2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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---
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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title: Spreadsheets in Dropbox
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sidebar_label: Dropbox
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2023-02-28 11:40:44 +00:00
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pagination_prev: demos/local/index
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pagination_next: demos/extensions/index
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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---
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<head>
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2024-05-28 05:20:05 +00:00
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<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.dropbox.com/static/api/2/dropins.js" id="dropboxjs" data-app-key="v85yuk360zx6nyx"></script>
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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</head>
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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[Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/) is a file hosting service that offers APIs
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for programmatic file access.
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[SheetJS](https://sheetjs.com) is a JavaScript library for reading and writing
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data from spreadsheets.
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This demo uses SheetJS to read and write spreadsheets stored on Dropbox. We'll
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explore two Dropbox API workflows:
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- A "Chooser"[^1] application allows users to select files from their Dropbox
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accounts. This demo will fetch and parse the selected file.
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- A "Saver"[^2] application allows users to save a generated spreadsheet to
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their Dropbox account. This demo will generate a XLS workbook using SheetJS.
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## Integration Details
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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"Dropbox Apps" are the standard way to interact with the service. The
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["Dropbox App"](#dropbox-app) section describes how this demo was configured.
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:::info pass
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The Dropbox API script is loaded in this page with
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```html
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2024-05-28 05:20:05 +00:00
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<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.dropbox.com/static/api/2/dropins.js" id="dropboxjs" data-app-key="v85yuk360zx6nyx"></script>
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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```
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The `data-app-key` used in this demo is a "Development" key associated with the
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`localhost` and `docs.sheetjs.com` domains. Dropbox API does not require
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"Production" approval for the Chooser or Saver.
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:::
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The live demos require a Dropbox account.
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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### Reading Files
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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"Chooser" is a small library that lets users select a file from their account.
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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`Dropbox.createChooseButton` is a function that accepts an options argument and
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returns a DOM element that should be added to the page:
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```js
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var button = Dropbox.createChooseButton({
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/* ... options described below ... */
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});
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document.appendChild(button);
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```
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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The following options must be set:
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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- `multiselect: false` ensures only one file can be selected
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- `folderselect: false` limits selection to real files
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- `linkType: "direct"` ensures the link points to a raw file
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- `success` method is called when the user selects a file
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The following options are optional:
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- `extensions: ['.xlsx', '.xls']` limits the file types for selection
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#### Chooser Callback
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The `success` callback method receives an array of File objects even if only one
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file is selected. This file object has the following properties:
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- `name` is the name of the selected file
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- `link` is a temporary URL that can be fetched
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This demo fetches the link using the `fetch` API, parses the raw data using the
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SheetJS `read` function[^3] and generates a HTML table using `sheet_to_html`[^4]
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```js
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async(files) => {
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/* get file entry -- note that dropbox API always passes an array */
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var file = files[0];
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console.log(`Selected ${file.name} ID=${file.id}`);
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/* fetch file and parse */
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var wb = XLSX.read(await (await fetch(file.link)).arrayBuffer());
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/* convert first sheet to HTML table and add to page */
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var html = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]]);
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console.log(html);
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}
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```
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#### Chooser Live Demo
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:::caution pass
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2023-02-18 02:33:30 +00:00
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If the live demo shows a message
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```
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ReferenceError: Dropbox is not defined
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```
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please refresh the page. This is a known bug in the documentation generator.
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:::
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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```jsx live
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function SheetJSChoisissez() {
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const [msg, setMsg] = React.useState("Press the button to show a Chooser");
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const btn = useRef(), tbl = useRef();
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React.useEffect(() => {
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2023-06-25 19:57:03 +00:00
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if(typeof Dropbox == "undefined") return setMsg("Dropbox is not defined");
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/* create button */
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var button = Dropbox.createChooseButton({
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/* required settings */
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multiselect: false,
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folderselect: false,
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linkType: "direct",
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/* optional settings */
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extensions: ['.xlsx', '.xls', '.numbers'], // list of extensions
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/* event handlers */
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cancel: () => setMsg("User Canceled Selection!"),
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success: async(files) => {
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/* get file entry -- note that dropbox API always passes an array */
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var file = files[0];
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setMsg(`Selected ${file.name} ID=${file.id}`);
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/* fetch file and parse */
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var wb = XLSX.read(await (await fetch(file.link)).arrayBuffer());
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/* convert first sheet to HTML table and add to page */
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tbl.current.innerHTML = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]]);
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}
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});
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/* add button to page */
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btn.current.appendChild(button);
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}, []);
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return ( <><b>{msg}</b><br/><div ref={btn}/><div ref={tbl}/></> );
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}
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```
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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### Writing Files
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"Saver" is a small library that lets users save files to their account.
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`Dropbox.createSaveButton` is a function that accepts three arguments and
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returns a DOM element that should be added to the page:
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```js
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var button = Dropbox.createSaveButton(url, filename, options);
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/* add button to page */
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btn.current.appendChild(button);
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```
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`filename` will be the recommended filename in the Save window.
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The options object supports two callbacks: `success` (if the save succeeded) and
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`cancel` (if the user cancels without saving).
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#### URL
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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:::caution pass
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The Dropbox API was not designed for writing files that are created in the web
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browser. The Data URI approach is a neat workaround but should not be used in
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production for larger files. It is better to create the files in the server
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using NodeJS and generate a proper URL for Dropbox to fetch.
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:::
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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The Dropbox API is designed to fetch data from a user-specified URL. Files are
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not included in the request!
