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Renaming files: windows re-selects entire filename when other files resync
Found a reproducible annoyance in Windows 10 with Dropbox. I often cycle through a lot of folders using the tab key to rename them one at a time, and this produces an issue where, as soon as the Dropbox app has synced the previous file, Windows highlights all text in the currently-being-edited filename, even if I am tapping through it.
To reproduce:
- Open a folder containing many files that is currently synced in Dropbox
- Click on a file name twice (not doubleclick) to begin renaming it. Rename it however.
- Press the Tab key to flick down to the next file in the folder. If the previous filename was still in the 'editing' mode then you will automatically be editing the next filename.
- Quickly start using the arrow keys or Home/End to move around in the filename but do not start typing
- After a second or two, when the Dropbox App has re-synced the file you previously renamed, Windows will highlight the entire filename that you are currently arrowing-around in - maybe just as you were about to start typing.
I suspect this has something to do with updating the little blue and green file icon overlays.
If you were just about to start inserting some text somewhere in a filename, but hadn't started typing yet, then the fact that the filename has just re-highlighted itself might cause you to overwrite the entire filename instead of inserting the part you were planning.
When doing this with many files this can be a real annoyance. Is a fix possible?
- Hey AntennaMan!
Thanks for following up with us!
It looks like this is not a Dropbox specific issue, and it's appearing with other cloud programs as well.
Now, it'd be wise to note, that since this isn't an issue caused by Dropbox or pertaining just to us, we're not able to provide a precise solution.
I'd definitely suggest checking in with Microsoft about this, as well just to make sure you've exhausted all options and to also let them know about this.
Give me a nudge if you have any other questions!
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Same issue.
Please adress it if possible.
It has disrupted my workflow for years now, one second here and there every sigle day. It adds up.
Today i spent a whole 5 minutes encountering this issue, finding this thread and writing this.
Thanks.
Same issue. Last windows update and last dropbox client as 09 june 2020.
Same issue.
Easy workaround : just pause Dropbox sync while you're doing the renaming work, then unpause once you've finished.
I have experienced this same issue on both Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 computers. I have have had an open support request with Dropbox on this issue for about two months now, and their only resolution so far is to disable syncing when renaming files or folders. This is very inconvenient to do every time you rename a file.
- Daphne
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey there everyone, thank you so much for your ongoing updates here!
Our team have been looking into this and would like to do a little further investigation and need some additional examples to help with this.
I've just sent a brief email to each of you here, if you have the time then please check your inbox for my message and we can go from there.
alexonskiogc, I could see that you already have an open communication with our team regarding this so I've just passed along your comments there.
Thank you so much for your patience, let me know if you have any questions!
Hello, I experience the same issue for past several months working from home due to the quarantine:
Dropbox desktop v102.4.431
Windows 10 Home, v1903, OS build 18362.959
Greetings everyone. I just found this thread.
I duplicate a file and rename it at random dozens of times scattered over a day, so the pause sync method doesn't work for me. My "solution" is to hit left or right arrow to move within the filename, unselecting the text, and -- as quickly as I can -- type a letter. The subsequent keystroke must be very quick for this to work.
I noticed it has been four weeks since a response to this thread. Has there been any progress toward a fix? I've been using DropBox for years and it is the primary IT tool for my startup. This issue is utterly annoying, so I hope it is being resolved.
Brad
I believe that the root cause is within Windows 10 but I'm a senior IT engineer so please tell me if there's anything that I can do to help expedite a fix.
Yup, this is still happening. It seems to be the exact same issue as described here:
Basically, Windows File Explorer redraws the window every time Dropbox (or any other cloud storage service, really) syncs. If that happens while renaming a file, boom, you get this obnoxious problem. Drives me nuts. I've lost count of the number of times that I've accidentally overwritten the name of an entire file or folder and had to frantically change it back. Dropbox staff, I would be forever grateful to you if you solved this issue.
Further update from Dropbox support is that there is no ETA for a fix, quoting from their update on my support request below:
Sep 17, 2020, 11:38 PM PDT:
Currently, the Engineering team are unable to provide an exact timeframe as to when the file renaming issue will be fixed. For the moment, the workaround is to pause syncing and then rename the files.
We'll make sure to let you know once an update becomes available.
