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How do you stop large team files from syncing to my system, once they are in the process of syncing?
I work for a film media company with team members around the world. Dropbox is a great solution until … someone happens to upload a titanic file, (like a film, or huge special FX sequence that are hundreds of gigs or maybe a TB). The challenge I face: If I’m sharing an active folder with a team (that I need access to) and someone drops in a massive file or a folder of massive files, there is no way to stop the files from overloading my system, (which maxes out my hard drive). The only thing I know to do, is turn off dropbox. But then, I can’t share files. Once I restart dropbox, the huge files are laying in wait, like a tidal wave… ready or not here we come.
If I flag a folder “online-only”, AFTER a large file was placed in it and it’s in the process of syncing to my system, the online-only status doesn’t stop the files from syncing, they keep coming. It appears that once a huge file is in the process of syncing there is no way to stop it. And, if that file happens to be a 1TB film. It downs the computer. I’ve spoken to our internal tech services, and they have no solution to the problem other than to remind people not to upload big files. But accidents do happen.
Is there a way, to select a file “currently in the act of syncing” and instruct it, “No. Stop. I don’t want this file”?
Today, our art department decided to reorganize assets. They moved their entire library of film assets to a folder I actively use. Suddenly, I was inundated with hundreds of gigs of art assets and no way to stop it. I flagged the folder to “online-only” but the files keep coming. Dropbox forces each and every file to download first and then, moves it to online status. There is literally no way to stop files from syncing that I know of.
Has anyone else ran into this challenge?
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I think I need to switch from Dropbox to another cloud service. Dropbox suggested organizing my files, but the interface is confusing. Clicking the checkbox at the top selects everything, not just the visible files. Then I get stuck in the 'make it online only' process. How can I stop this? How can I deal with it? It's frustrating that there doesn't seem to be a solution.
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey mihau, thanks for the feedback here.
Would you mind clarifying which interface you're referring to?
If you could send us some screenshots showing what seems to be confusing/troubling you, so we can have a visual and guide you better, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
So, after selecting the top-left checkbox, it selected all the files I have on my drive synchronized with Dropbox, even though there were only a dozen or so files on the list to choose from. This is very unintuitive.
But that’s not the worst part, because after starting the "make it online" process, it has been stuck for 24 hours, blocking my routine use of the cloud. I can't turn it off; I can only pause it, which doesn't solve my problems. Please add an option to cancel the process while it's running.
Yes I did. They are still the same
