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Question

API ENDPOINT - Copy public file to my box

  • May 22, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 3 views
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Hello community!

I'm using copy file endpoint to copy files into my box, but it seems that i can only copy files owned by me, and i need to copy a file from another account but that is publicly shared. (https://app.box.com/s/9zse1nmfvr9sdynmmn6nx7x6h9grkr5h)

Is there any way to copy a file that's not owned by me? The only woraround i found is asking the owner of the file to manually add me as file viewer (so i have it's scope) but i can't have that manual step in my app.

Thank you in advance!

Tom

    2 replies

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    I'm not sure what auth type or sdk you are using, but it sounds like you will want to use as-user calls to impersonate the owner of the files. Here are instructions on how to do that with Oauth and JWT. 

    Hope this helps, 

    Alex, Box Developer Advocate

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    Hi Alex!

    I'm using cURL requests to do this, thank you for your response, but sadly this doesn't fit my needs,

    "as-header needs the user to be a user with admin permissions, meaning either an admin, co-admin, or service account.",

    I would need to copy a public file from another box without permissions (the permission is in fact the file being public).

    For example, in Google Drive, a user can copy a public shared file to it's Drive since the file is public, i think this cannot be done in Box without giving at least "Viewer" permission to the user

     

    Thank you in advance! 

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