Using DropBox with Access

[CD Tom]

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this. I would like to setup something in my Access program that when a user select an option that the program would load some files to my dropbox so I could get that information.
In my program I extract information to .txt files and I usually have the users attach those files to an email and send me that information. It would be nice if the program could do this automatically.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. If you know of a better place to ask this question please let me know.

[TheSmileyCoder]

Your confusing the terms here. You say load to dropbox, I can't really understand if that means you want to load information allready present in your dropbox, or if you want to export information FROM access into a txt file in your dropbox folder. Please clarify.

Its also quite possible to create a file, and email that file as an attachment if that is your requirement, allthough I don't see how dropbox fits into that?

[CD Tom]

Let me see if I can explain this better. The program creates about 20 .txt files. Right now the user has to attach these 20 files to an email and send them to me. I was thinking that if the program could do this automatically that would same the user the work. I was thinking about doing it through email but then thought about using DropBox. Have the program automatically upload the 20 files to a DropBox folder, the files would then be available on my computer right away and the user wouldn't have to do anything.
The problem I see with using email is that you never know what email provider the user is using I know that MS Outlook works with Access but don't know how to use say GMail or one of the hundreds of others.
I hope this explains my question better, if not let me know and I'll try again.

[TheSmileyCoder]

So you have multiple users, whom you do not know the exact setup off? Please confirm.

Are they using each their own seperate data storage? I.e. you do not have a central backend? Please confirm/deny.


Would you require the files to be UPLOADED directly to a shared dropbox?
As opposed to users having a dropbox folder on their PC, having access place the files into the folder, and let dropbox handle the rest.

I imagine if you use the upload to a internet dropbox, you would require the program to contain the password (provided by you) with the issues that involves, or somehow get it from the user?

[CD Tom]

Yes there are multiple users, and I don't know what email the individuals are using. The program has an option to backup there data, this creates a .txt file in a folder on their hard drive for each table in the database each file as a specific file name that identifies which user the files belong to. The user then attaches those files to an email and sends them to me, what happens is that they forget, so if this could be done automatically they wouldn't have to remember.
I have a DropBox account, I don't think it would be necessary for each user to get a DropBox account. I could setup a public folder or a private folder that those files could be uploaded to. If the program could pass the password to the DropBox that would work better than having to give it to the user.

[TheSmileyCoder]

I dont really know enough about how dropbox works, to be of further assistance here.

A potential issue with file uploading could be internet connection speed and timeouts, and how your gracefully your code will handle that.

Best of luck.

[CD Tom]

Thanks for looking into this I'm kind of new to Dropbox myself, I like the idea but don't know all the ins and outs yet.
Thanks again

[NeoPa]

Please see my PM.