Creating a Google Sheets tracker for Dropbox folder updates

I need help setting up a system in Google Sheets to monitor Dropbox folders. Here’s what I’m trying to do:

  1. I’ve shared Dropbox links with about 100 suppliers.
  2. Each supplier has their own folder.
  3. I want to know when a supplier adds a document to their folder.
  4. The goal is to have a spreadsheet that shows this info at a glance.

Has anyone done something like this before? Is it even possible to connect Dropbox and Google Sheets this way? I’m not sure where to start, so any tips or suggestions would be really helpful. Maybe there’s an add-on or script that could do this?

I’m open to using Excel instead of Google Sheets if that makes it easier. The main thing is being able to quickly see which suppliers have uploaded their documents without having to check each Dropbox folder manually. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

I’ve actually tackled a similar challenge in my work. One effective solution I found was to use the Dropbox API with Google Apps Script. The general approach involved setting up a script that runs periodically—say, every hour—to check each supplier’s folder for new files using the Dropbox API. When new files are detected, the script updates the appropriate cells in the Google Sheet. This method requires some coding and obtaining API credentials from Dropbox, but it offers flexibility without relying on third-party services. Moreover, you can customize the script to capture details like file names, upload dates, or even file contents, giving you full control over the process.

hey mia, maybe try zapier? i’ve used it to connect diff apps before. it might be able to link dropbox n google sheets. u could set up a zap to trigger when files r added to dropbox n update ur sheet. not sure bout the specifics but worth checkin out. good luck!

While Zapier is a good suggestion, I’d recommend looking into IFTTT (If This Then That) for your specific needs. It’s a powerful automation tool that can connect Dropbox and Google Sheets seamlessly. You can create an applet that triggers when a file is added to a specific Dropbox folder and then updates a corresponding row in your Google Sheet. This way, you’ll have real-time updates without manual checking. IFTTT offers a free tier which should be sufficient for your 100 suppliers. Just set up individual applets for each folder, and you’ll have a comprehensive tracking system in no time. It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require coding knowledge.