linux inotify on file in Dropbox: no notification of update

Question

I want to send a message between two of my Dropbox devices which are otherwise invisible to each other.

I am trying to do this by updating content of a file.

$echo test > ~/Dropbox/compound

I have a put inotifywait on  ~/Dropbox/compound and do not receive notification that the file has been updated. If I access the file by some other means, then I will receive a notification of that activity, but not when Dropbox client updates a file through its own notification system.

Both clients status is  `up to date`.

Stephen B.25 · Accepted Answer

Ah that's it. inotify watches the file's handle not the name. So if Dropbox creates a new file then inotify loses its reference.

So I have created a dedicated message subdirectory in Dropbox and put the watch on that *directory*. Now I am notified of changes to 'the file'

Thanks very much for your help.