Dropbox is adding new automation features for your files and folders in a bid to remove the hassle of organizing them by hand.
Typically, when you create a folder and add files to it, the onus is on the user to ensure they are named correctly and sorted into subfolders if necessary. Dropbox is offering to take over that role using automated folders and an automations dashboard.
Within an automated folder it’s possible to create rules for naming, sorting, tagging and converting files automatically. You can also have files sorted into subfolders based on dates, keywords, or level of activity, meaning dragging a bunch of files into an automated folder will see subfolders magically appear and the files disappear inside them as appropriate.
The dashboard is used to control and manage your automated folders, and you can also create naming conventions to ensure file renaming follows a set of predefined rules. For example, files can be renamed based on the date they were created and include reference to a parent folder.
Dropbox is also making it easier and faster to find specific files and folders using a new tags system, and any photos or videos you have can be quickly viewed on the web simply by clicking “Photos” on the left sidebar on Dropbox.com. And finally, Dropbox has redesigned the HelloSign mobile app, which attempts to make preparing, sending, tracking, and downloading documents that need to be signed a much easier and more streamlined process.
The new automation features are available to Dropbox Teams right now, with individual plans and Dropbox Family accounts getting them soon. Folder and file tagging is rolling out this week, as is the Photos on the web feature for Dropbox Basic, Plus, Family, and Professional plan users. The new HelloSign app is only available on iOS for now. The Android version is “coming soon.”
