Raspberry pi using dropbox as internet connected cam

Question

I was trying to use Raspberrypi cam as an internet connected cam using Dropbox. But after I update the access token, the command prompt never ask type in the app key and app secret. And I try to upload the file to the Dropbox. The command prompt return with an error occurred upload. How can I check what step I am missing setup my Raspberrypi link to my dropbox account.

EDI: As per comments - The OP is using the Andrew Fabrizi Dropbox Uploader I assume from GitHub here

Answer 1

I've not used the script before (try not to rely on cloud services much now) but you have to run the config wizard first to create the hidden ~/.dropbox_uploader with the details in.

I would delete this file:

rm ~/.dropbox_uploader

Run the program again (with NO parameters) using

./dropbox_uploader.sh

This will give you a set of instructions and a URL to link your account (see code here if you are concerned) about this.

Then run the program to check its linked to your account using

./dropbox_uploader.sh info

Sorry - it took me a bit longer than a day to set up another Pi - I needed to sort one and they where a bit tied up (whoops).

The process is as follows (personal account - not corporate):

1. Pi Zero W v1.1 board connected via USB to my Mac
2. Mac connected to the Internet via WiFi (though irrelevant for this)
3. Clean install of Buster Lite (2020-02-13) updated as of today (20/04/20)
4. Software downloaded from GitHub using the Curl option as per here and chmod to executable
5. Dropbox account signed in. I then removed all devices from my account and cleared any old session (inc one from 2016 whoops) via Account/Security
6. Apps list checked - Only Outlook enabled as an application via Account/Connected Apps
7. Ran ./dropbox_uploader.sh till it prompted me for the Access token
8. In a new browser tab (still with the account tab open) I went to the given URL and selected Dropbox API, Full Dropbox and named the App 'Pi test on Outlook Account', agreed the T&Cs and pushed 'create app'
9. On the next page I saw the App key / App secret pair - THIS IS NOT THE KEY YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
10. Select the button under OAuth 2 / Generated access token labeled Generate

11. This will then change into a 64 character long key and THIS IS THE KEY FOR THE PI (note mine is much longer than this):

After confirming the key looks OK the script reported it had been saved. ls -a shows the hidden config file as above.

I was then able to run ./dropbox_uploader.sh info and got (I redacted some of the data)

Name:       Andrew B******
UID:        dbid:************
Email:      andrew******@outlook.com
Country:    GB

Running ./dropbox_uploader.sh list gave me

 > Listing "/"... DONE
 [D]        Application Files
 [D]        Photos
 [D]        Camera uploads
 [D]        History Files EXCLUDING Lincoln
 [F] 246779 File 03-12-2016, 03 17 23.jpeg
 [F] 190763 File 03-12-2016, 03 18 03.jpeg
 [F] 249428 File 03-12-2016, 03 18 23.jpeg

This matches the web view of the data fine. (Yes - it was really 2016 since I last used this.)

tl;dr:

• Make sure your Dropbox account is valid and not reached maximum APPLICATIONS.
• The Pi does not register as a device on Dropbox only an app so you can still have three computers AND a Pi or two...
• Simple app testing (info / dir / download / upload / delete) works under Buster
• Do not use the app secret / key
• Generate the OAuth 2 / Generated access token