Duplicated Files Cannot Be Renamed - Ventura 13.4.1

It happens when you duplicate or copy/paste a file.

The two ways to duplicate a file on a Mac that I use most often are Command+D (or right-click and select Duplicate). This creates an identical file in the same folder with " copy" appended to the file name. The rename option is missing.

Screenshot 2023-08-29 at 10.43.25 AM.png

The other way is to Command+C and then Command+V in another folder. This was the method I used for the previous screenshot I posted. The command is missing there as well.

Another datapoint.

I can rename the file using the 'mv' command in Terminal BUT I still do not have 'rename' option through Finder.

It has to be a strange permissions issue between DropBox and Finder.

Two more datapoints.

- If I use the 'cp' command to duplicate the file in Terminal, I DO have the rename option through Finder on the newly created file.

- This issue occurs on different file types, not just Excel files.

Sorry... I should put all my observations in one reply.

On the duplicated file that I can not rename, if I right-click on the file, the DropBox "Quick Actions" menu is not in the context menu.

The interesting thing is that the DropBox Quick Actions menu is also missing from the file I created using the 'cp' command above that DOES have the rename option.

🤔

Jay

There doesn't seem to be any sync icons or Dropbox menus there. Are you sure that the Dropbox desktop application is running and syncing?

If you click the icon in the menu bar, what message do you see on the bottom left?

Please see my last message. It says "Everything is up to date"

Screenshot 2023-08-29 at 11.40.59 AM blur.png

Context menu from the original file.

Screenshot 2023-08-29 at 11.42.31 AM.png

Context menu from the Duplicated file.

Screenshot 2023-08-29 at 11.42.44 AM.png

Jay

Could you try reinstalling the app without uninstalling it first, via this link?

Reinstalled.

Everything was re-indexed.

No joy.

Screenshot 2023-08-29 at 2.30.02 PM.png

Hannah

Hey @2ndMile, sorry to jump in here.

Do you get the same behavior if you close the Dropbox app before duplicating a file?

Hello Hannah... the more the merrier!

Yes, the same behavior exists if I close the Dropbox app before duplicating the file.

A couple more odd behaviors:

This behavior only exists in folders "managed" by Dropbox with or without the Dropbox app running. For example, I duplicated a file within a Dropbox managed folder and the duplicate file exhibited the same behavior described previously. If I move the original file to the "Pictures" folder, which Dropbox does not manage, and then duplicate the file, I am able to rename as expected. I want to point out that when I drag and drop that file into the Pictures folder I am presented with a dialog to confirm that I am moving the file outside of Dropbox. I point this out because of the next odd behavior.

Screenshot 2023-08-30 at 8.59.40 AM.png

(Restarting with original file and no duplicate) If I duplicate the original file inside of a Dropbox managed folder as before, I can't move that file by dragging and dropping. The cursor icon has a circle with a line through it. HOWEVER, if I Command+C the duplicated file and then Command+V into a folder that is NOT managed by Dropbox (Pictures folder), I am asked to enter my Admin password. If I click "Cancel", the file is still pasted but I can't rename the file as before. If I authenticate, the file is pasted and I CAN rename the file.

Screenshot 2023-08-30 at 9.03.22 AM.png

IMHO, this is all pointing to a permissions issue between Dropbox and Ventura. Almost as if Dropbox is not letting me act as "Admin" within Dropbox folders. This is further backed up by something I experienced early on. This is a fairly new computer (1 month old) and when I first received it, I installed Dropbox as one of the first programs. When I downloaded a DMG to install a program, I could not run it from the Downloads folder (managed by Dropbox). I had to run it from a non-Dropbox managed folder.

Is there a way, possibly using Terminal, to check or reset the permissions on Dropbox managed folders?

Hannah

I appreciate the additional info here, @2ndMile.

Can you check if Dropbox has full disk access on the computer? Perhaps that's the culprit here.

raDB

I'm having the same problem, started on Ventura, is still present on Sonoma. Very easy to replicate: copy a file that's already in dropbox and paste it anywhere else in Dropbox, or just use "duplicate" (which will create a copy in the same location). The copy cannot be renamed. Owner and permissions look exactly the same on both files. Workaround is to paste it somewhere outside Dropbox, then drag it into whatever Dropbox folder you want it in. Granting full disk access did not help.

