Dropbox Quick Start

The way you approach this book may depend on your situation, including your prior experience with Dropbox. Here are my suggestions for different types of readers.

Dropbox Beginner

If you’ve never used Dropbox, I strongly suggest reading this book linearly, because earlier chapters provide important foundational information on which later chapters build. Start with Sync Files on a Mac or PC and keep going—unless you have only mobile devices, in which case start with Use the Dropbox Web Site, followed by Use Dropbox on a Mobile Device. (But, if your reason for starting to use Dropbox is that someone wants to share a folder with you, see “Someone Invited to a Shared Folder or Team,” below.)

Some Dropbox Experience

People who already have Dropbox installed and have used it for basic file syncing can skim most of the Sync Files on a Mac or PC chapter, but note that it does cover some non-obvious configuration topics. You’ll probably find more valuable material starting with Use the Dropbox Web Site. Be sure to read Share Files and Folders, Use Special Mac and PC Features, and Collaborate with Others.

Dropbox Enthusiast

If you already feel completely comfortable working with Dropbox, you’ll probably want to focus on the more sophisticated uses covered in Use Special Mac and PC Features, Collaborate with Others, Work with Apps, Manage Your Account, and Do Cool Things with Dropbox.

Someone Invited to a Shared Folder or Team

If you’re just starting to use Dropbox because someone else invited you to join a shared folder or team, you may enjoy reading the entire book start to finish, but allow me to highlight some important concepts:

• First, although you must create a Dropbox account (which includes choosing a password), you don’t necessarily have to install the Dropbox software on your computer or mobile device. You can do everything you need to do within a Web browser, if that’s your preference. However, installing the software—especially the desktop software for a Mac or PC—will make it far easier for you to work with files in a shared folder. So, I suggest reading all of the next chapter (Sync Files on a Mac or PC), especially Set Up Dropbox on a Mac or PC, for guidance before doing anything else.
• Second, those invited to a shared folder may want to read the Share Files and Folders chapter—or at least the topics Invite Someone to a Dropbox Folder and Work with Shared Folders—to understand more about how shared folders work from the perspective of the folders’ owners. Those invited to a team should read Share Files with a Team; even though it’s written from the perspective of a team creator, it provides important details on how teams work. In any case, be on the lookout for a few interspersed tips starting with the words “Sharing Invitees,” which call out information that may be particularly useful to you.