29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

TechTip: Send and Receive Files Between Your IBM i and Dropbox

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

This free app may be just what you've been looking for to quickly share files with your customers and mobile staff.

 

Have you ever wanted to share files on Dropbox directly from your IBM i? If so, you'll find this TechTip quite useful. This article shows you how to connect to a Dropbox account to send and receive files using a free tool called ARP-DROP. ARP-DROP has many potential uses including saving/managing encrypted data backups, replacing unsecure FTP servers for file exchanges, sharing information with internal employees to access from smartphones and tablets, and sharing reports with customers. ARP-DROP provides an array of CL commands to fully automate any Dropbox task, including sending, receiving, synchronizing, deleting and renaming files, as well as creating, deleting, and managing folders.

Simple Configuration

We will assume at this point that you have created a free account on Dropbox and that you have also downloaded and installed ARP-DROP. To start sending or receiving files, you'll need to create a Dropbox account definition locally on your IBM i inside of ARP-DROP and then go through an authorization process for Dropbox access. To do this, type AWRKDRPACT from a command line and press Enter. You should see a screen similar to Figure 1 but without any entries.

 

101113ArpeggioFig1                  

Figure 1: Start the authorization process for ARP-DROP.

 

The user guide for ARP-DROP will give you the specific instructions for entering a local account definition and approving ARP-DROP to use your Dropbox account. After you complete this step, you're ready to send and receive files with Dropbox. 

Send a File to Dropbox

Keep in mind that any task you wish to perform with Dropbox can be fully automated with built-in recovery via a CL script when using ARP-DROP. The ARP-DROP command to send a database file to Dropbox is ADUPLDBF. Figure 2 shows all of the parameters.

 

101113ArpeggioFig2
Figure 2: Send a database file to Dropbox using the command ADUPLDBF.

 

To verify the transfer completed, I displayed my Dropbox folder named Customer/Reports from Windows Explorer (Figure 3).

 

101113ArpeggioFig3 

Figure 3: Verify the transfer completed by looking in the folder you created.

 

Automate Dropbox File Exchanges

ARP-DROP provides many CL commands to automate moving information between your IBM i and your Dropbox account. The commands and parameters can be found in the ARP-DROP User Guide starting on page 16. I'll show a few simple examples of ARP-DROP scripting in this article.

Share a Dropbox File with a User

Many of us have faced situations in which we want to email a file to someone outside our organization and we worry about email servers blocking the delivery for various reasons. Sharing a file via Dropbox is a great alternative, and in fact many email services are moving in that direction, including Yahoo!. Figure 4 shows a sample script for uploading a file and sharing the link. In this example, to the screen shows that an excess inventory report is being sent to a customer. By the way, you could have built a full email message along with the share URL, but in this example I only placed the share URL in the body of the email.

 

101113ArpeggioFig4
Figure 4: Upload a file and share the link.

 

Display a Folder and Retrieve a File from Dropbox

You may run into a situation where you don't know the name of a file that has been placed in a Dropbox folder and you need to scan the folder and retrieve the desired files. One of our customers is using Dropbox to collect updates to a spreadsheet containing work orders, and their field technicians update the work order spreadsheets via their smartphones. Dropbox is a great tool for making that possible, and there are several ways to collect information and retrieve it the back to the IBM i using ARP-DROP. The code below in Figure 5 and Figure 6 demonstrates using the ADFLRLST command to retrieve the list of files in a Dropbox folder and then using ADDWNIFS to retrieve the file into an IFS folder, respectively. In this case, I looped through and retrieved all files in the Work Orders Dropbox folder. Finally, this script also renames the file afterward into an archive folder on Dropbox.

 

101113ArpeggioFig5

Figure 5: Retrieve the list of files in a Dropbox folder.

 

101113ArpeggioFig6
Figure 6: Retrieve the file into an IFS folder.

 

Only the Beginning

This article showed how to build an automated process on your IBM i to upload and download files to Dropbox and demonstrated other sophisticated features, such as scanning for files and renaming files on Dropbox. In our next TechTip, you'll learn how to use Dropbox for encrypted data backups on your IBM i. In future TechTips, you'll see how to synchronize IFS folders with Dropbox directories and perform several complicated file exchange processes.

 

Do you have questions about the free ARP-DROP tool? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Arpeggio Software is a leading provider of security software for the IBM i. Its family of software products provides customers with a collaborative protection platform, similar in concept to anti-virus offerings, where customers can leverage ideas from other customers on ways to better protect their legacy systems and applications. Arpeggio is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and also has an office in Moraira, Spain. For more information about Arpeggio Software visit www.arpeggiosoftware.com.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: