Google Drive replaced Dropbox as Davidson’s primary cloud storage and file sharing solution on December 13, 2021. All files and folders from Davidson-owned personal and departmental Dropbox folders have now been migrated to Google Drive. For more information, visit the project support page.
What steps should I take to prepare for this change?
Please consider the following items and complete them before the start of the migration on December 10, 2021.
- Identify files linked on public websites. Since you’ll need to update these links after migration, now is a good time to review files or folders linked from public websites to minimize disruption.
- Consider files and folders that have been shared with you by someone outside of Davidson College. Make note of these files and the owner's email address and have them reshare them with you if needed. You can access Dropbox links and download files without a Dropbox account. If you need to work collaboratively on a document in Dropbox with an external collaborator, you may wish to register for a free Dropbox account.
Faculty members who need to continue Davidson Dropbox access for external research can contact ti@davidson.com prior to December 6. - Consider files and folders that have been shared with you by someone no longer at Davidson College. This includes prior faculty, staff, and students. This content will not move to Google Drive. You will need to download it from Dropbox and upload it into Google Drive.
- Export Dropbox Paper documents, if you need to keep them. If you've created any documents using Dropbox Paper documents and want to retain them, you'll need to export them manually. Dropbox offers an option to export all Paper documents in bulk. Instructions on exporting Dropbox Paper documents can be found here.
- Please do not make any changes to files you might notice under the Migrated from Dropbox folder in your Google Drive or any Shared Drives until you hear that the migration has been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the migration from Dropbox to Google Drive scheduled?
The migration is scheduled to be completed over the weekend of December 11-12. The Migration will start Friday, December 10 at 5:00 pm and be completed on Monday, December 13 at 7:00 am.
Do I have to move my own Dropbox data?
No. T&I has contracted with a Google partner to migrate Davidson College’s Dropbox data. We’ll contact you with more information and next steps well in advance of your data migration.
What type of training will be provided?
Our migration partner will provide general 1-hour training to all users just after their data migration is complete. T&I will also provide additional workshops that cover basic features and functionality, such as uploading, creating, and sharing files and folders in Google Drive, as well as new features like shared drives, search, and file stream. Review our Google Drive Training Resources for more information and tutorials. Training and workshop information is posted on the Dropbox Migration Project page.
Should I start moving files now?
No. T&I will manage the migration to ensure file-sharing permissions and folder structure are maintained for all institutional and department team folders.
Will this change impact files and folders stored in OneDrive?
No. You can continue to use OneDrive, part of our Microsoft Office 365 license, for file storage, sharing, and collaboration. Keep in mind that access to department team folders will be available in Google Drive once the migration is complete.
Does Google Drive offer the same basic features as Dropbox?
Yes, and a few more. Google Drive provides the same basic functionality as Dropbox in terms of unlimited cloud storage, shared team folders, file sync, and link sharing, but also includes real-time collaboration with Docs, Sheets, and other Google Drive apps. Once our migration is complete, you’ll have access to other new features such as:
- Cloud Search lets you search and find information across your organization’s content.
- Drive for Desktop gives you quick access to all of your Google Drive files on demand, directly from your computer without taking up hard drive space.
- Shared Drives allow you to store, search, and access files with a team. Learn more about Shared Drives.
What happens to my Dropbox data during and after the migration?
You’ll be notified in advance about expected downtime during and after the data migration from Dropbox to Google Drive. Once your data is fully transitioned, you’ll use Google Drive for all your file storage and sharing needs. We will provide additional details as we get closer to the data migration phase.
How can I help prepare my department for this change?
Don't build new processes around Dropbox. Now is also a good time to review and organize files and folders and identify public links and links you have shared outside Davidson.
Where should I store confidential data?
Google Drive will be the official college storage solution for most data that fits the Confidential, Official Use Only, and Public data categories, per our Administrative Data Security Policy.
There are some categories of highly sensitive information, such as Social Security Numbers, tax or family financial aid data, credit card numbers, and the like that should not be stored on Dropbox today and may not be appropriate for Google Drive in the future. T&I has implemented Google’s new sensitive data monitoring tool to help detect files containing sensitive information within the Google environment. Learn more about Google's sensitive data monitoring tool.
What if I have shared files using links in Dropbox with external collaborators and organizations?
You’ll need to re-share your content with those outside Davidson once your files are moved using links generated by Google, not Dropbox. Now is a good time to review and identify files and folders shared externally to minimize potential access disruptions for external collaborators. Learn more about identifying shared links in our Dropbox to Google Drive link sharing recommendations.
Can I upload and share Microsoft Office files such as Word and Excel in Google Drive?
Yes! You can upload a variety of file types in Google Drive and have the option to open Office files on your local machine. You also have the option to convert uploaded files to Google format. Note: database files cannot be stored in Google Drive.
What are the recommendations for replacing the File Request feature in Dropbox?
We recommend the following options when requesting files from Davidson College students, staff, and faculty.
- Moodle File Upload
- Google Form File Upload
Note: Google's sensitive data monitoring tool does not support Google Form file uploads from non-Davidson email addresses. If you receive a Google form from someone outside the College, you'll need to use another option to submit the file. - One Drive File Request
Can I print my Google Drive documents using Chrome or other web browsers?
Yes, you can print from Google Drive using Google's preferred browser, Chrome as well as other web browsers. Printing instructions may vary depending on the browser. This Google support article provides printing instructions for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
Will my Davidson email be affected by this change?
No, this change is limited to the migration from Dropbox to Google Drive for cloud storage and file sharing. You will continue to use Microsoft Outlook for Davidson email and calendar.