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IDLK files sync problems with Dropbox make InDesign unusable and ignore rules don't work

mikaelus

Out of the blue I'm having the good old recurring problems with *.idlk files getting locked by Dropbox idiotically trying to sync them. It's been fine for a couple of years for me, until it came back all of a sudden now.

I tried setting up Ignore rules in the Dropbox ignore file - to no avail. The program stupidly keeps syncing them no matter what I do.

Before some wise-guy comes here to lecture me - yes, I removed all idlk files, these are new idlk files generated on the fly by InDesign, that Dropbox tries to sync in spite of the rules.

FFS, seriously.

Anybody has a solution for this nonsense? WTF?

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Walter

Hey @mikaelus - thanks for bringing this to our attention and sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you please let us know when was the first time you noticed this and clarify your computer's OS version and the version/status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your system tray/menu bar?

Any additional information and/or screenshots are more than welcome!

mikaelus

It started today, version 264.4.3385

Weirdly, if I create an .idlk file by hand then Dropbox ignores it. It only indexes and tries to sync temporary .idlk files created by InDesign. I tried it with completely new InDesign files and it's the same.

Walter

Have you tried pausing the sync process while you're working on InDesign @mikaelus?

Also, are you on a Windows or a Mac device?

mikaelus

The problem occurs on Windows only (I have both). Well, if I pause the sync it's not going to cause problems, but I haven't had any until now. It was syncing fine.

Walter

In that case, you can reach out directly to our support team as they'd be better equipped to help further with account, device and file specific information @mikaelus.

Let me know if you have anything else to ask or add in the meantime.

mikaelus

ok, thanks

ckassianides

@mikaelus did you get a reply from Support?

I am facing the same issue with another Windows machine as well.

Hannah

Hey @ckassianides, sorry to hear about this.

When did this issue start happening? Is it recent or has it always been this way?

Which version of the Dropbox app are you using and what is the sync status? You can see that by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your taskbar.

Also, what is your Windows version?

mikaelus

I did speak with them but the issue resolved itself on its own. No idea what happened, to be honest.

ckassianides

Did you notice if your dropbox version was changed? Maybe they pushed an update?

mikaelus

I doubt that, it fixed itself while I was still on the chat with them. About as surprisingly as it appeared first a few hours later. No idea, it was a bug that I struggled to diagnose and then it just went away.

I did poke around with all the information found online about IDLK files, Dropbox' ignore list and how others dealt with it in the past.

Try googling or use ChatGPT or some other AI bot for advice. Maybe you can fix it by just trying a few different things until it works.