Managing Box

---
name: managing-box
description: |
  Use when working with Box — box cloud content management platform covering
  files, folders, users, collaborations, metadata, and usage analytics. Use when
  monitoring storage usage, analyzing file activity, reviewing collaboration
  health, managing Box users and permissions, or troubleshooting content sharing
  issues.
connection_type: box
preload: false
---

# Box Management Skill

Manage and analyze Box cloud content resources including files, folders, users, and collaborations.

## API Conventions

### Authentication
All API calls use Bearer OAuth 2.0 token, injected automatically.

### Base URL
`https://api.box.com/2.0`

### Core Helper Function

```bash
#!/bin/bash

box_api() {
    local method="$1"
    local endpoint="$2"
    local data="${3:-}"

    if [ -n "$data" ]; then
        curl -s -X "$method" \
            -H "Authorization: Bearer $BOX_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
            "https://api.box.com/2.0${endpoint}" \
            -d "$data"
    else
        curl -s -X "$method" \
            -H "Authorization: Bearer $BOX_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
            "https://api.box.com/2.0${endpoint}"
    fi
}
```

## Output Rules
- Target ≤50 lines per script output
- Use `jq` to extract only needed fields
- Never dump full API responses

## Phase 1: Discovery

```bash
#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Current User ==="
box_api GET "/users/me" \
    | jq '{id: .id, name: .name, login: .login, space_amount: .space_amount, space_used: .space_used, status: .status}'

echo ""
echo "=== Root Folder Contents ==="
box_api GET "/folders/0/items?limit=20&fields=id,name,type,size,modified_at" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.type)\t\(.id)\t\(.name[0:30])\t\(.size // "-")\t\(.modified_at[0:10] // "")"' \
    | column -t | head -20

echo ""
echo "=== Enterprise Users ==="
box_api GET "/users?limit=20&fields=id,name,login,status,space_used" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.id)\t\(.name[0:20])\t\(.login)\t\(.status)\t\(.space_used) bytes"' \
    | column -t | head -15
```

## Phase 2: Analysis

### Storage & Usage

```bash
#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Storage Summary ==="
box_api GET "/users/me" \
    | jq '{
        space_used_gb: (.space_used / 1073741824 | . * 10 | floor / 10),
        space_total_gb: (.space_amount / 1073741824 | . * 10 | floor / 10),
        usage_pct: (.space_used / .space_amount * 100 | floor)
    }'

echo ""
echo "=== Enterprise Storage by User ==="
box_api GET "/users?limit=50&fields=name,login,space_used" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.name[0:20])\t\(.login)\t\(.space_used / 1073741824 | . * 10 | floor / 10) GB"' \
    | sort -t$'\t' -k3 -rn | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Recent Events ==="
box_api GET "/events?stream_type=admin_logs&limit=20&event_type=UPLOAD,DELETE,SHARE" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.created_at[0:16])\t\(.event_type)\t\(.created_by.login[0:25])\t\(.source.name[0:25] // "?")"' \
    | head -15
```

### Collaboration Health

```bash
#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Shared Links (sample) ==="
box_api GET "/shared_items" 2>/dev/null || echo "Check shared links via folder/file endpoints"

echo ""
echo "=== Groups ==="
box_api GET "/groups?limit=20&fields=id,name,group_type" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.id)\t\(.name)\t\(.group_type)"' | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Recent Collaborations ==="
box_api GET "/folders/0/collaborations?limit=20" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.accessible_by.login // "?")\t\(.role)\t\(.status)\t\(.created_at[0:10])"' \
    | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Retention Policies ==="
box_api GET "/retention_policies?limit=10" \
    | jq -r '.entries[] | "\(.id)\t\(.policy_name[0:30])\t\(.policy_type)\t\(.status)"' | head -10
```

## Output Format

```
=== Box Account: <name> (<login>) ===
Storage: <used>GB / <total>GB (<pct>%)

--- Users ---
Total: <n>  Active: <n>

--- Activity (recent) ---
Uploads: <n>  Deletes: <n>  Shares: <n>

--- Collaborations ---
Groups: <n>  Active Collabs: <n>
```

## Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. **NEVER assume resource names** — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. **NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions** — verify against the service documentation or `--help` output.
3. **NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions** — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. **ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain** — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. **ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully** — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

## Counter-Rationalizations

| Shortcut | Counter | Why |
|----------|---------|-----|
| "I'll skip discovery and check known resources" | Always run Phase 1 discovery first | Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors |
| "The user only asked for a quick check" | Follow the full discovery → analysis flow | Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures |
| "Default configuration is probably fine" | Audit configuration explicitly | Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled |
| "Metrics aren't needed for this" | Always check relevant metrics when available | API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues |
| "I don't have access to that" | Try the command and report the actual error | Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative |

## Common Pitfalls
- **Folder ID 0**: Root folder always has ID `0`
- **Fields parameter**: Use `fields` query param to select specific fields and avoid large responses
- **Rate limits**: 1000 API calls/minute for enterprise; 10 calls/second per user
- **Pagination**: Use `limit` and `offset`; check `total_count` in response
- **Admin events**: `admin_logs` stream type requires admin privileges