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Dropbox Server

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Overview

The Dropbox server provides essential file management capabilities for your Dropbox account. Built by Dropbox, this server enables AI assistants to search files, upload content, and access your cloud storage directly.

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Getting Started

1

Connect to Dropbox

Add the Dropbox server to your Nexus environment through the server directory.
2

Authenticate with Dropbox

Connect your Dropbox account using OAuth to access your files and folders.
3

Test Connection

Start with a simple search command to verify access and explore your files.

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What You Can Do

File Search

Search for files across your entire Dropbox or within specific folders

File Upload

Upload new files directly to your Dropbox with base64 encoded content

Folder Navigation

Search within specific folder paths for targeted file discovery

Content Management

Organize and access your cloud storage through AI assistant interactions

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Use Cases

  • File Discovery: Find documents, spreadsheets, and presentations across your Dropbox
  • Content Search: Search file names and metadata to locate specific resources
  • Organization: Navigate folder structures and understand file organization
  • Quick Access: Retrieve files without manually browsing through folders
  • Document Upload: Create and upload new files directly from AI conversations
  • Content Backup: Store generated content, reports, and data files
  • Collaborative Storage: Upload files for team access and sharing
  • Automated Archiving: Store conversation outputs and generated materials
  • Data File Access: Find and analyze CSV files, databases, and datasets
  • Report Storage: Access existing reports and analysis documents
  • Reference Material: Locate research papers, documentation, and resources
  • Version Control: Find different versions of documents and compare changes
  • Asset Discovery: Find project files, images, and resources
  • Documentation Access: Locate project documentation and specifications
  • File Sharing Preparation: Search for files that need to be shared or distributed
  • Archive Management: Access historical project files and documentation

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Available Tools (13)

List files in a folder with optional path parameter (default: root)
Upload a file with path and base64 encoded content
Download a file to local disk and return the file path. Files are saved to the “downloads” directory
Safely delete a file or folder with recycle bin support, confirmation, and audit logging
Legacy delete operation (deprecated, use safe_delete_item instead)
Create a new folder at the specified path
Copy a file or folder to a new location
Move or rename a file or folder
Get metadata for a file or folder
Advanced search for files and folders with filtering capabilities including file extensions, categories, date ranges, content matching, and sorting options
Get information about the connected Dropbox account
Get the content of a file from Dropbox

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Configuration Requirements

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Authentication Setup

The Dropbox server uses OAuth2 authentication with specific file access scopes:
Required Permissions:
  • files.metadata.read: Read file and folder metadata (for search operations)
  • files.content.read: Read file content (for comprehensive access)
  • files.content.write: Write and upload files (for upload operations)
Tool-Specific Scopes:
  • search and search_file_db: files.metadata.read
  • upload_file: files.content.read + files.content.write
  • Dropbox Account: Personal or business Dropbox account
  • Storage Space: Sufficient storage for upload operations
  • API Access: Dropbox API access enabled (typically available for all accounts)

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Best Practices

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File Search Strategies

  1. Start Broad: Use general terms first, then narrow down with specific keywords
  2. Use Extensions: Include file extensions (.pdf, .xlsx, .png) to filter by type
  3. Folder-Specific: Use search_file_db when you know the approximate location
  4. Pagination: Use max_results parameter to control search result volume

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File Upload Guidelines

  1. Path Planning: Use clear, descriptive folder structures (e.g., “/projects/2024/reports/”)
  2. File Naming: Use descriptive names with dates or version numbers
  3. Encoding Verification: Ensure proper base64 encoding before upload
  4. Size Considerations: Be aware of file size limits and account storage capacity

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Organization & Management

  1. Consistent Naming: Use consistent file naming conventions for better searchability
  2. Folder Structure: Maintain organized folder hierarchies for efficient searching
  3. Regular Cleanup: Periodically search for and organize files to maintain structure
  4. Backup Strategy: Use uploads to create backups of important generated content

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Integration Workflows

  1. Document Generation: Generate content and immediately upload to Dropbox for storage
  2. Research Workflows: Search for existing files before creating new documents
  3. Collaboration: Upload files to shared folders for team access
  4. Archive Management: Use search to maintain and organize historical files
Always verify file paths and ensure you have appropriate permissions before uploading files. Incorrect paths may create unintended folder structures.
Pro Tip: Combine search operations with upload operations - search for existing files first to avoid duplicates, then upload new versions with updated names.