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I want to get "download_count" of a file, but the shared_link object is null

  • May 22, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 27 views
C
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I want to get "download_count" of a file, so I use this API (get  https://api.box.com/2.0/files/:file_id).  According to API reference, the "download_count"  is in shared_link object.

"shared_link": {
    "access": "open",
    "download_count": 3,
    "download_url": "https://ww...

But when I call this API,  the shared_link object is null. Could you please tell me how to get shared_link object or how to get download_count? Thanks.

Below is API response:

{
    "type": "file",
    "id": "998558659552",
    "etag": "2",
    "permissions": {
        "can_download": true,
        "can_preview": true,
        "can_upload": true,
        "can_comment": true,
        "can_rename": true,
        "can_delete": false,
        "can_share": true,
        "can_set_share_access": true,
        "can_invite_collaborator": false,
        "can_annotate": true,
        "can_view_annotations_all": true,
        "can_view_annotations_self": true,
        "can_create_annotations": true,
        "can_view_annotations": true
    },
    "shared_link": null, 

    ......

    1 reply

    C
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    Hello, 

    Does the file you are looking at have a shared link set up? Typically if the value is null - a shared link hasn't been set up for the file. That download_count field is only tracking how many downloads have occurred after someone has clicked on the shared link. 

    Alex, Box Developer Advocate

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