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Scan file lost completely?

On the Android app (version 266.2.2) I scanned a document but I received an error message while trying to upload it, both on data and on wi-fi. I assumed that I would be able to access the saved file on my device (in JPG format) after I closed the error screen, however the file doesn't seem to exist.

Is there some kind of 'temp' folder where these files are stored before they are uploaded?

This file was of particular importance to me (as I had limited access to the paper version) and I wonder if it is still located somewhere on my device. Thanks for any help.

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Jay

Hi @Bewlay, if the mobile app created a temporary file to upload it to the site, it wouldn't be possible to access it from the device since that feature isn't available. Any temporary files would've been deleted by now since it has been a while since the upload.

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Nancy

Hi @Bewlay, and thanks for posting on our Community.

Do you remember perhaps what the error message you received was saying?

If you took any screenshot of it, by any chance, don’t hesitate to send it to me.

Keep me posted!

Bewlay

Thanks for your reply. I can't remember exactly but it was something along the lines of 'waiting for internet connection'. (This was despite me being online). I assumed it was a glitch in the network and that the original file would be available when I went back a step - I had already saved the file as a JPG, hence my looking for it somewhere on my device.

Nancy

Hmm, I see what you mean.

If the JPG file you mention was uploaded to Dropbox, you can have a look
here and check if there’s any sign of it.

If you can’t locate it there either, I’m afraid it hasn’t been uploaded at all to our servers, so you’ll need to double check your mobile device and see if it could be possibly saved on another location.

Bewlay

Thanks again. I had already checked that location online so my last hope was some kind of temp file. Doesn't it need to create one in order to then upload it?

Jay

Saitoyui14

Do not use the dropbox scanner if you want the upload of your files to be guaranteed; if the mobile app cannot upload your files to Dropbox.com AT THE MOMENT it is scanned, the app permanently and immediately deletes your scanned document and tells you "File to Upload Not Found."

I recommend using a local scanner application instead and and manually upload the scanned file.

For the Developers...
Dropbox needs to hold scanned files in some temporary buffer and not give up entirely if it cannot immediately upload the scanned file - in fact, that file should not be deleted at all until Dropbox.com sends positive confirmation that "Yes, you uploaded VERY_IMPORTANT_SCAN.pdf. Yes, I received it. Yes, I have it. Yes, you can delete the copy in your local buffer."

Yes, that is feedback for the developers. No, I do not think it will actually make it to the dev room - please forgive my cynicism.

Saitoyui14

The Dropbox mobile application's scan document feature is useful when you need to scan documents to your cloud quickly... but at present, if you ever do so in an situation that the app cannot upload immediately to Dropbox online - such as in an area with low signal or on a wifi network that doesn't allow such a connection - the app immediately discards your scanned document and tells you "File to Upload Not Found."

I assime this is a bug, as the app will tell you "Waiting to upload," for your scanned document. This suggests that it will try and upload the file the next time connection with the server is restored... but I notice it fails *every single time* and destroys the scan with the same message: "File Not Found."

In such a sensitive situation, the obvious solution would be to hold the un-uploadable file in a temporary buffer and keep trying. It is important that the contents of this buffer NOT be deleted until either the user says so or the Dropbox cloud confirms successful upload of that file.

Walter

Hey there @Saitoyui14, thanks for your feedback on this. It's been noted in our system.

Please let us know if you have anything else to add.

magnushammar

I scanned a receipt yesterday and didn't have internet at the time. Today I saw a top of screen notification that the upload failed, not a problem I thought I just retry, but there is no way to do it in the app, and the notification is gone, so unfortunately I cannot tell you the exact message in it. I am very confused by this discussion. Is there really no way to retry an upload?

I am on Android 11 with Dropbox version 306.2.2, Dropbox Plus account and loads of space left.

/Magnus

Nancy

Hi @magnushammar, I hope you’re doing well.

Can you please clarify a few things for me? For example, do you still have the original receipt you tried to scan the first time?

What do you mean when saying that it’s not possible to scan it via the mobile app? Do you not see the option to do so anymore?

notdragon

@Dropbox - After over almost a year, you still did not fix such a critical issue! I had the same problem as Bewlay - Using version 324.2.2 on Android.

As a file hosting company that says "A secure place for everything. Store, share and backup your data", if Dropbox does not save a temp/local copy on the device for a document that is created using dropbox - how reliable is the product?

I have used the scan functionality via dropbox frequently but did not realize that Dropbox doesn't save a temp copy locally on the phone (should an error occur during transfer). Turns out today the network was poor. Scanned 3 very important documents and pooooof - Dropbox simply deleted them due to bad network upload failure. What's more got a notification at least two hours later after I had scanned with a vague info "(Document Name) there was a problem" - that's it. On clicking the notification it did nothing. (did not even open the app).

Never going to use the scan functionality of dropbox now onwards because it appears quite unreliable afterall.

magnushammar

Why is there even a solved-tag on this issue?

DaveWilliams

This is an absolute issue. I bumped into this recently when scanning checks prior to depositing them for our accounting records. I now have no scanned image or documentation around the receipt of this other than it going into the bank statements and is a critical failure in our processes. This is not resolved only answered, this is different. If the app is going to offer a way to scan or take pictures inside of itself it HAS to keep a local copy until the online version is confirmed, anything short of this and the initial feature should not even exist.

Saitoyui14

Seriously? They marked this as resolved and didn't even fix this?

I don't know if you developers know this, but this "minor issue" causes permanent data loss.

It would be wiser of yall to just turn off scanning from the mobile app entirely if you can't even fix this.