> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.paywint.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cloud Storage Guidelines

> How to correctly generate direct-access URLs from popular cloud storage services.

## Overview

When submitting documents from cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, AWS S3, or others, you **must provide a direct download link**.\
Preview links, share pages, and redirect-based URLs will fail validation.

This guide explains how to generate valid, secure, and properly formatted direct URLs for each supported provider.

***

## General Rules for Cloud Storage

Regardless of provider, all URLs must:

* Use **HTTPS**
* Be **publicly accessible**
* Be a **direct file URL**
* Resolve to a supported file type (PDF, JPEG, PNG, DOCX, etc.)

***

## Google Drive

Google Drive shares files using a *viewer URL*, which is **not** accepted.\
You must convert it into a **direct download URL**.

### Step-by-Step

1. Right-click file → **Get link**
2. Change permissions to **“Anyone with the link”**
3. Extract the file ID from the sharing link\
   Example viewer URL:

```

[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ABC123def456/view](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ABC123def456/view)

```

4. Convert to a **direct download URL**:

```

[https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ABC123def456](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ABC123def456)

```

### Valid Google Drive URL

```

[https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ABC123def456](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ABC123def456)

```

***

## Dropbox

Dropbox share links are preview links and must be transformed.

### Step-by-Step

1. Create a shared link
2. Replace `dl=0` with `dl=1`

### Example

Original link (invalid):

```

[https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc12345xyz/document.pdf?dl=0](https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc12345xyz/document.pdf?dl=0)

```

Direct download link (valid):

```

[https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc12345xyz/document.pdf?dl=1](https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc12345xyz/document.pdf?dl=1)

```

***

## AWS S3

AWS S3 supports direct file URLs when the object is public.

### Step-by-Step

1. Upload file to your S3 bucket
2. Make sure the object is set to **public read**
3. Use the S3 file link:

```

[https://bucket-name.s3.region.amazonaws.com/path/to/file.pdf](https://bucket-name.s3.region.amazonaws.com/path/to/file.pdf)

```

### Example

```

[https://my-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/licensing/certificate.pdf](https://my-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/licensing/certificate.pdf)

```

**Note:**\
If using **pre-signed URLs**, ensure they remain valid until Paywint processes the file.\
URLs that expire immediately may fail.

***

## Google Cloud Storage (GCS)

### Step-by-Step

1. Upload file to a bucket
2. Ensure public access for the object
3. Use the public URL format:

```

[https://storage.googleapis.com/BUCKET_NAME/FILE_NAME](https://storage.googleapis.com/BUCKET_NAME/FILE_NAME)

```

### Example

```

[https://storage.googleapis.com/company-docs/proof-of-address.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/company-docs/proof-of-address.png)

```

***

## OneDrive / SharePoint

These services often generate **redirected or preview links**, which fail validation.\
To use them:

* Must generate a **direct download link**
* Ensure anonymous access is allowed

### Example Conversion

Viewer URL:

```

[https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=123&id=ABC12345ABC12345%21123](https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=123&id=ABC12345ABC12345%21123)

```

Direct download format:

```

[https://onedrive.live.com/download?cid=123&id=ABC12345ABC12345%21123](https://onedrive.live.com/download?cid=123&id=ABC12345ABC12345%21123)

```

***

## iCloud Drive (Not Recommended)

iCloud links commonly:

* Expire quickly
* Require additional authentication
* Use redirect-based links

Because of these limitations, avoid using iCloud for document submission.

***

## Summary

| Provider              | Supported | Direct Link Required | Notes                                |
| --------------------- | --------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Google Drive          | ✔         | ✔                    | Must use `uc?export=download` format |
| Dropbox               | ✔         | ✔                    | Convert `dl=0` → `dl=1`              |
| AWS S3                | ✔         | ✔                    | Public or stable pre-signed required |
| Google Cloud Storage  | ✔         | ✔                    | Public file required                 |
| OneDrive / SharePoint | ✔         | ✔                    | Preview links rejected               |
| iCloud                | ✖         | N/A                  | Not reliable for validation          |

***

## Best Practices

* Always test the URL in an incognito browser session
* Avoid URLs that expire in less than **10 minutes**
* Prefer reliable cloud providers such as AWS S3 or Google Cloud Storage
* Keep file names clean and simple: `certificate.pdf`, `id-front.jpg`, etc.