The Dropbox print connector turns a Dropbox folder into a browsable print source. A signed-in user opens the connector at the device panel, browses the folder, and selects a document -- OptimiDoc downloads it on demand, converts it to PDF if needed, and prints it as a job owned by that user. Access to Dropbox is granted once via OAuth 2.0.
Screenshot: Dropbox connector configuration
Overview
The Dropbox connector is a browse-on-demand print source, not a background watcher. OptimiDoc does not poll Dropbox or copy files automatically. The connector appears in the list of print sources on the device; the user browses the configured Dropbox folder, picks a file, and only then is it downloaded and printed. The file stays in Dropbox untouched.
Common use cases include:
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Printing documents kept in Dropbox from any device, without a driver
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Shared Dropbox folders that hold ready-to-print documents
How It Works
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The user authenticates at an OptimiDoc-enabled device and opens the Dropbox connector.
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OptimiDoc uses the connector's stored OAuth token to list the folder's contents via the Dropbox API.
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The user browses and selects one or more documents.
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Each file is downloaded on demand and converted to PDF if it is not already.
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A print job is created, owned by the signed-in user, and released through the rules engine and quota checks.
Configuration
To configure a Dropbox print connector:
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Navigate to Printing > Print Connectors and click Add Connector.
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Enter a Name and select Dropbox from the Type dropdown.
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On the Configuration tab, set the single field below.
Configuration Settings
|
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Path |
The Dropbox folder to browse, with a leading slash (e.g. |
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On the Access Rights tab, assign the connector to one or more Groups.
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Click Save, then authorise the connection (below).
Authorising the Connection
Dropbox access uses OAuth 2.0 through OptimiDoc's registered Dropbox application -- you do not need to create your own app. OptimiDoc requests an offline refresh token so the connector keeps working after the short-lived access token expires.
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Reopen the saved connector by clicking its row.
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In the OAuth Authorization card, click Authorize.
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Sign in to Dropbox and grant access. You are returned to OptimiDoc and the status shows Authorized.
Use Re-authorize to refresh the tokens, or Revoke authorization to clear the stored tokens locally.
Troubleshooting
|
Issue |
Resolution |
|---|---|
|
Connector shows Unauthorized |
Open the connector and click Authorize. If it stopped working, the token may have expired or been revoked -- use Re-authorize. |
|
Folder is empty on the device |
Confirm the Path exists in the authorised Dropbox account and starts with a forward slash. |
|
A document will not print |
Files that cannot be converted to PDF are skipped. Check the OptimiDoc log for conversion errors. |
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