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Editing PDF or JPG files in my macOS Dropbox folder creates a copy

Hello,

System: MacOS 12.7.4, Dropbox 198.4.7615

All files are stored locally in Users>Username>Library>CloudStorage>Dropbox

Issue: When I open a pdf or jpg file in my Dropbox folder to make a change (rotate, delete a page, annotate) the file opens as a copy.

If I stop Dropbox sync, the same thing happens, it opens as a copy.

This issue does not occur with txt, rtf, docx, xlsx. They can be edited without a copy being generated.

If I pull the file to my desktop (out of Dropbox folder) it edits without a copy being made.

I have another system (MacOS 10.14.6, Dropbox 198.4.7615) all files stored locally in Users>Username>Dropbox that does not have this problem.

Can anyone clarify if this is a MacOS or Dropbox issue and how to fix it?

Thanks for your help.

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Nancy

Welcome back to our forum, @sfemet! Hope all is well.

Can you also clarify the syncing status of your Dropbox app on that device?

I’d also like a screenshot of the syncing icons you see next to the PDF/image files that keep being opened as a copy instead and one more screenshot of the copy you see later on.

Keep me posted for more updates.

sfemet

Hi,

The syncing status is "Your files are up to date"

All the files match on both devices and online.

There are no syncing icons for any file in my Dropbox folder on either computer, I disabled the Finder extension a long time ago, I never used the Quick Actions.

After I re-enabled it and restarted both computers, only the 10.14 files are marked with a green check. No green checks on the 12.14 system.

When I edit a PDF or JPG, I see a message at the top of the Preview window:

"The original document can't be changed, so a duplicate with your changes has been created."

When I save the changed file, it saves it to my desktop.

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @sfemet.

Does the Dropbox app sync the changes you make to your files otherwise?

If you were to edit a file from your local Dropbox folder on the MacOS 12.7.4 computer, do the changes sync to your account online and your other computer?

sfemet

Yes. I edited an RTF file just now. It immediately updated on my 10.14 system and online.

Hannah

Hey @sfemet, would you mind sending us a screenshot of the properties of a file that's showing this behavior?

Also, how are you opening and editing the files?

sfemet

I am editing the files with Preview.

The behavior happens with every PDF or JPG file, there are hundreds from different sources. For example, I have a folder with my family history research files, downloaded from Ancestry.com (JPG scans) or archives (PDF). I annotate my monthly credit card statements (PDF).

I checked the Sharing & Permissions in the Get Info window, I have Read & Write permission. I've attached a couple of screenshots of the properties of 2 files, personal info is redacted.

jpg properties.jpg pdf properties.jpg

Jay

Hi @sfemet, thanks for the info. We're not able to duplicate this behavior on our devices, so it's possible that it could be a device or app specific issue on your machine.

Could you try editing the PDF in another application to see if the same behavior occurs?

sfemet

Hi Jay,

I don’t have another app for PDFs on my Macs, Preview lets me work with PDFs and JPGs and I’ve been really happy with its versatility. I am not a fan of Acrobat and I would prefer not to install software just for editing one file type.

What has been the most perplexing part of troubleshooting this issue is the fact that it only happens on the 12.7.4 system, with Preview 11.0. The 10.14 system, with Preview 10.1 is just fine. Both systems are running the latest version of Dropbox.

The only variables are the location of the DropBox folder and the versions of Preview. If it is Preview 11.0, why would the file’s location matter? I even checked permissions on the CloudStorage folder, I have Read/Write.

Jay

Since it sounds like something done by the app you're using, there isn't much else we can suggest for troubleshooting this matter. Perhaps there is a setting within Preview that causes this?

sfemet

I have checked the preferences in both versions of Preview, they are identical.

I also looked at the System Information

(About this Mac>System Report>Software>Applications)

Preview version 11 is listed as “Universal"

Preview version 10 is listed as "64-bit"

Near as I can make out, that is the only difference, being that version 11 is for Intel and M chip macs, version 10 is for Intel only.

Anyway, I admit this is a very unique issue and I appreciate your help. I would appreciate it if this thread was not marked “solved” since a resolution was not found.

I have also posted this on an Apple Community page, it will be interesting to see if they are willing to help as much as your team was.

sfemet

Hello again,

A followup post:

1. I just got a new MacBook Air M2 running Sonoma. The issue does not happen at all. I opened a PDF, rotated a page, no copy created, smooth as glass. Same with a JPG. All good. The weird only happens on my 12.7.5 system.

2. No one on the Apple message board has replied to my post.