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"Sorry we couldn't find File ABC" upon cut/paste to different folder

I use Dropbox desktop and this appears to sync fine. However I am encountering an issue when I move a file.

For example, if I move a file into a different folder, and then try to re-open the file, I commonly get an error message "Sorry, we couldn't find FILE ABC. Is it possible it was moved, renamed or deleted?"

Yes I have moved the file but it won't open. However if I copy/paste the document back into its original location, the document opens fine. Likewise, if I open dropbox.com, the file is stored in its new location and opens fine.

Please advise.

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Accepted answers

Walter

The issue you're experiencing may be due to a limitation of the applications that you're using to open or save the files in question @OferL - this is something compeletely out of our control. In short, there are files that your applications can't process correctly because they have file paths that are too long.

This behavior is present if there are more than 255 characters in the entire file path. This means from the C:\ all the way to the extension of a file.

As an example if you had a test.txt file in your Dropbox that had the following path:

C:\Users\OferL\My Documents\Dropbox\test.txt

This file would have a path that is 47 characters long while if you moved the same file to your desktop directly as you mentioned you'd be immediately reducing its filepath to fewer characters as it would result to something like:

C:\Users\OferL\test.txt

Based on your example now, when you move this copy to your desktop as you said, you're immediately reducing the number of characters on the filepath and this is why you're able to open it without issues.

Keep in mind that our desktop application can read and write to locations that are longer than 255 characters, which means that files will sync to and from those locations, however, the applications used to open or save said files (e.g. Word, Notepad, Excel, Etc.) might not support reading from or writing to these locations with long file paths and may show error messages when trying to open, save or edit them. This is out of our control since the application developers would have to add support for long paths to resolve the issue.

You should be able to resolve the issues with your applications processing these files by simply renaming the file to a shorter name, renaming a folder to a shorter name, or reducing the number of sub-folders.

I hope this clarify matters to you and please let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

All comments

Richard P.

I'm afraid thats an issue with your local operating system and not Dropbox, as Dropbox doesn't handle opening of local files, or moving/copying them.

Are you per chance opening an Excel or Word file?

Julie E.1

It's very strange as the issue has only recently started happening and doesn't happen on every file so the behavior is inconsistent.

Excel are the only file types affected so far. Do you have any suggestions? My machine is Win 8 and Office 2013... Would uninstalling and re-installing the Dropbox client do any good?

Richard P.

Its likely to be an Excel issue, as googling "excel couldnt find file" shows several potential issues that throw that error message. Its quite common if you have linked documents or code in an Excel file and you move one of the files from its expected location.

Scott N.1

I have the same annoying issue. Any further thoughts and solutions here guys?

Josh D.1

Hi everyone, I also have the same problem and it's very annoying. Anyone found a solution?

Thanks!

Nelson C.

This is incredibly annoying.

Try shortening the folder name as well as the file names. Works for me. but still annoying.

rmq67

@Richard P. wrote:
Its likely to be an Excel issue, as googling "excel couldnt find file" shows several potential issues that throw that error message. Its quite common if you have linked documents or code in an Excel file and you move one of the files from its expected location.

Yes thanks but neither of your responses are any use whatsoever - can you please get someone on the case that knows what they're doing!

"It's quite common" -I've never experienced it and it only happens with Dropbox, it doesn't happen on OneDrive or Explorer any other file sharing application!

There are multiple people that are very frustrated by the issue so please investigate and work out what is wrong with your application. I'm paying an annual fee fr a service and this goes a long way short of my expectations!

XxKiuxX

I tried to solve this case on Excel 2013, and you may try with below method;

Data>Edit Links>Break Link / Chang Source

And there have "Startup Prompt" to display or Don't display with update or don't update automatic links also.

rmq67

The Edit Links option is greyed out so I can't use this solution.

I don't believe it's an issue with excel settings.

Please find an expert to resolve this problem with Dropbox!!

Rich

rmq67 wrote:
Please find an expert to resolve this problem with Dropbox!!

As Richard stated previously in this thread, this is likely an Excel or operating system issue. Dropbox does not handle the opening of local files, or the moving/copying of them. Dropbox is just a folder on your computer like any other.

It might be worth making sure that the files have fully synced after you move them, and before attempting to open them. If they're still syncing, it's possible that there's still a file lock on them which could prevent them from being opened (also a function of your operating system).

litoviera

I ran into this issue becuase my file paths were too long. Moving the file to the Desktop (or somewhere that reduces file path) allows for normal operation. The problem is with the Operating System, not Dropbox. While this work around is somewhat satisfactory, I can't fathom how it's acceptable to even have limits on file paths.

seanmab

I and our staff experienced this on many files after we recently migrated to a new file structure that utilizes more subfolders for better organization (folders inside of folders inside of folders). For me (and likely everyone) it is an issue of too long of a file name (as others have mentioned).

In Windows, the max file name length is 255 characters. Seems like a lot, but the file name includes the full file path (c:\users\obama\dropbox\folder\subfolder\subfolder\subfolder\subfolder\really_long_file_name.xls). Shorten the file name in a way that still retains it's essence and try to reopen. If that doesnt work, move the file to one of it's parent folders and then try to open it. Hope this helps.

nmg

I cut the number of characters for my file name and that worked. I agree the folder path and file title length were the issue for me.

OferL

roThis is absolutly not an excel issue, bur rather a drop box issue.

a. the problem does not happens when the file is on my desktop

b. I share the file with someone, he has no problem of accessing the file.

This is supper scary. I am seriously considring to check out of dropbox.. I have now have this probelm in the 2nd file/folder - I am really afraid that I have this problem in other files as well...