Download a file

Downloads a single file from the given path and saves it to a local path. Provide SourceFilePath (Dropbox path or file ID) and ResponseDataFile (full disk path where the file should be saved).

Standard SQL query example

This is the base query accepted by the connector. To execute it in SQL Server, you have to pass it to the Data Gateway via a Linked Server. See how to accomplish this using the examples below.

SELECT *
FROM download_file
WITH (SourceFilePath='/file-I-want-to-download.dat'
     ,ResponseDataFile='C:\path\I\want\to\save\my\file\to.dat')

Using OPENQUERY in SQL Server

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_DROPBOX_IN_GATEWAY], 'SELECT *
FROM download_file
WITH (SourceFilePath=''/file-I-want-to-download.dat''
     ,ResponseDataFile=''C:\path\I\want\to\save\my\file\to.dat'')')

Using EXEC in SQL Server (handling larger SQL text)

The major drawback of OPENQUERY is its inability to incorporate variables within SQL statements. This often leads to the use of cumbersome dynamic SQL (with numerous ticks and escape characters).

Fortunately, starting with SQL 2005 and onwards, you can utilize the EXEC (your_sql) AT [LS_TO_DROPBOX_IN_GATEWAY] syntax.

DECLARE @MyQuery NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'SELECT *
FROM download_file
WITH (SourceFilePath=''/file-I-want-to-download.dat''
     ,ResponseDataFile=''C:\path\I\want\to\save\my\file\to.dat'')'
EXEC (@MyQuery) AT [LS_TO_DROPBOX_IN_GATEWAY]