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Connect

Establishes a connection to Dropbox using an access token for use in subsequent Dropbox operations.

Common Properties

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.
info

If the ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed, even if a Catch node is used.

Options

  • Dropbox Token - The Dropbox API access token credential used to authenticate with the Dropbox API.

Output

  • Client ID - A unique identifier for the Dropbox connection that must be used in subsequent Dropbox operations.

How It Works

The Connect node is the first step in any Dropbox automation flow. It securely stores your Dropbox access token and returns a client ID that is used by all other Dropbox nodes in the flow.

When executed, the node:

  1. Retrieves the access token from the provided credentials
  2. Stores the token in a thread-safe token manager
  3. Returns a unique client ID that references the stored token
  4. This client ID is then used by other Dropbox nodes to authenticate API requests

Requirements

  • A valid Dropbox account
  • A Dropbox access token (can be generated in your Dropbox App Console)
  • The access token must be stored as a credential in Robomotion

Generating a Dropbox Access Token

To get a Dropbox access token:

  1. Go to the Dropbox App Console
  2. Create a new app or select an existing one
  3. In the app settings, generate an access token
  4. Copy the token and store it as a credential in Robomotion

Error Handling

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • Invalid or missing Dropbox token credential
  • Empty token value in the credential

Usage Notes

  • The Connect node should be executed before any other Dropbox operations
  • The returned Client ID must be passed to subsequent Dropbox nodes
  • Each Connect node creates a new token entry that should be cleaned up with a Disconnect node
  • For security, always use the Disconnect node to remove the stored token when it's no longer needed
  • The token is stored in memory only and is automatically removed when the flow stops

Best Practices

  • Store your Dropbox access token as a credential rather than hardcoding it
  • Use a single Connect node at the beginning of your flow
  • Always pair Connect with Disconnect nodes to properly clean up resources
  • Handle errors appropriately to prevent credential leaks
  • Use scoped access tokens with minimal required permissions for better security

Example Flow

A typical Dropbox automation flow starts with the Connect node:

Connect (returns client_id)

UploadFile (uses client_id)

ListFiles (uses client_id)

Disconnect (uses client_id)