Online-Only Not Working?

In that case, I think you'd be interested in the Dropbox Badge  as you're correct to think that the flow you described would possibly generate conflicted files KeyBlue.

If you are sharing the data between computers you must NOT run the application on more than one computer at a time as this will generate file conflicts and other problems.

Thus, the pattern needs to be:

1. Let files sync
2. Start application
3. Save files
4. Quit application
5. Repeat on different computers.

One workaround that can be used to prevent conflicted copies is to move the file out of the Dropbox folder while editing it. Doing this causes the file to appear as deleted and doesn't allow other users to edit the file. Once you're done editing, you can move the file back into its original location in the Dropbox folder. It will reappear with your edits for all users who have access to that file.

The other option would be to move it to a second folder designated for "In Use" files. Other members of the shared folder can still access it if they need to, but will know not to make changes.

Let me know if this helps!

PS: If you're working on Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, or Excel files and you'd like to turn the Badge on, take a look below :wink:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/business/badge-on-off

Thanks for your reply. That's really not an ideal workflow for a company of our size.

Dropbox was supposed to take over from our current workflow of using physical servers where all files are stored in just one place and there's no copying and pasting locally or turning apps on and off.

Is there another way?

Could this thread also be turned back to 'Unsolved' as none of my issues mentioned are currently fixed.

Thanks for the follow up KeyBlue  - I've gone aheead and un-accepted the solution on this thread and I'll leave it up to you moving forward. 

Now, as I'd like to look into your current setup to provide further assistance on this, may I reach out via email to your Dropbox associated address so we can work on this together? 

Let me know here and we'll take it from there. Thank you. 

Ha, Having the same problem good to see sort of a resolution to this issue 

Sorry to hear about this and apologies for the late reply dfloring.

Now, so as to have a better view of the matter at hand, could you elaborate on the problem you're having by providing information about your setup (device's OS, version of our app etc.)?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, 

I'm having issues wih this, my computer is now completely full even though I started with 'online only' from the beginning. I have manually set everything to online only again, and now my computer wont even sync because the dropbox took up all of my disk space. 

Help? I really need the space and need my files to be "online only", and it seems like the dropbox app doesn't want to work that way. 

Hi DianaWilliams; sorry to hear about this.

Can you let me know your computer's exact OS and where you've spotted the discrepancy you mentioned? If possible, please send me a screenshot as well.

While at it, what's the desktop app's exact status as shown within your computer's system tray/menu bar? 

Let me know what you find and we'll take it from there Diana! 

Hello, when i right click smart sync, there is no option for me to set the file to ''online only" 

Hi mergerarb; welcome to our Community!

If you're still having issues with this,  could you let me know what plan are you on, your computer's OS and the version of our desktop application along with its exact status as shown within your system tray/menu bar? 

Thanks!