Hey there @raDB, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Could you clarify the desktop app's status and version as shown in your menu bar at the moment and also let us know your Dropbox folder's location as shown in the app's preferences under the sync tab?

Can you please let us know if this persists when you close the Dropbox app completely?

Keep me posted!

raDB

I'm not sure what you mean by status, but there are no red icons or anything on the Dropbox icon. Version is 184.4.6543. Folder is /Users/[username]/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox.

That's very strange--to test, I tried navigating directly to the the folder from Locations > Dropbox on the left pane of the Finder window and making and renaming copies worked fine. Previously, I had been arriving there via Spotlight search with Cmd-Return to open the containing folder of the file--and that's when I would not be able to modify the names of copies. And now, even that's working.

I'm not sure what's going on but it seems to be working fine now, suddenly (despite having had this problem for months). I want to say the problem had something to do with the linked-nature of the new location (how the folder appears to be in my user folder despite actually living in Library/CloudStorage). Maybe Spotlight "learned" the better location? It's also possible the full disk access helped, even though I've since revoked it? I can no longer replicate the problem so have no more info to give. I'll come back if I can replicate it again and am happy to answer more questions.

Hi @raDB, the full disk access most definitely helped, and it's also suggested when using our app.

I'm glad everything works now, and I'd be happy to look more into this if it ever happens again in the future.

Cheers!

briansp

I'm having the *exact* same problem. Dropbox v185.4.6054. MacOS Sonoma 14.0. I've had this problem before and notice it again with the recent Sonoma upgrade.

In my Dropbox-managed folder I have a file. I can rename it and all of the right-click Finder actions are available. If I right-click on the file and click Duplicate, I get a new file called <oldfilename> copy.docx (or whatever). The "copy" file only has a limited set of Finder actions shown, and Rename is not available.

I can rename the file via 'mv' command in Terminal but I shouldn't have to do this and it really interrupts my workflow.

I gave Dropbox.app full disk access and restarted Dropbox but it is still not permitting me to rename duplicated file that I duplicate from Finder.

Hi @briansp, welcome to our Community!

If you try to quit the desktop app, and then rename the duplicate, is that successful?

Feel free to share some screenshots with us too.

Keep me posted!

I too am on Sonoma. Dropbox v187.3.5654 and have the same behaviour on renaming duplicated files that are within the Dropbox folder. If I drag duplicate the file to the desktop I can then rename the file as usual.

Curiously, if I duplicate a file (within Dropbox) and then attempt to drag it to my desktop I am not able to (the cursor changing to a 'no entry' symbol).

Hi @paulcartwright, welcome to our Community!

It sounds like you're using our Beta version -v187.3.5654- instead of our stable one -v186.4.6207-.

As a first step, and to make sure this isn't the issue, can you try downgrading from the Beta version? You can do this by switching off Early releases in this page, and then re-downloading and installing the desktop app.

Can you give this a go?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

Hello Megan,

Have done as you suggest and currently re-indexing. The behavious still continues, but I'll let it finish and then re-start.
🙂

Take your time, and let me know more @paulcartwright! 😎

Morning.

OK. After a restart the behaviour is exactly the same.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for checking @paulcartwright!

Does that happen with all of your files? Also, if you try uninstalling, and re-installing the app do you get the same results?

Hmm...odd behaviour. If I have a specific project folder open in its own window and duplicate a file, I can't rename the duplicate.
If I open the folder that contains all of my project folders and drop down to open the specific folder, the file duplicates and CAN then be renamed. If I then go back and open the specific project folder in its own window everything works again.
It's not fixed in any way, but certainly something odd going on. Will keep any eye on it.

That is indeed odd @paulcartwright!

In any case, you can always reach out to our Support and report this, or if you wish, we can open a ticket and have a closer look into this there.

picard102

Also have this exact same issue. If I copy the file to the desktop I'm able to rename it, but if I copy it back to dropbox I can not.