Dropbox files no longer inherit folder permissions

KiwiMark My problem machine is Windows Server 2012 R2 running DB 85.4.155

None of my machines have DB 86.4.146 - is that an official release?

I just updated the machine with DB v85 to v86 (latest stable build) - but it didn't solve the problem.

Agree - my machines updated over the weekend to v86. I just tested a couple of files and the problem of permissions being overwritten is still there.

I'm also having the same problem, thought it would be good to mention. Hope it will be fixed soon.

I have a nasty feeling we are going to be told that this change has been made intentionally and we are stuck with it :)

Stiggbert KiwiMark JeroenV 

As I predicted, the support case has been closed as follows:

Upon further investigation of your specific case, it's no longer possible to move forward with additional support.

While we support a variety of operating systems, we are currently unable to support Server versions. This doesn't mean that you won't be able to use Dropbox at all, this only means that for this particular type of setup and operating system, we're not able to provide further support.

Please keep an eye on our system requirements page for updates about new supported operating systems:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/system-requirements

I'm sorry we cannot be more helpful.

If you have any other Dropbox questions, just let me know.

Having the same problem on windows 10 pro, anyone find a solution for the non server people here?

Hello everyone.

I'd like to wish you all a happy new year and follow up here. 

 Thanks for posting the communication you received about this rjwb. Unfortunately, for all users that have the same set up as this, the response posted above from our specialists team, would also apply for your set up. 

If you are seeing a different behavior or you have a different set up, I do encourage you all to get in touch with us with further details and we will advise the best way possible. 

Thank you! 

I still don't really understand why Dropbox needs to override the file permissions that an admin user has set on a folder, whether on Windows Server or a supported version of Windows... But I guess Dropbox aren't interested in explaining their change to its customers.

Therefore I am in the process of transitioning our company off Dropbox and on to another product.

I don't have the same setup, I have windows 10 pro, not a server operating system which is the only thing I've seen in this thread as unsupported.

The problem is, when a file is synced from dropbox to our windows 10 machine, the file does not inherit the permissions from the folder it is in (on the windows 10 machine).

There are many other users here that have responded they are on windows 10, not windows server, and experiencing the same unexpected behavior... and we are all looking for a solution to this problem that dropbox recently introduced. 

dmasters I agree - the whole Windows Server issue is a red herring and a convenient excuse for Dropbox to close my support ticket down without answering the question!

Anyway, I'm soon to be an ex-customer...

Hi dmasters, 

Thanks for clarifying that. 

The new version of the Dropbox desktop application ensures consistent folder icons and Dropbox file/folder permissions for items in the Dropbox folder.

Files or folders in the Dropbox folder with custom permissions (such as custom POSIX permissions or BSD flags), will not maintain them. This works, as discribed, to ensure the file syncs to other devices without any issues.

We understand this is not convenient for you and thank you for reporting your feedback. 

I unfortunately have no workaround for the permissions to be maintained. 

Hi,

I have been doing some playing around with this.

- When dropbox downloads a file it downloads it initially to a directory in the hidden system folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache

- once it is downloaded it performs a MOVE to the actual destination folder.

- When you a MOVE (not copy) a file within the same volume on an NTFS Filesystem, it will retain its permissions rather than inherit the permissions of the destination folder.

So if you set MODIFY permissions for "Users" (Or domain users if on a domain) on the folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache then when the file is moved to the true destination folder it will retain the MODIFY rights, and other users on that same machine (Or Domain) will be able to modify/delete the file.

But (I hear you say) what about my permissions stopping people accessing folders that they should not be able to access? Well... these still work. The permissions you have set on the folder will still remain, so you can exclude some users from some folders. The files within that folder however will be modifiable by all, but that does not really matter as other users can't get to them any way.

Clear as mud?

Andy

Very diligent detective work! I understood it on the 3rd reading :-)

I played with the permissions on the dropbox.cache folder and you can definitely work around some of the problems that way, though it's messy!

Thanks for the info - but I am leaving Dropbox for a another product once I've migrated everything across and retrieved my remote users' laptops etc...

> you can definitely work around some of the problems that way, though it's messy!

I never said it was a great solution.... :) :) at least it is one though....

will be doing the same.

volfman and melodramatic take a look at my email template from earlier in this thread (and the thread in general), suggest you contact Dropbox support to voice your frustration.

pwc  I already have a ticket open. 

Fantastic!! This solved my issues. Now it keeps my file permissions :-)

Glad I finally found the "master" thread on this dingbat feature, which is not only poorly conceived but not communicated, a deadly combination.

Incidentally, the issue also happens if you create the file on the web, once it syncs down. You don't even need two machines to reproduce the problem.

I'll submit the complaint, implement the workaround, and hope for the best with a future release.