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Dropbox changed its link format, your links may break
2 years ago
Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on content rather than on users. This will affect how links are created and shared. The new links can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL. I only found this out because a friend mentioned the commission folder refs I've used for years (which are stored on Dropbox) were going to an error message, and new links I generated had a different format.
Info I've found while googling seems to suggest this is going to be happening to everyone, if it hasn't already, so if you run into this issue with your/someone else's ref folder, that's probably what's going on and you'll need them to generate you a new link.
Referenced documents:
https://help.dropbox.com/share/force-download
https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Cre.....ot/td-p/689070
TL;DR: Dropbox is changing its link format for security reasons, your old links may no longer work and you might have to generate new ones.
Info I've found while googling seems to suggest this is going to be happening to everyone, if it hasn't already, so if you run into this issue with your/someone else's ref folder, that's probably what's going on and you'll need them to generate you a new link.
Referenced documents:
https://help.dropbox.com/share/force-download
https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Cre.....ot/td-p/689070
TL;DR: Dropbox is changing its link format for security reasons, your old links may no longer work and you might have to generate new ones.
based on content rather than on users
I still find it surprising that the operators of a mass storage site like Dropbox either don't understand or simply don't care that degrandfathering vintage links by a policy and API change like this is going to make more trouble for them by loss of reputation and use than it will for each of its users independently. But I no longer find it surprising how obtuse and stupid other human beings can be when they believe steadfastly that they know what's best for others; if anything it's plain wasteful.
Of course, when the shit hits the fan, they're sorry. Not because they've borne genuine regret for their choice, but that they got caught and had to pay the piper. Drowning men are all the same, when the Boiling Man stops by.
-2Paw.