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Xavier Montaner's avatar
Xavier Montaner
Helpful | Level 5
2 years ago
Solved

I'm working with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Dropbox doesn't sync some .db files

Hi everyone.  Using Lightroom Classic and Dropbox.  I am getting messages from Dropbox that some preview files can sync.  See attached.  Also when I sync again folders with my computer thumbnails are very slow to populate again in my screen.  See below.  Anyone experiencing something similar? Thanks for your feedback 

 

 

  • Hi everyone!

    Quick update:
    The data transfer was successful. I deleted the old data, and now everything is working again with Lightroom - the error message about synchronization issues is gone.

    Thank you very much for the help and have a great weekend.

    Best regards,
    Carina

20 Replies

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  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey Xavier Montaner, it sounds like the db files are database files, right?

     

    Keep in mind that we generally don't recommend that people sync live databases with Dropbox.

     

    Most databases have remote access methods anyway, so you don't need to sync the live database. You can sync saved snapshots, however, with no issues.

     

    That said, you can use Dropbox to share the data, but you need to take great care and understand how file syncing works.

     

    Most programs create a "file lock" on any file that they are using, and this lock will prevent Dropbox from syncing the file. In some cases you must fully quit the application before Dropbox can sync the data. You must then make sure Dropbox has finished syncing before trying to access the file from any computer.

     

    As for the folder "Group containers" it looks like you could empty it without affecting Dropbox. 

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey Xavier Montaner, in regards to the syncing issue: would you mind clicking "View file" and let me know where you're re-directed to? 

     

    Are these 2 database files? 

     

    As for the hidden folders that you mentioned I did some digging, and this is what I could find online: "the Group Containers folder on a Mac is a directory that contains data and settings related to different applications and services. Each application or service that uses the Group Containers folder has its own subfolder within it."

     

    If you open the 201.14GB folder, what do you see there? 

  • Xavier Montaner's avatar
    Xavier Montaner
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Hi Megan, thanks for your help. 

     

    Around that time, yes...  Device, Macbook Pro M1, macOS Sonoma 14.5 

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey Xavier Montaner, thanks for all the info! 

     

    So, would you say that this behavior started when you updated and moved your Dropbox folder to CloudStorage?

     

    Also, would you mind clarifying your device's OS too? 

  • Xavier Montaner's avatar
    Xavier Montaner
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    I have also noticed the following when using the "Space Lens" Utility in my hardrive... Besides the Dropbox folder there is another one named "Group Containers" that I have no idea what it is.  Intentionally I don't keep much in my hard drive... Only software and my live Lightroom files for editing...  I am not an expert but the combination of Dropbox and Lightroom Classic may be creating the "monster / hidden" folder that takes a lot of space in my hard drive...  

  • Xavier Montaner's avatar
    Xavier Montaner
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Thanks Megan.  I did and the issue still there.  I also restarted the computer... Same issue...  it has been going on for months on and off.  Mosty on.  I think the whole think started when Dropbox made an upgrade affecting Apple equipment: the Dropbox folder was then located in a newly created "CloudStorage" folder... 

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey Xavier Montaner, I know it might sound trivial, but have you tried singing out of the app, and also re-starting the device itself? 

     

    When did this start happening? 

  • Xavier Montaner's avatar
    Xavier Montaner
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Many thanks Nancy. "Indefinitely" is the status... Please see attached how it looks now... Also attached version...

      

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Welcome back to our forum, Xavier Montaner!

     

    Can you clarify the syncing status and app version of your Dropbox app? 

     

    Is this something that started happening now for the first time or did you face similar issues with Dropbox and Lightroom in the past?

     

    Let me know more info.

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