All files synced AND available offline

[joshfree]

I'm using an Intel Macbook Pro running OS Ventura 13.3.  I back all my files up to an external drive (a NAS, in fact). My backup software has now replaced many of my files with a Zero KB alias (or whatever the file is that Dropbox uses to track its offline files). I need to get those files back, and back up the actual files up externally.

Questions:

1. I have now right-clicked on my Dropbox folder and selected Make Available Offline. I am assuming this will download any offline files and put the actual data back on my hard drive. Is that correct?
2. I want all that data to continue to sync normally and reliably so I can work on active projects with my team. Will that happen?
3. I have read that I can set this permanently in my preferences, but I don't see that setting. Can someone tell me precisely where to look and how to set it? Maybe a screenshot?

Thanks for any help!

[Walter · Accepted solution]

Hey @joshfree, thanks for posting on our Community!

When it comes to your first concern, you're right - you'll just need to give the desktop app enough time to sync those changes until it shows 'up to date' in your menu bar.

As for your second query, note that this option is not available to the new desktop app for Mac OS. You can read more about it along with the other expected changes here. 

Let me know if you have any other questions, Josh. 

[joshfree]

Thanks for the quick response! 

I know that Chronosync is working on a fix for this, but I assume that would involve downloading any files as it backs them up, which sounds like a slow and intense process. Best practice seems to me to be what I'm doing: not allowing Dropbox to remove files from my hard drive and replace them with "pointer" files.

If there is a better way to handle this that you're aware of, please let me know. Thank you again!

[Walter]

I can't think of a better way to achieve this to be honest, Josh. 

I'll leave this thread open though, in case another user has something additional to offer.