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Bulk file moving with REST API

  • May 22, 2025
  • 2 replies
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C
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Hi.

 

I'm trying to figure out if there is any efficient way I can move files between folders in bulk. The scenario is as follows, loads of files are dumped into one folder (anything from 2000 to 90.000) then based on some algorithm and logic this files are structured in subfolders. 

 

I was looking to the documentation: https://developer.box.com/reference#update-a-files-information on how to do this, but it looks to me that the only way is to iterate trough the files one by one, which I think it's very inefficient, not to mention that it will use up the monthly API limit in no-time.

 

Is there any way we can do this in bulk where we specify an array of files which needs to be updated? 

 

Thank you.

    2 replies

    C
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    Hey , 

     

    Thanks for your message! This is in fact a question we get a lot and batch functionality is something we are working on. Batch API functionality actually exists in a few of our SDKs, like the Java SDK for example:

    https://github.com/box/box-java-sdk/blob/35721c7b57776f2228a4d24bb5252a8ae373c559/src/main/java/com/box/sdk/BatchAPIRequest.java

     

    But you'll notice it's not publicly documented on developer.box.com yet. In short, we have some functionality out now - not all endpoints are supported and we're not ready to call it something that's fully ready for implementation. As a result, some SDKs are have foundational pieces built in but it's not a wholesale ready-to-go feature... yet. As soon as it is, you'll be able to see at our API Changelog:

    https://developer.box.com/v2.0/docs/api-changelog

     

    Thanks,

    Jason

    C
    Forum|alt.badge.img

    Hi Jason


    Thank you for answering the questions. Is there any ETA for this, for
    example can I expect this to be available this year?

    Only asking because the route for development I will take will depend on
    this. If this feature is to be expected this year I can live with all files
    being located in one folder and only run a cleanup at the end of the year,
    however if this is not to be expected this year I will need to write my own
    methods for this involving FTP which isn't efficient at all.

    Thank you.

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