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Nappai Documentation

Dropbox

This component lets you pull text files from your Dropbox account into Nappai so you can use them in your automation workflows.

How it Works

The Dropbox component connects to your Dropbox account using the Dropbox API.

  1. Authentication – It uses a Dropbox API credential that you set up in Nappai’s credential manager.
  2. Choosing a source – You can pick either a single text file or an entire folder.
  3. Fetching data – The component reads the selected file(s) and returns the text content along with any metadata (file name, path, etc.).
  4. Outputs – Two outputs are produced:
    • Data – A list of Data objects that contain the file text and metadata.
    • Files – A Message that lists the file paths that were read, useful for tracking or logging.

Inputs

  • Upload file or select file: Choose a single text file from your Dropbox to load its content.
  • or Select folder: Choose a folder in Dropbox to load all text files inside it.

Important: Before using the component, make sure you have added a Dropbox API credential in Nappai’s credential section and selected that credential in the component’s “Credential” field.

Outputs

  • Data – A list of Data objects. Each object contains the text of a file and its metadata. This output can be fed into other components that process or analyze text.
  • Files – A Message that lists the file paths that were read. This is useful for logging, debugging, or passing file references to other parts of your workflow.

Usage Example

  1. Add the component to your dashboard.
  2. Select the credential you created for Dropbox.
  3. Choose a file (or a folder) using the “Upload file or select file” or “or Select folder” input.
  4. Connect the “Data” output to the next component in your workflow, such as a text‑analysis or AI model component.
  5. (Optional) Connect the “Files” output to a logging component to keep a record of which files were processed.
  • Google Drive Loader – Pulls files from Google Drive.
  • OneDrive Loader – Pulls files from Microsoft OneDrive.
  • Local File Loader – Reads files stored locally on the Nappai server.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Only select files that match the supported text types (.txt, .md, .csv, etc.).
  • If you need to process many files, choose a folder to load them all at once.
  • Keep your Dropbox API credential secure; avoid sharing it in public workflows.
  • Use the “Files” output to verify which files were actually read, especially when working with large folders.

Security Considerations

  • The component stores the Dropbox access token only in memory during execution.
  • Never expose the token in logs or output messages.
  • Regularly rotate your Dropbox API credentials and revoke any that are no longer needed.