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Adobe not downloading online only files from projects

Hi All,

after updating to MacOS 12.3 I have not been able to open project files (Premiere/After Effects) without errors of not finding files that are in dropbox as 'online only'. Prior to the Mac update all files would auto download to be on my machine locally. I know there's an issue with full support for OS 12.3... any updates or solutions folks have found?

thanks

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Emmet

Hi there,

In order for this fix to be applied, you need to opt into Dropbox for macOS on File Provider. The latest version of Dropbox for macOS utilizes Apple’s updated File Provider API and fixes issues related to opening online-only files in third-party applications for users on macOS 12.5 or higher. You can read more about opting into Dropbox for macOS File Provider here. Please note that not all users are eligible at this time.

This is being rolled out to Dropbox Teams at the moment, but the team admin must choose to opt-in for the entire team when they are told it has been made available. If you are experiencing this issue, and are a member of a Dropbox team, then we recommend to align with your team admin and ensure that they opt-in as soon as they can, so that this issue is fixed for you. You can find out more here.

Regards,

Emmet

All comments

MariMarre

What is going on Dropbox!???? I can't wait for this to be solved. Moving my company to a different platform! GAHH! so frustrated.

themaybeblock

This issue is ongoing and greatly affects those using After Effects. I cannot work with the project regardless of the download status of the linked files, they continually give errors in After Effects even after downloading all the missing files. Why is your process breaking everything, Dropbox???? This was not happening before, now it's screwing up my entire pipeline!

themaybeblock

GET THE LEAD OUT ALREADY DROPBOX.

dom burgess

Hi, any news on this? This is the bane of my AE existence at the moment. And like other commenters have said, when working on large and complicated projects, the solution of 'make sure all files are made offline' is not a solution. Plus, I also find that many files won't work even when they are downloaded and the only way to resolve is by changing the source folder's name, which causes even more problems and confusion in the large company I work in.

Thanks

Dom

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)

3.8 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i7

64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB

OS Montery 12.5.1

themaybeblock

PLEASE GIVE US A FREAKING UPDATE ALREADY DROPBOX.

Jay

Hi everyone, could you let us know if you're interested in trying the Beta version of the Dropbox desktop application?

TBirds

Yes @Jay. If this beta version fixes the issues we've been talking about for a while now

Emmet

Hi there,

We've escalated this to the appropriate team and they just want some more clarifying information.

Does Dropbox appear in the locations sidebar on your finder window?

Regards,

Emmet

carriethegreat

For me, it does not appear there.

TBirds

For me, yes, the locations are there.

Dpollard

Hello-can anyone assist me in granting permissions to Adobe Indesign, Incopy, Illustrator and Photoshop so I can work with them with my files are Online? I can only work with these currently when they are OFFline

Megan

Hi @Dpollard, I hope you're doing well today!

It's interesting that the files on these third-party apps open, only when the files are available offline. Which version of our app do you use on your end?

You should be able to find that by locating your Dropbox icon on the menu bar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse over it.

Also, do you get any specific error messages when trying to open the files in the relevant apps?

Keep me posted!

Dpollard

Sorry-what locations?

Dpollard

Hello!

169.4 is the version of DB that I am using currently.

I get a lot of "invalid interchange" when using Indesign and Incopy. Also "invalid file" when trying to import from Photoshop into Indesign. All of my links in an Indesign file, both text and images are always broken and have yellow triangle warnings

Thanks

Emmet

The latest version of Dropbox for macOS fixes issues related to opening online-only files in third-party applications. You’ll receive a notification from the Dropbox icon in your menu bar when an update is available. If you haven’t already received the new Dropbox for macOS update, you can expect it between now and the end of May 2023. We’re also working directly with a small subset of macOS users with complex configurations to support their migration experience. If you’re interested in joining our early access program for this update, visit the Dropbox Help Center for steps on how to opt in.

dom burgess

Oh wow! I REALLY hope this works. 🙂

Planet Nutshell

What is the version number of this update? Thanks.

