Easy methods to get round Dropbox’s symlink limitations on Linux

As of mid-2019, Dropbox introduced that they not assist symlinks that time exterior of the primary Dropbox folder. On this tutorial, we present a workaround on Linux that permits us to retailer in Dropbox any file, even when it isn’t positioned inside the primary Dropbox folder.

What
is the limitation and why it’s an issue?

Think about that you’ve got a bunch of information that you just wish to synchronize throughout your gadgets, however they’re saved exterior of your Dropbox folder. For instance, assume that your primary Dropbox folder is positioned at ~/Dropbox however your paperwork reside within the ~/Paperwork folder. As much as lately, you had the choice so as to add these information in Dropbox with out bodily transferring them by making a symlink:

ln -s ~/Paperwork ~/Dropbox/Paperwork

Sadly this function received deprecated by Dropbox. Each folder/file that was a symlink is now copied and the “(Symlink Backup Copy)” is appended to it. Which means any adjustments you make to your authentic exterior folders will not be seen to Dropbox. 
Working across the limitation utilizing mount
Fortunately there’s a fast and simple resolution to work across the limitation on Linux. Under I clarify how this may be achieved on Ubuntu, however the course of ought to be much like different Linux distributions.
To realize the identical

impact, we’re going to use “bind mount”. A bind mount permits us

to create an alternate view of the unique listing tree in a brand new

location. Any modification on one facet is straight away mirrored on

the opposite, successfully permitting us to share the identical information.
To create a bind

mount you should utilize the next instructions:


# Create mounting level in Dropbox folder
mkdir -p ~/Dropbox/Paperwork

# Hyperlink the exterior folder in Dropbox
sudo mount --bind ~/Paperwork ~/Dropbox/Paperwork



That’s it! Dropbox ought to be capable of begin synchronizing the information. Sadly the mount command doesn’t persist between restarts. To make the change everlasting we have to modify the /and so forth/fstab file by appending:


WARNING: Enhancing your fstab file incorrectly can render your pc unbootable. It’s easy to recuperate from this downside however earlier than enhancing the file, you might be suggested to do some studying.




# Add one line for each exterior Dropbox folder
/residence/YOUR_USERNAME_HERE/Paperwork
/residence/YOUR_USERNAME_HERE/Dropbox/Paperwork none
defaults,bind,x-gvfs-hide 0 0



Observe that including the x-gvfs-hide possibility will permit make Nautilus file supervisor to cover the mounting factors.
I hope that’s

useful. Blissful Dropboxing. 🙂