MacOS Finder Search of Dropbox Folder While Saving From Photoshop Not Working

[sgclark]

Hi

I use Photoshop (PSD) a lot and I also am a heavy user of Dropbox as part of my workflow with PSD.  I create a lot of computer desktop backgrounds (go here to see examples - https://www.sgclark.com/wallpapers/epl).  I create these wallpapers in Photoshop and I put practically all of them in a folder on Dropbox so that I can easily share them when folks make special requests.  Another thing I do is update some of these wallpapers.   For example, say I have one that I created in 2020.  Sometimes, I will create a new version of that one and overwrite/'save over' the old one that is sitting in that above Dropbox folder.  So what I will do is the following:

1. Open Photoshop.  

2. Create the new wallpaper/image design in Photoshop

3. In PSD, go to File > Export > Quick Export as PNG and that opens macOS Finder

4. Find file I want to overwrite and save new version, essentially overwriting older version.

What I'd like to do is go to macOS Finder search and search for the name of the file I'd like to overwrite/save over. 

However, in this interface, when I try search of that Dropbox folder that has all my old Wallpaper images, nothing ever shows up.  

I have to manually scroll through all my images in that folder to find the one I want to overwrite. 

I'm on a 2015 iMac 27" running macOS Monterey 12.4.  Not sure if the age of my computer/processor has anything to do with this?

Please see images below.  

I don't know if this is a bug or limitation of the Dropbox macOS desktop app or a bug in macOS Finder search in that it can not search for 'virtual/shared' folders such as those from Dropbox.  I also don't know if this is unique to Photoshop or the same across other similar apps. 

I thought I would try this forum first to see if anyone else has seen this issue/experience and if anyone knows a solution before giving it a go with Apple.

Thanks

Stephen

Pop up window after selecting in PSD: File > Export > Quick Export as PNG shows Files in Dropbox > Desktop Photos folderWhat I see when I search via macOS Finder

[Megan]

Hi @sgclark, how are you today?

I would like for you to locate your Dropbox icon, next to your WiFi and hover your mouse there and let me know what the version of the Desktop application is on your device.

Can you do this? 

Thanks a bunch!

[sgclark]

I have Dropbox 151.4.4304.

I am not sure how relevant the version number of the Dropbox app is, as this issue has been present for an extremely long time across previous versions of the Dropbox app.  I just finally got frustrated enough that I tried to find out if anyone else is experiencing it, if this was a bug or a known issue, and if there was a solution.  

I checked the "Folder Sync" settings and all my Dropbox folders sync with my iMac/macOS.

Thanks

Stephen

[Hannah]

Hey @sgclark, sorry to jump in here. 

Can you let me know if you're having this issue only with the particular folder, or other folders in your Dropbox folder too?

Also, if you quit the Dropbox app, do you see the same behavior with Dropbox closed?

[sgclark]

Hi

1. I am seeing this behavior on different folders within the Dropbox folder tree.  It is not isolated to the "Desktop Photos" folder noted in the original screen shots.

2. I am also seeing the behavior after I turned off Dropbox desktop.  After turning off Dropbox, I tried to do a search in DB folders as well as 'normal' folders in other places on my computer and the behavior persists.  So this tells me that it may not be a Dropbox issue but either an issue in Adobe or an issue with macOS Finder Search.  Would that an accurate assessment?

[Walter]

Hey @sgclark, sorry to jump in here, but I think you're correct that since the issue persists with the Dropbox desktop app closed, it would mean that there's another program or process on your computer that's causing this. 

This would be outside of our remit, though, and you'd be better off contacting Apple or Adobe directly for additional assistance/information. 

What I'd recommend is always making sure that the files you're working on Adobe are locally available to your computer and fully synced through the desktop app. 

Let us know of any updates!