# Dropbox

> Browse, upload, or download files on Dropbox via rclone. Use when the user wants to share files with collaborators or check what's on Dropbox.

- Skill: `hsigstad/dropbox` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hsigstad/dropbox`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hsigstad/dropbox/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: hsigstad (https://skillmd.com/u/hsigstad)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hsigstad/dropbox

---


# Dropbox

Browse, upload, and download files on Dropbox using rclone.

> **Backing up a pipeline/project artifact** (corpus, cache, scraped raw) rather than
> sharing an ad-hoc file? Use the **`backup`** skill — it covers the format (per-file
> ZSTD vs `tar.zst`) and location (`data/` shared lake vs `pipelines/<slug>/`) decisions,
> plus verify + audit steps.

## Available remotes

- **`bi-dropbox:`** — BI/work Dropbox. Contains shared coauthor folders and `data/` directory.
- **`personal-dropbox:`** — Henrik's personal Dropbox. Parts synced locally to `~/Dropbox`.

## Common operations

**Browse:**
```bash
rclone lsd <remote>:path          # list directories
rclone ls <remote>:path           # list files with sizes
```

**Upload:**
```bash
rclone copy /local/path <remote>:destination/ --progress
```

**Download:**
```bash
rclone copy <remote>:path /local/destination/ --progress
```

**Sync (mirror local to remote):**
```bash
rclone sync /local/path <remote>:destination/ --progress --dry-run  # preview first
```

## Parsing the request

The user may say things like:
- `/dropbox upload camara-MG.csv to TCEAndreiHenrik`
- `/dropbox what's in the data folder?`
- `/dropbox download the latest file from ArntzenFivaSigstad`

Extract:
1. **Action** — browse, upload, download, or sync
2. **Remote** — which Dropbox account (guess from context: coauthor folders → bi-dropbox, personal shared folders like TCEAndreiHenrik → personal-dropbox)
3. **Path** — remote path and/or local path

## Known shared folders

- **`bi-dropbox:data/`** — shared datasets (TCEs, TSE, etc.)
- **`personal-dropbox:TCEAndreiHenrik/`** — shared with Andrei Leite (segredo project)
- Coauthor folders on bi-dropbox follow the pattern `{Surname1}{Surname2}` (e.g., `ArntzenFivaSigstad`, `ChenChoiSigstad`)

### Per-project Dropbox roots

When a project's `path.py` reads `PROJECT_DATA` from `.env`, the rclone
remote equivalent lives at:

| Project | rclone remote |
|---------|---------------|
| electoral-justice | `personal-dropbox:electoraljustice/` (data under `data/`, e.g. `data/eleicao_suplementar/`) |
| segredo | `personal-dropbox:TCEAndreiHenrik/` (coauthor) |
| deterrence | `bi-dropbox:ChenChoiSigstad/data/` |
| serasa | `bi-dropbox:AlencarAmoniMarianiSigstad/` |
| procure | `bi-dropbox:DarcioHenrik/data/` |

For cross-project shared data under `~/research/data/`, see
`~/research/data/SYNC_MAP.yaml`.

## Before destructive operations

Always confirm with the user before:
- `rclone sync` (can delete files on remote)
- Overwriting existing files
- Uploading large directories

## Gotchas

- Use `--progress` for uploads/downloads so the user sees progress.
- Quote paths with spaces: `"bi-dropbox:folder with spaces/file.csv"`
- `rclone copy` does not delete files at destination (safe). `rclone sync` does (dangerous).