Dropfiles: Dropbox Integration

1. Create a Dropbox App

The Dropbox is included in the main Dropfiles package.

First you need a Dropbox App to connect your website to a Dropbox account. Go to https://developers.dropbox.com/ and create a new app. 

Then setup an app type "Dropbox API", "Full Dropbox" and an app name

Then you're almost done, your app is created and you got your App key and secret.

Authorized redirect URl

At OAuth 2 section, paste the Authorized redirect URl from Dropfiles Dropbox settings on the Redirect URls field, then click Add button. The URl should be like this: "https://joomunited.com/administrator/index.php?option=com_dropfiles&task=dropbox.authenticated"

For more security in the future, you should choose the "Short-lived" option at OAuth 2 section > Access token expiration.

And at the Permissions tab, you should set permissions as in the image below.

2. Login to Dropbox in Dropfiles

Automatic mode

From now, you can save a lot of time while connecting to the Dropbox server.  First, in order to use this feature, you have to connect your Joomunited account at Dropfiles Settings > Live Updates tab, please click on the Link My Joomunited Account button and login if you have not connected.

Then go to Cloud connection > Dropbox tab and just click on Connect Dropbox button on the right corner.

Then follow the next steps to finish the connection.

Manual mode

With the credentials in the previous step, please go to Joomla admin and click on the menu Dropfiles > Options > Cloud connection tab > Dropbox settings. Paste your

• App key
• App secret

Then save the configuration and click on the Connect Dropbox button

You'll have to validate the access authorization for app access, just click Allow.

Connection should be a success ☺ 

Simultaneously, you will see the "Watch changes from Dropbox" button. In order to use this feature please add the URL in the warning message to {your App name} > Settings tab at Step 3:

e.g: https://{your-domain}/index.php?option=com_dropfiles&task=frontdropbox.listener 

Then in the Dropfiles setting, click on "Watch changes from Dropbox" button to activate. If you turn off, Files and Folders will not be synchronized immediately from Dropbox to your Dropfiles.

Now, you can create folders, sub folders in Dropbox and in Dropfiles, everything will be synced!

Update from Dropbox v1 API to v2 API version

Due to a major change in the Dropbox API on 19 February 2022 the Dropbox apps previously created require an update to the API v2 to work again. If your app was created recently before the date mentioned there are chances you just need to logout/login to resolve the issue.
If not, you should follow these steps to move your data from the old Dropbox app to a new app.

Option 1: Continue to use your old Dropbox App

Case 1: You used automatic connector
 

This is the easiest scenario. Just open the plugin Dropfiles Settings > Cloud connection > Dropbox tab and Disconnect/Reconnect from your Dropbox account to resolve the issue.

Case 2: You used a custom Dropbox App created recently

Please try to add Authorized redirect URIs in Dropbox settings to your Dropbox App and reconnect the Dropbox account in Dropfiles. If it works, that’s all what you need to do.
If this procedure is not working, you should move to the option 2 below.

Add the Authorized redirect URIs under the OAuth 2:

And at the Permissions tab, you should set permissions as the image below. Then you should click on Migrate button.

Then reconnect the App from Dropfiles settings

Option 2: Connect a new Dropbox app and move files

Step 1. You should create a new Dropbox App and connect your Dropbox account from the Dropfiles settings. Please follow these steps detailed in the chapter 1 from this documentation to proceed.

Step 2. Move your Dropbox files and resynchronize

After connecting your new Dropbox App to your Joomla website, you should move all folders and files from the old App root folder in Dropbox. Just drag'n drop all your folders under the new folder used by the new app.
Then wait for the full synchronization, depending on the amount of data it may take a while.

3. How does it work? What can I do with Dropbox?

How does it work? 

Dropbox can sync folders/subfolders and files on your Dropfiles interface and the same is possible on the other way (from Dropfiles to Dropbox).

What are the sync directions?

It works in both directions! You can add a file from Dropbox and see it in Dropfiles or add a file in Dropfiles and see it in Dropbox. It also means you can manage Dropfiles files from your desktop using Dropbox sync software. That’s crazy! Yes we know ☺