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zephyr707's avatar
zephyr707
Helpful | Level 7
7 years ago
Solved

Best practices for using symlinks (symbolic links)

Hi there, I use dropbox on linux with symlinks, but am not sure which is the best/preferred way to use them. Is there a best practice for using this type of configuration? Currently I use symlink...
Create
desktop
Linux
sync
  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    7 years ago
    Hey there zephyr707,
     
    I would strongly recommend sticking with the current configuration you currently have, which would be having the actual files in the Dropbox folder and having your symlinks in the home directory. In this case, it wouldn’t have any affect on the files syncing as the actual files are within the Dropbox folder.
     
    Issues occur with syncing when the files are located elsewhere and the symlink is within the Dropbox folder instead. This can cause performance issues and high CPU usage when trying to sync the files. In some cases, the desktop app may even just sync the symlink file itself and not the referenced file. This will mean the actual file won’t be synced to your Dropbox account so you wont be able to access the actual file via the web or other devices your account syncs to.
     
    Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions - Thanks!
numan's avatar
numan
Helpful | Level 6
6 years ago

Fopbox support page here (https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/symlinks) says


 

If you wish to have a directory available both in Dropbox and another location on your computer, you can put the target directory in Dropbox and the symlink outside of the Dropbox folder. By doing this, you will be able to have the file in both places and the contents will be backed up by Dropbox.

 OK - so how about someone telling us how to acheive that for the required Desktop and Downloads folder in MacOS. If the answer to that is "it cant be done" then it sounds like Dropboxx has either A) lost a game of cat and mouse with Apple's competing iCloud sync and feels it cant win so is giving up or B) is trying to reduce it's own costs per user by eliminating hi-frequency change folders.

 

I am really really hoping there is a solution to this that someone can document in steps that are followable without being a UNIX expert

 

siamesekitten's avatar
siamesekitten
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago

I'm a Mac consultant and I've been using the below excellent directions from ZDNet to sync Desktop and Documents folders across multiple computers via Dropbox for years. Also works for single computers, of course. Works perfectly and uses the method Dropbox recommends/supports. I've got literally dozens of clients using it. If you have a problem with the symlinks getting deleted, lock them, as mentioned earlier in this thread. 

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/beyond-icloud-syncing-your-desktop-and-documents-between-macs-using-dropbox/

 

 

  • numan's avatar
    numan
    Helpful | Level 6
    6 years ago

    thanks - i will try this. the article does not mention this working witt Desktop folder. Have you been able to do that?

    • siamesekitten's avatar
      siamesekitten
      Explorer | Level 4
      6 years ago

      Yes, I always do both documents and desktop folders. They work exactly the same.

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