Dropbox files no longer inherit folder permissions

[rjwb]

Within my Dropbox folder, I have sub-folders with different Windows ACL permissions. Up until recently, whenever Dropbox synced a file it inherited its folder permissions perfectly.

Now it no longer does. It overrides the folder permissions and sets all file permissions to something completely different - Full Control for admins and Read/Read & Execute for users.

Is there any way to get back to the old days - when Dropbox respected the inheritance of ACL permissions to all files in each folder?

[Jane]

Hey @rjwb, that's interesting; let’s have a closer look! 

• Can you include two side-by-side screen shots (without personal info) in your next message showing me what’s your current sync status & the sync icons as you’re viewing a sample directory where folder permissions have been reset?
• Could you also check whether this is happening on a directory where you’ve assigned the same permissions outside Dropbox? Do you see the same thing or does it appear differently? 

Keep me posted of your findings & we’ll go from there! 

[rjwb]

The sync status is fine - all files are syncing perfectly. It's just their ACL permissions are getting changed if the file is synced via Dropbox, as opposed to saved directly to the folder on the PC.

An example folder permissions are as per shot1.

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If a file is saved directly on the PC into the Dropboxed folder, it inherits the permissions from the parent folder correctly (shot2)

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But if it's saved on another machine and gets synced by Dropbox, it gets saved with different permissions and ignores inheritance (shot3)

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[Jane]

Thanks for the screen grabs @rjwb!

It looks like the issue lies on the "timesheet RB 1912.xlsx” that’s added from a second device when being synced down to your first device, which wouldn’t inherit the ACL permissions you’ve assigned to the "Timesheets” parent folder. 

It would be ideal to see the syncing icons & sync status on the Dropbox folder to form a clearer picture. However, could you include an extra screenshot showing me the ACL permissions set on the second device for the parent folder of the "timesheet RB 1912.xlsx” spreadsheet?

I look forward to hearing back from you!

[rjwb]

The Dropbox folder is syncing OK as far as I know:

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On the second device the ACL permissions are:

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Until recently, Dropbox 'respected' the ACL permissions on both devices and the files inherited the permissions from each device's respective parent folder. Now it seems like Dropbox is insisting files are written with their own specific permissions? This has only been a problem in the last few weeks - I have had this setup running since 2012!

[Jane]

Hmm.. I see.. Thanks for all these extra details & visual input @rjwb! 

As you mentioned that this has recently changed for you, would it be okay if we continued this discussion via ticket? If you confirm, I’ll create a support request on our system for you & ask a team specialist whether there has been a recent change. 

Thanks again for keeping in touch with me here! 

[rjwb]

Yes that's fine

Thanks!

[Stiggbert]

Can you update this thread with your findings please. I'm having the exact same problem.

[Jane]

Thanks for the quick confirmation @rjwb!

I’ve just sent you a brief message through our support system. Please have a look at your inbox when you have some spare time & we’ll take it from there. 

I’ll be awaiting your next email! 

[rjwb]

Will do - I suspect I will just be told that I am using Dropbox in an unsupported configuration - but let's see.

I am already looking for alternatives to Dropbox on that basis, but it's a shame that something that has been working for 8 years should now break. It's also pretty fundamental to Windows that applications respect ACL permissions on a folder!