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My files don't always to my online Dropbox account, even when the app says it's up to date.
On my Macbook M1 Pro, I add files to the local hard drive, but they do not always appear on my Internet dropbox account or on my iPhone. Sometimes I "touch" them with a slight modification, and that gets them to sync, but even this does guarantee that they will appear on my account or iPhone.
SUCCESS!
I finally figured out the problem and solved it! It is a very subtle "bug" in Dropbox. If a file is copied into a folder under Dropbox control, but its name is changed within a couple seconds, Dropbox loses track of it and does not sync it. I have a program that produces text files that are always named "notes.txt". I copy these into my Dropbox folder and immediately give them more useful names. If I do so too quickly, Dropbox "loses" them. A work-around is to re-name them before placing them in the Dropbox folder. Another work-around for files already "lost" in the Dropbox folder is to slightly edit (I add a space character) and save them. Then Dropbox is suddenly aware of them and syncs them. Both work-arounds work perfectly.
10 Replies
- Mark
Super User II
What does Dropbox say if you mouse over its icon? Are the files stored in Dropbox on a local drive with no symlinks etc.?
It says "up to date" and it will do so even when some files are missing.
I just learned a new word today "symlink." I don't think I've ever done such a thing. How can I check?
