"

Hello. My question concerns my recent issue with file sharing. Usually, my links were generated in this way: 'https://www.dropbox.com/s/'. However, lately, every file is being generated in this way: ...
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  • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
    JasonSilverDBX
    2 years ago
    Thank you BenDBX  for splitting off a new thread specific to the 3rd party integrations issue, and especially for doing it in a way that migrates all the relevant posts to date!  To properly wrap up this thread, below is a summary.


    Why the new "/scl" link format?

     

    Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on the content being shared rather than on the user doing the sharing.  This new content-based link architecture is already in place for edit access links to folders and newly created links to files, and can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL.  (They also begin with "/scl" instead of the previous architecture's  "/s".)  It is the rlkey parameter which grants access to the content.  That is why removing that parameter results in visitors having to sign in and request access.  I talk more about this transition in this forum thread.
     
    Over the next few months, we’ll round out the shared link portfolio by bringing this new architecture to newly created view-only access folder links, or view folder links for short.

    Direct Download on new link architecture is Solved

     
    Regarding this thread on “direct / forced” download not working on new links, this should be solved since a fix was implemented 2 weeks ago.  That is, all new links should now function the same as legacy links for these purposes.  This can be accomplished in two ways.  
    1. modifying the dl parameter in the URL
    2. modifying using dl.dropbox.com or dl.dropboxusercontent.com.  

     

    👉 In both cases you must retain the rlkey parameter for the URL to grant your recipients permission rights to access your file.

     

    What is the DL parameter?

     

    Anything following the ? in a URL are query parameters.  It’s worth reemphasizing that dl parameter in new links did not break and will continue to function identically to those in legacy links.  Manually changing the dl parameter does the following:

     

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0

    • Default link. This will render the content in the Dropbox file viewer.

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=1

    • Downloads the content of the link (if the user has access to the content based on link settings). This query parameter takes precedence even if raw=1 is also added.

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&raw=1

    • Directly renders the content in the browser (if the link has a public audience and no other restrictions). Note that this link has an HTTP 302 redirect, so the application or browser must be able to follow the redirect.

     

    What are the dl.dropbox... modifications?

     
    These are link transformations from the early days of Dropbox.  While we don't "officially" list these anymore in our Help Center, we are continuing to support them for now.  
     
    https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
    • Replacing www with dl works exactly like a ?raw=1 link: this will directly render content for public links in the browser. It requires following an HTTP 302 redirect.
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
    • Works like a ?raw=1 link, but the application or browser will not need to follow an HTTP 302 redirect to access the content.
     
Hannah's avatar
Hannah
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

Thanks for letting us know, dimitrisramos.

 

The example link you included in your post, worked for me (removed it to prevent unnecessary traffic in your account).

 

How are your users accessing the links? Are you embedding them in a different website?

 

Have you checked out this solution by Jason for more info?

dimitrisramos's avatar
dimitrisramos
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

Hello,

 

The users are receiving the error which i mentioned. i send also a screenshot. this behavior start a couple of weeks ago and it only happens to the new links (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0) the old ones work just fine.

It is very frustrating because some users report that the link works fine but most of them get the error which i show you in the screenshot

 

 

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Hey dimitrisramos, sorry to jump in here, but can you clarify if the users who are getting the error are using a specific browser? Have they tried clearing their browser's cache or using another browser perhaps? 

    • dimitrisramos's avatar
      dimitrisramos
      Explorer | Level 3
      2 years ago

      Hello,

       

      I don't have that information, the users just tell me that they get the 400 error message also the method were i changed the dl=0 to raw=1 still causes the same 400 error.

  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    2 years ago
    dimitrisramos wrote:

    ...

    It is very frustrating because some users report that the link works fine but most of them get the error which i show you in the screenshot

     

     

    Hi dimitrisramos,

    😁Yes, it is very frustrating when link is mistyped: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xplrk5wkob1kkt15bubs4/MB-800.zip?rlkey=teblp9ejf6twk7gxs9jukmour&;dl=0

    If you take a look in details you will see one more symbol in the URL that must NOT be there! That breaks the link and result in the view you're observing. 🙋

    Actually the file that link points to is deleted so even correct (i.e. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xplrk5wkob1kkt15bubs4/MB-800.zip?rlkey=teblp9ejf6twk7gxs9jukmour&dl=0) it will show following:

    Hope this clarifies matter. 😉

    • dimitrisramos's avatar
      dimitrisramos
      Explorer | Level 3
      2 years ago

      Hello,

       

      I deleted that file from dropbox because the users were reporting that they would get the 400 error when they tried to download it.

      It seems that many people are facing this issue after dropbox changed the url format.

      • Walter's avatar
        Walter
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        2 years ago

        Hey dimitrisramos, sorry to jump in here, but could you clarify if you tried re-uploading the file and sharing a new link with the users? 

         

        If so, do you still get the same results?

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