Emmet

@Planet Nutshell: You can find the latest releases here. The most recent one: 171.4, should include this fix.

dom burgess

Hey, just installed the latest (Beta Build 172.3.7467) and I'm running the latest After Effects (23.3), and it doesn't fix the problem of opening projects with un-downloaded linked assets. The assets do not auto download and I get a tonne of errors. If I download the files manually and try to re-link, AE refuses to load them and gives me more errors. The only workaround is to rename the file/s or move their location. So, yeah, disappointed.

iMac 2020 27inch Intel

Emmet

Hi there,

Regards,

Emmet

dom burgess

Hi Emmet, will this force me to use my Mac's internal drive for DB storage? If so, this is unworkable. I work in digital media, dealing with terrabytes of data at any one time.

Thanks

Emmet

You can find out about all the expected changes here. It will change the internal location of your Dropbox folder, as part of Apple's changes. Where is your Dropbox folder currently located?

dom burgess

Currently on 4TB external SSD. Absolutely no way I can update then until there is a work around (assuming there will be one). I've no doubt this change makes it easier/more stable or whatever, but it's just not good enough for creative professionals working with large amounts of data. I appreciate this is coming from Apple, but I am part of a 100+ employee company, and we pay DB a lot of money for our 72TB cloud storage, so please fight for us to get this resolved! Thanks

joeburke1

So I am having this exact issue with After Effects. I have made all of my synced files local to my computer and I am running DB v172.4.7555. Not sure why I am having this issue if it was fixed in a previous version according to this thread. Any patch from Dropbox would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro M1

Hannah

Hey @joeburke1, sorry to see you're having this issue.

Have you already updated your Dropbox application to the new Dropbox for macOS version?

To confirm this, check if your Dropbox folder is currently located in your User folder or in ~/Library/CloudStorage.

Let me know what you find.

Luc-FJ

Hi there, also having lot's of Dropbox issues in combination with Adobe After Effects. Inside the AE workfile, relinking of files that were first "Dropbox" offline, then online and back offline again will give errors that AE can't open the source file. Can be .mov's, .png, .wav etc. Also happens when opening projects that were made on different machines. It's not even the smart sync feature that I would love to see working, but also when I'm certain that I've downloaded everything locally offline this problem occurs.

Re-naming the files that are giving errors is one way of getting them back inside the project. But that is not a solution for when you have lots and lots of files.

Would like to see a fix for this error, it's getting out of our control to manage. Re-importing files and option (alt) replace them inside the media pool is so much more work then a quick re-link session. Can be easily hundreds of manually replacing files.

MacBook Pro M1, macOS 13.4
DB v174.4.5852

j2762mm

Professional user here as well now with the same issue.

I purposely hardly ever update my computers once I get them working well, because I never trust companies with updates or to not break things and subsequently cost me days of time.

I finally had to update as I see Dropbox was about to drop support for my mac OS. So I took the leap and upgraded to Monterey, the highest OS version my machine will take.

And now immediately I'm here on a forum researching a problem which is causing me all the same issues listed here in the thread. Tried to check that setting to enable updates for the team but it's not on my account.

Is this actually ever going to be resolved? Considering the OS came out 2 years ago I am worried at this point.

Everything worked so perfectly before with my old versions ">😫

AbelG

Its a disaster, wasted of time, works into the trush!....I have to reinstall macOS to Big Sur to make this issue solved, come on Dropbox!...make an update to fix this, because there are many programas to replace you, Mega, Drive, and many more.
After 2023 on MacOS Big Sur the last OS thats make things go find.

j2762mm

I contacted Dropbox for an update and more info.

Their response told me it's expected to be ready in May 2023 (I guess he didn't read his own e-mail, because this conversation happened in June)

And also told me to contact customer service if I was a business user. Which I thought I was already doing.

AbelG

And now we have a new MacOS, MacOS Sonoma, we have to wait another year to make things go find DROPBOX???