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folder name change causes sync issues

Hi,

I'm renaming folders in an attempt to get shorter paths (to get rid of these sync problems). Renaming a folder has lead to sync issues several times. After changing a folder name on the mac desktop app (v57.4.89) dropbox displays the "can't sync folder not empty" error for some folder contained in the folder with the different name that used to sync just fine. Resolved by removing the folder from Selective Sync, quit and restart DB, waiting to sync, adding the folder back and waiting to sync.

Is it better to change names on the web interface and let the changes sync to the computers from there?

thanks

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Lusil

Hi there, sorry to hear about this.

@g v. wrote:

Is it better to change names on the web interface and let the changes sync to the computers from there?

Indeed, it might be a resolution to the behavior you’re experiencing. Try it out, and if you’re still getting some trouble or you’re seeing an error, send me a screenshot (omitting any personal info) so as to have a better understanding of what occurred.

In any case, let me know how it goes! :slight_smile:

All comments

Lusil

Hi there, sorry to hear about this.

@g v. wrote:

Is it better to change names on the web interface and let the changes sync to the computers from there?

In any case, let me know how it goes! :slight_smile:

g v.

thanks, that went very fast now.

Lusil

Glad to hear that, @g v.!

If you have any other questions in the future, just give us a shout. In the mean time, have a wonderful day ahead!

g v.

addition: cleaning up more folders like this I frequently ended up with "folder_name (Selective Sync Conflict)" folders that contained only files with long file names and special characters, mostly | from saving websites. So even if Dropbox is usually able to sync them as long as I stay on a mac, they can cause problems anyway.

iizuum

I've changed the name of the online only folder from my MAc's dropbox interface - and now online it says "folder deleted" and all my online files are gone! that's 20 years worth of photo library! Help

Lusil

Hey there @iizuum, sorry to hear about that.

Initially, please note that renaming a folder or a file doesn’t mean that your content will be removed from your Dropbox account.

Since moving any content is considered a deletion from one location and an addition to another, could it be that you also moved the folder?

Additionally, do you see the files when you search for them (either by navigating through the relevant path or by looking them up from the website)?

Let me know what you find!

kinman1

This might be fine going forward, but having changed the folder name on one computer (and the sync proceeding just fine), my other computer shows a few files with this problem. I have quit the Desktop app and restarted, as well as unlinking and relinking (logging out and logging in) the local DB folder. Neither of these worked. When I look at "View sync issues," it indicates that I need to uncheck the "locked" box in file info, which of course is definitely not the problem (yes I looked).

It's not a permission problem either, as the permissions are the same for every file in that folder (and that folder), where everything else sync'd up just fine. If it makes a difference, these are .m4v and VOB files. Thanks in advance.

MacPro/OSX-Mojave/DB v79.4.143

Lusil

Hey there @kinman1,

Could you please provide me with more info on the behavior you're experiencing so that I have a better understanding of your concern? For example:

Are you removing or renaming files from one computer and another computer is attempting to resync them?
You also mention an error prompted by the desktop app. Could you please send me a screenshot of it (without any personal info)?

Any additional details would be very helpful. Thanks ina dvance!

kinman1

Lusil,

I've posted detailed descriptions, including screenshots as requested, and I get a message that says it needs approval, or it was rejected as spam. I'll try re-posting without the screenshots, as perhaps that's the problem.

kinman1

Lusil,

Thanks for responding.

I have a folder labeled, in part, "2200" and on my computer, in my Finder, I simply changed it to "220" (dropping one of the "0's." This was done on my laptop. I got a message that I had deleted "2200" and created "220," which is behaviour I've seen in the past, and makes sense to me.

When I went to my desktop several hours later, Dropbox had sync'd those changes for the folder, and had properly sync'd a larged number of the files in that folder. However, the DB menulet at the top continued to have the "I'm syncing" icon on it, and indicating that it was syncing 13 files. And kept that message until the next morning. I've certainly seen that before as well.

In looking at View Sync issues, I get the attached message, and it's wrong. The info file does not have the "locked" box checked, and it's not a permission problem.

[Screenshot was here]

When I hover over the DB menulet icon, the hover message is "Can't sync xxx (this directory isn't empty)" (I can't take screen shot of a hover message, but that's the exact quote).

When I go to my online DB and search version history for these files, it indicates that

" [my name] moved the file from /.../2200 xxx/[name of file]..."

and frustratingly I can't what comes after ... (it's not a live link to anything). The bulk of this message makes sense, because technically I did move. But it seems as though DB no longer knows (on my desktop) where to locate this file.

I have even tried moving that file out of DB entirely, to no avail. And it syncs perfectly on my laptop.

Please let me know if there's any more information that you might need.

Again, thanks for you help.

Lusil

Thanks for the additional details, @kinman1 - much appreciated!

In order to ensure troubleshooting, I'd recommend checking this article out for some ideas that may help to tackle this behavior.

Let me know how it goes!