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Cannot edit some text files in Dropbox on iPhone?
In the Dropbox app on iPhone SE, I can open all my text files, but in some of them I do not get the Edit icon (looks like a cursor) at bottom left, so cannot edit them.
In others, I get the Edi...
K-C-L (and others following)
Thanks! You're onto the right cause, and solution ...well, workaround.
Dropbox App editor won't handle either certain characters (extended) or Windows Notepad default ANSI files. A pretty obvious shortcoming. These get rendered in a non-editable file - which looks like monospaced courier, but doesn't make a space for each <spacebar>. Go figure.
Anyway, the workarounds are:
- Convert all your Notepad ANSI files to UTF-8 (open file in Notepad, Save As..., dropdown box -> choose UTF-8 and Save. (Save all new files as UTF-8). This is what I am doing.
- Open the file in Dropbox App. Select a word, then Select All. Copy. Create new file (Text). Paste into the window, name, and Create. Kinda klugy.
Those both work - I've tested.
- There is a way to change Notepad default to UTF-8, which would prevent this from re-occurring, but you have to touch the Registry (I don't want to do that)
- Download Notepad++ which apparently can set a default without touching the Registry (cannot verify). Reportedly Notepad++ takes less resources too (don't know about that either)
OK, a PITA. But do-able. I guess.
But, the real problem is Dropbox App cannot show text files (.txt) in monospaced font (e.g. Menlo or Courier). This is basically a disqualifier for Dropbox for musicians who use text files to create Tab, or Notation files, or chord charts. That's a lot of people left out in the cold. Since they all share files, so Dropbox could / should own this market, but have shut themselves out.
Mike,
I did it a little differently.
Open the CANNOT.txt file in Dropbox App
Highlight a word, Select All, and Copy.
In upper left on Dropbox App screen tap “go back” < arrow
Now you are on the files screen, and at the bottom use the Create (+) button, choose Create or Upload a file, then Text File.
Tap in the screen, and Paste (you should see the contents of your CANNOT.txt file, but now in proportional font).
Hit “Next” at upper right.
Tap filename to change it from Untitiled to YESICAN.txt, and tap Done
Now either accept the location, or change it (under the Save Location heading), and click on Create in the upper right, which actually saves the file you made called YESICAN.txt
A PITA I know. But now you should have a copy of the file saved, and you should be able to edit it.
Sanchez and Cardinal2B - Another detail that may be relevant - for ALL my .txt files, I don't use any of the formal fonts, I write them all in Comic Sans MS.
I am wondering whether it would make any difference if I found out which is the most common font in the world (Arial, Courier . . .?) and used that.
Mike
