Python script to get the URL of a file in the Dropbox folder

get_dropbox_url.py

#
# Don't use this version, it is out of date.
# See the newest version in the GitHub repository:
#
#    https://github.com/nk9/get_dropbox_link
#




#!/usr/local/bin/python3
# coding=utf-8

# Copyright 2021 Nick Kocharhook
# MIT Licensed

# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
# copies or substantial portions of the Software.

# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
# SOFTWARE.



# import dropbox
# from dropbox.exceptions import ApiError

# import argparse
# from pathlib import Path as P
# import sys
# import json
# import logging

# # Add OAuth2 access token here.
# # You can generate one for yourself in the App Console.
# # See <https://blogs.dropbox.com/developers/2014/05/generate-an-access-token-for-your-own-account/>
# TOKEN = ''

# # Either 'personal' or 'business'. Must match the account which generated
# # the TOKEN above.
# # See <https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/locate-dropbox-folder>
# ACCOUNT_TYPE='personal'


# def main():
#     local_dbx_path = None
#     args = parseArguments()

#     if args.verbose:
#         logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)

#     with dropbox.Dropbox(TOKEN) as dbx:
#         try:
#             dbx.users_get_current_account()
#         except AuthError:
#             sys.exit("ERROR: Invalid access token; try re-generating an "
#                 "access token from the app console on the web.")

#         try:
#             with open(P.home() / '.dropbox/info.json') as jsonf:
#                 info = json.load(jsonf)
#                 local_dbx_path = info[ACCOUNT_TYPE]['path']
#         except Exception:
#             logging.error("Couldn't find Dropbox folder path")
#             sys.exit(1)

#         for path in args.paths:
#             try:
#                 p = P(path).absolute()
#                 logging.debug(f'Processing file at path {p}')
#                 relp = p.relative_to(local_dbx_path)
#                 dbx_path = f"/{relp}"
#             except Exception as e:
#                 logging.error(str(e))
#                 sys.exit(1)

#             try:
#                 link = dbx.sharing_create_shared_link(dbx_path)
#                 print(link.url)
#             except ApiError as e:
#                 logging.error(str(e))
#                 sys.exit(1)

# def parseArguments():
#     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch Dropbox URL for path')
#     parser.add_argument('paths', type=str, nargs='+', help='paths to files')
#     parser.add_argument('--verbose', '-v', action='store_true', help='toggle verbose mode')

#     args = parser.parse_args()

#     return args

# if __name__ == '__main__':
#     main()

1. Install the dropbox Python SDK:

pip3 install dropbox

2. Create a Dropbox app on the Dropbox App Console.
3. Give the app an access type of Full Access.
4. Create it.
5. Change the Permissions settings to have a scope of sharing.write.
6. Reload the page. (This is in case you've already created an access token. Once you change the permissions, you need to generate a new token!)
7. Generate a new access token.
8. Use this to update the TOKEN variable on line 37.
9. If you use a Dropbox Business account, change the ACCOUNT_TYPE variable on line 42.
10. Place this script in ~/bin or wherever is appropriate (presumably in your PATH).
11. Set permissions:

chmod +x ~/bin/get_dropbox_url.py

Now you can call it to generate links.

$ get_dropbox_url.py ~/Dropbox/file.txt
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlz10rosbw29r1t/file.txt?dl=0
$

I've moved this to a repository and expanded on the instructions.