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How can I correct the dates of my files in Dropbox?
Hi,
I upload pictures/videos with new dates (not correct) from Linux to dropbox. After update the mtime (old correct dates) in the local disk, I can not find a way to sync the date in dropbox.
I tried stop the daemon delete the files from Dropbox and then start the daemon. I found that it remove the local file and had to restore it with the non-correct date.
I stopped the daemon and rm -r ~/.dropbox and start again. It just caused indexing again but date didnt change.
How can I remove the dropbox folder and make it forgot so after start daemon, it will resync with the correct date.
Thanks,
Rafi
Hi raficohen12, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
The way the Dropbox desktop application syncs files would be when changes are detected in the files themselves.
As using the mtime command on files within the Dropbox folder isn't known behavior for the app, could you try using mtime on the files outside the Dropbox folder, and then move them into the Dropbox folder (after first deleting the incorrect files in the Dropbox folder)?
This should retain the dates you created, and should sync that way to the site.
Keep me updated with any progress!
12 Replies
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi raficohen12, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
The way the Dropbox desktop application syncs files would be when changes are detected in the files themselves.
As using the mtime command on files within the Dropbox folder isn't known behavior for the app, could you try using mtime on the files outside the Dropbox folder, and then move them into the Dropbox folder (after first deleting the incorrect files in the Dropbox folder)?
This should retain the dates you created, and should sync that way to the site.
Keep me updated with any progress!
Hi Jay,
I really like to thank you. It works! Chat-GPT suggested many things that didn't help.
Thanks,
Rafi
- Jay
No worries, glad to have helped out!
If there's anything else we can assist with, feel free to reply back here. Hi Jay,
In iphone app in the folder I can see only pictures with correct dates. But in the photo tab I see for each picture black picture next to the good picture. When I click the black picture I get "couldnt load photo" and "there was an error loading the file." and "You have saved a new version" with refresh button. click the refresh button do nothing.
Thanks,
Rafi
- Megan
Hey raficohen12, let me also jump in here!
Would you mind attaching a few screenshots of your photos tab, and what you see there?
You should be able to click the camera-like icon and send them our way. It'll help us get the visual.
Also, how long has this been happening for?
Hi Megan,
It fixed...
i just had to wait ~20min...
Thanks,
Rafi
- Megan
That's awesome to hear raficohen12! 😇
If you need something else, we'll be one post away!
Hi,
When I did the same with bigger folder that contains video too.
mv /storage/Dropbox/vidoes /storage
fixes all videos in /storage/videos
mv /storage/video /storage/Dropbox
I got the below and the dates return to wrong date.
Thanks,
Rafi
You can see the commands that I run and it doesn't help to make the mp4 date correct.
ls -l /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/
total 8140
-rwxr--r-- 1 rafic rafic 8333667 Jun 4 19:39 20140808_124425.mp4
debian12:/storage/ByYearVideo/2014> rm /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
debian12:/storage/ByYearVideo/2014> cp 20140808_124425.mp4 /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/
debian12:/storage/ByYearVideo/2014> ls -l /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
-rwxr--r-- 1 rafic rafic 8333667 Jun 4 19:41 /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4Please ignore the last message.
debian12:/storage> ls -l Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
-rwxr--r-- 1 rafic rafic 8333667 Jun 4 22:05 Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
debian12:/storage> rm Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
debian12:/storage> ls -l ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
-rwxr--r-- 1 rafic rafic 8333667 Aug 8 2014 ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
debian12:/storage> cp ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4 /storage/Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014
debian12:/storage> ls -l Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
-rwxr--r-- 1 rafic rafic 8333667 Jun 4 22:07 Dropbox/familyshare/ByYearVideo/2014/20140808_124425.mp4