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The SheetJS workaround involves the Data URI scheme[^5]. The main steps are:
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1) Write a workbook using the SheetJS `write`[^6] method. The `type: "base64"`
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option instructs the method to return a Base64-encoded string.
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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```js
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/* write XLS workbook (Base64 string) */
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const b64 = XLSX.write(workbook, { type: "base64", bookType: "xls" });
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```
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2) Construct a Data URL by prepending the `data` header:
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```js
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/* create data URI */
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const url = "data:application/vnd.ms-excel;base64," + b64;
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```
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3) Create a button and add it to the page:
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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```js
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/* create save button using the concise function call */
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var button = Dropbox.createSaveButton( url, "SheetJSDropbox.xls", {
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success: () => setMsg("File saved successfully!"),
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cancel: () => setMsg("User Canceled Selection!"),
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});
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document.appendChild(button);
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```
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2023-09-19 19:08:29 +00:00
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:::info pass
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The file must be written before the Save button is created.
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:::
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#### Saver Live Demo
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2024-05-28 05:20:05 +00:00
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This demo starts with an array of arrays of data. When the page loads, the data
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is exported to XLSX and a data URI is generated. When the button is clicked, the
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data URI is sent to Dropbox and the service will attempt to save the data to
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`SheetJSDropbox.xls` in your Dropbox account.
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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:::caution pass
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2023-02-18 02:33:30 +00:00
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If the live demo shows a message
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```
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ReferenceError: Dropbox is not defined
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```
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please refresh the page. This is a known bug in the documentation generator.
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:::
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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```jsx live
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function SheetJSEnregistrez() {
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const [msg, setMsg] = React.useState("Press the button to write XLS file");
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const btn = useRef(), tbl = useRef();
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2024-01-31 08:14:07 +00:00
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React.useEffect(() => { (async() => {
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if(typeof Dropbox == "undefined") return setMsg("Dropbox is not defined");
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/* fetch data and write table (sample data) */
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const f = await(await fetch("https://docs.sheetjs.com/pres.xlsx")).arrayBuffer();
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const wb = XLSX.read(f);
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tbl.current.innerHTML = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]]);
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/* create workbook from table */
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const table = tbl.current.getElementsByTagName("TABLE")[0];
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const new_wb = XLSX.utils.table_to_book(table);
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/* write XLS workbook (Base64 string) */
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const b64 = XLSX.write(new_wb, { type: "base64", bookType: "xls" });
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/* create data URI */
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const url = "data:application/vnd.ms-excel;base64," + b64;
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/* create save button using the concise function call */
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var button = Dropbox.createSaveButton( url, "SheetJSDropbox.xls", {
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success: () => setMsg("File saved successfully!"),
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cancel: () => setMsg("User Canceled Selection!"),
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});
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/* add button to page */
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btn.current.appendChild(button);
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})(); }, []);
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return ( <><b>{msg}</b><br/><div ref={btn}/><div ref={tbl}/></> );
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}
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```
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## Dropbox App
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2023-11-30 07:10:37 +00:00
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:::note Tested Deployments
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2023-04-09 21:13:24 +00:00
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2025-05-18 20:09:19 +00:00
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This demo was last tested on 2025-05-14.
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2023-04-09 21:13:24 +00:00
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:::
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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This demo requires a "Dropbox app":
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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0) Create a Dropbox account and verify the associated email address. This demo
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has been tested with a free Dropbox Basic plan account. The app installation
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step can be safely skipped.
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1) Create a Dropbox app in the Developer panel.
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Click the `᎒᎒᎒` icon > App Center. In the next page, click "Build an App" in the
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left sidebar. In the next page, click "Create apps".
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In the App creation wizard, select the following options:
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- "Choose an API": "Scoped access"
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- "Choose the type of access you need": "Full Dropbox"
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- "Name": (enter any name)
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:::caution pass
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The Dropbox API Terms and Conditions should be reviewed before acceptance.
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:::
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Click "Create App" to create the app.
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2) Configure the Dropbox app in the Developer tools.
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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The following permissions should be selected in the "Permissions" tab
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- `files.metadata.write` (View and edit information about your Dropbox files and folders)
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- `files.metadata.read` (View information about your Dropbox files and folders)
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- `files.content.write` (Edit content of your Dropbox files and folders)
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- `files.content.read` (View content of your Dropbox files and folders)
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2024-05-28 05:20:05 +00:00
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After selecting the permissions, click "Submit".
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In the Settings tab, under "Chooser / Saver / Embedder domains", the desired
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2023-02-11 07:13:53 +00:00
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public domains should be added. `localhost` must also be added for development
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use (it is not automatically enabled).
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2023-08-28 22:40:53 +00:00
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For public use, select "Enable Additional Users".
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3) Copy the "App key" and add it to the `data-app-key` attribute of the Dropbox
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integration script reference.
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[^1]: See ["Chooser"](https://www.dropbox.com/developers/chooser) in the Dropbox Developers Documentation
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[^2]: See ["Saver"](https://www.dropbox.com/developers/saver) in the Dropbox Developers Documentation
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[^3]: See [`read` in "Reading Files"](/docs/api/parse-options)
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[^4]: See [`sheet_to_html` in "Utilities"](/docs/api/utilities/html#html-table-output)
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[^5]: See ["Data URLs"](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Basics_of_HTTP/Data_URLs) in the "MDN web docs"
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[^6]: See [`writeFile` in "Writing Files"](/docs/api/write-options)
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