Forum: Author Hangout

Maybe they should call it Google Crawl and not Google Drive. Glad I use DropBox.

There are two ways to share on DropBox:

1. You enter the email address of someone you want to be able to share a folder and anything in it - good for editors etc.

2. You have the system create a link to a file or a folder and then you give the link to people and they click on the link URL to open the file or folder.

In a lot of my stories I have floor plans etc. with high resolution copies in a folder at dropbox, the link for that folder is in the book and in the stories - same link as it opens the folder which has sub-folders for each story so anyone can see any of those images. In a recent thread I posted a lot of stats by putting a spreadsheet into dropbox and posting the link to that file in the thread. Both links below so you can see how it works.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ebk8ve052m0c1rs/AACohN7e_x8OuRFrn0EbQ2L6a?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e221x0rw0o7fcmu/zzSol-stats.ods?dl=0

To create the links you move to the relevant folder or file so it's highlighted, then click on the word 'Share' on the right to open the share process. At that point you can click on a 'Create a link' option link, or enter the mail of who you want to be able to use the folder or file and what level of access they can have.

I've been using DropBox to work with my editors since I first started writing. I've got one folder when I enter the name of each editor, so they can all access the story files and edit the data live (DB notifies me whenever the post changes, though you'll want to send an email warning just in case they aren't sitting in front of their computer at the time it arrives).

As for links to individuals, the link is to the specific file/folder, so no one else will see it, but it'll remain active as long as the file/folder remains in that location.

One caveat, though, many people open the DB file, and then try to copy it into their own file elsewhere on their computer. Unfortunately, that completely breaks the live-feed aspect of DB. As long as DB is working, your DB account will show as a file on your computer, while showing the same details on everyone else's local computer.

I'd forgotten DropBox made a few changes in the last few months.

When you open you DropBox account it's like looking at a specially set out folder where you can create new folders and sub-folders within in it, and place files where you like in it.

In the file/folder list within any folder there's a box on the left and when you click on that ti highlight a file or folder without opening it there are two buttons appear on the right, one says 'Share' and looks like an oval with a square in it - clicking the oval will take you into the folder or the file. Near the top right corner is another button that says 'Share' - click on either share button opens the 'Sharing' windows which is like an email form. Where it says 'To' you enter the email address of someone if you want them and individual to have access whenever they log in - you can enter multiple email addresses for a group of people. On the right of that line is a button that is set to a default of 'Can Edit' you can open that an change it to 'Can view' if you want - this allows them to view, download, and comment on it while 'Can edit' allows them to edit, delete, comment, and add to their DropBox a/c.

Below that is a link 'Create a link' which allows you to create a link to that file which will allow anyone who uses the link to view the folder and it's content - you then send that link to whoever you wish.

In the two link I gave earlier one is such a link to a specific file and one is to a folder, so you can see how versatile the system is. I have a couple of folders I share with my editors on the 'Can View' option so they can look at the files, download them to their home computer, and work on them. Then they send me to amended file for me to go through before I add what I like of their edits to the master file, and later upload a replacement file to DropBox. This method gives me total control of the version in DropBox while allowing them to see what I'm working on.

My brother uses his editor access to edit my works in progress when he gets bored with nothing else to do - which means he gets to read and work on the story before I finish it when he does that.

Another thing, DropBox sends all those with a direct Share access an email when there's a change to the shared folder / file and they send you a security email when you log in without using the cookie saved from the last access.

a DropBox free account is 2 GB - and I never seem to fill it up. If you do go over you can buy a larger account.