New in Sitefinity 5.2: Dropbox Synchronization Module

The Dropbox module was originally introduced as a developer sample in the Sitefinity SDK to demonstrate how to create a custom library provider in Sitefinity. However as of Sitefinity version 5.2 it is now promoted to an official out-of-the-box module.

The Dropbox Service

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily.

Dropbox allows users to create a special folder on each of their computers, which Dropbox then synchronizes so that it appears to be the same folder (with the same contents) regardless of the computer it is viewed on. Files placed in this folder are also accessible through a website and mobile phone applications.

The Dropbox Module

The Sitefinity Dropbox Module allows you to synchronize your library content (Images, Documents, Videos) to your Dropbox account, allowing access via the Dropbox website or even on your computer through the Dropbox application.

The module allows you to setup synchronization between the existing default Sitefinity Library providers, or create a separate provider to keep your Dropbox content separate. Any published items will be automatically synchronized to your Dropbox app folder, and vice versa.

The synchronization even works with the Dropbox application, and will automatically download any images to your machine, allowing you to manage your content using your file system.

Getting Started

For a quick introduction to installing and using the module, be sure to take a look at this Sitefinity Getting Started Guide: Using the Sitefinity Dropbox Synchronization Module and the associated video below.

There are also detailed instructions for configuring the module in the Sitefinity Documentation: Configuring the Dropbox File hosting Service.

Important Note

Although this module was built upon the SDK sample mentioned earlier, the final module that is now part of Sitefinity no longer functions as a "Dropbox storage provider" but rather as a "Dropbox Synchronization Tool." This was decided due to current limitations in the Dropbox API that impacted performance and accessibility when using Dropbox as the storage medium.

We are continuing to evaluate the direction of this module, based highly on your feedback. So please be sure to share your experiences with us, especially if you are coming from the SDK sample.

If you are interested in continuing to use Dropbox as a storage medium, the original Dropbox Provider sample is still available in the SDK. You can read more about how the original Dropbox module was developed by reading the documentation for the Sitefinity Dropbox Sample (which you can download and run via the Sitefinity SDK).

The complete documentation for the guide is available in the developer guide: How to create a Dropbox libraries data provider.

Try It Now!

The Sitefinity Dropbox Module is a great way to keep your Sitefinity library content in sync, giving you a new way to publish content and control your content. It is also now freely available as an out-of-the-box module as of Sitefinity 5.2, so be sure to try it out for yourself today!

As always, be sure to share your feedback with us in the Sitefinity discussion forums.