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Forum Discussion
iPad mdwriter app created multiple file copies when Dropbox was offline
I was working offline in mdwriter (simple markdown editor) on Dropbox files while in airplane mode. I went back into normal mode when inside a corporate network wifi where apparently Dropbox is block...
Hi Jay, I did have many versions of the file, I did not lose data. But the only way to stop copies from getting created was to actually delete the original file, otherwise it was hung on that file and kept generating copies even when fully connected again. I think that the helper / service app is not detecting its online status correctly. I think that the corporate network is blocking some, but not all ports, so that it thinks it’s online but it really is not. This leads the markdown app to try saving, failing, and going into its “keep saving forever” loop. I would prefer that Dropbox defaults to “offline” since pure offline mode works fine (i.e. when in airplane mode etc.). This semi-not-connected mode feels dangerous, and multiple copies of files make me nervous about losing data : )
Hi Jay This does seem to be a real error. Using a laptop (Win 11) on the same network give similar problems with MarkdownMonster. Dropbox shows a grey icon with “Connecting”. It cannot write, gets confused, and half-saves files and creates backup copies. I think that Dropbox sees some ports, thinks that it is online, shows itself as online, but when asked to sync files it fails doe to some (not all) ports being blocked. Since the behavior is consistent across the iPad app and Win11 I think there is a real problem here. If not all required ports are responding, Dropbox should report itself as offline, then the programs work normally as expected and sync later. Even if it is still connecting, it should report itself as offline to other apps.
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey autologout - sorry to jump in here, but could you clarify if the issue is not present when switching off airplane mode and connecting to a network that you know for sure isn't blocking Dropbox somehow?
Walter Yes, I can definitely confirm that on the iPad in airplane more and on the laptop with WiFi off everything works as expected. I can save the files and they get synced correctly when back online. If you can give me a list of ports to check I can try ssh’ing to them to see which ones are blocked and which ones are open so you can reproduce the port constellation. Will SSHing to them work as a test?
Is it these ports?- Hannah
Hey autologout, the ports in the article you linked, are the ports that Dropbox requires access to, in order to function correctly.
Can you give access to those ports, to see if that helps with your issue?
