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Hi Box Support Team,

I need assistance creating public direct URL links for images. My goal is to add these links into an Excel file so I can provide them to the Buyerdock system, which requires the full direct image URL (typically ending in .jpg or .png) in order to pull the images correctly.

Currently, the image URLs in my spreadsheet are generated with a shared link, but they open in the Box app viewer rather than pointing directly to the file path. Could you please guide me on how to generate proper direct URLs?

Thank you in advance for your support.

Senait

Hi ​@Senait Fumis, 

Welcome to Box Community and we’d love to assist! 

 

To generate public direct URL links for images stored in Box that end with the file extension and can be used in Excel or systems like Buyerdock, you need to create direct download links rather than regular shared links.

  • A direct link is a web address (URL) that links directly to a file without using Box Preview.
  • Direct links end with the file’s extension type (e.g., *.jpg, *.png).
  • When someone clicks on a direct link, the file downloads or opens in the default program instead of opening in Box Preview.
  • Direct linking is available only for individual files, not folders.
  • Direct links are a premium feature, unavailable on free personal accounts.
  • For security reasons, certain file types (.dll, .exe, .jar, .msi) cannot have direct links created.
  • To create a direct link, you must set the shared link scope to “People with the link” (public access).

 

Note: The document does not specify exact URL modification syntax, but typically Box direct links differ from preview/shared links by ending with the file extension and bypassing the preview page.

If your current URLs open in the Box app viewer, they are likely standard shared links, not direct download links.

Therefore, your steps are:

  1. Hover over the image file in Box and click Share.
  2. Ensure the shared link access is set to “People with the link.”
  3. Click Link Settings.
  4. Look for an option to create or copy the direct download link (this may be labeled as “Direct Link” or similar).
  5. Copy the direct link URL, which will end with the image file extension (.jpg, .png).
  6. Use this direct URL in your Excel spreadsheet for Buyerdock.

Note: If you do not see the option for direct links, it may be because your account does not have the required Business or Enterprise plan with this premium feature enabled.

 

Hope it helps, and please let us know if you have questions. 

Hi Rona,

Thank you so much for these insights. I do have an Enterprise plan as I’m the owner of Overland. Please find below what appears in the screenshot:

Dear Senait,

Thank you. The first part—about slightly changing the format of the URL to allow their system to pick up the image—comes from Buyerdock.

Your original link:
https://overland.app.box.com/s/xfbytfzv63zlysn0n69lw7igdhfj5iry

Needs to be updated to this format:
https://overland.app.box.com/shared/static/xfbytfzv63zlysn0n69lw7igdhfj5iry.jpg

This updated URL allows their system to pull in the image. Essentially, it’s a small adjustment to the original link to make it compatible with Buyerdock.

Unfortunately, the link you provided does not currently allow them to import the image into their system.

Would it be possible to update the URL in this way?
 

Further to my last email you, there is a way of accessing the full direct image url by changing the following box viewer urls from column W (main image url):

https://overland.app.box.com/s/xfbytfzv63zlysn0n69lw7igdhfj5iry

to the following format:

https://overland.app.box.com/shared/static/xfbytfzv63zlysn0n69lw7igdhfj5iry.jpg

This url allows our system to pull in the image. Unfortunately the import system can't process images that have been embedded into a column as per your latest example.

I have done a search and replace throughout the spreadsheet and reattached to show you what I mean.

Thanks

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