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Why are "com.dropbox.attr" attributes added to my Dropbox?

Hello friends!

I have a problem with Dropbox in the organization where I work. When synchronizing files, the Dropbox client adds an ntfs attribute called com.dropbox.attr with a size of 26 bytes. The problem is that when copying files in docx or doc format (only docx and doc format!) to a network folder (SMB protocol), the copying takes a very long time. If I remove this attribute, for example using powershell, then copying occurs quickly.

Three questions:

1. What is stored in these attributes? Synchronization information?

2. If I remove this attribute, will synchronization start again?

3. Perhaps someone has encountered the same problem, I don’t understand why docx and doc files behave this way?

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Hannah

Hey @it9, thanks for reaching out to our Community.

Let me see if I can clarify this situation.

Basically, these files are hidden additional information that are part of the file but can't normally be seen.

These files may be generated by either Dropbox or a computer to retain this information in situations where the file system on the computer does not support the extended attributes.

The supported file systems are NTFS for Windows, HFS for Mac and on Linux a file system with xattrs support.

If a file with unsupported attributes is added to a computer's Dropbox folder from a networked drive with a different file system than that of your main drive's file system, the OS on your computer may generate these extended attribute files.

Could that be the case?

You can read more about this here.

Let me know if you have more questions.

it9

Hi,

Only computers with Windows NTFS

Jay

Hi @it9, what is the exact version of Windows that you're running, and likewise with the other users?

it9

Hi, @Jay

Windows Server 2019, Windows 10, Windows 11

Walter

Hey @it9, thanks for clarifying the OS versions of your devices.

May I ask if you've enabled hidden files to show on those computers?

Здравко

@it9 wrote:
...
1. What is stored in these attributes? Synchronization information?
...

Hi @it9,

Such attributes are used by Dropbox everywhere (on all FSes where Dropbox application works). The attribute value keeps file identification information (maps local file to the cloud equivalent).

@it9 wrote:
...
2. If I remove this attribute, will synchronization start again?
...

In general yes. The file will get uploaded anew, but actual update wouldn't happen - the file is still the same (I assume you don't change anything else).

@it9 wrote:
...
3. Perhaps someone has encountered the same problem, I don’t understand why docx and doc files behave this way?

That's something very specific to particular tool in usage. You cannot rely to get answer here. It's not something Dropbox related - that's behavior of another application. Read corresponding documentation or ask corresponding application support.

Good luck.

it9

thank you, we will write to support, since we have a paid tariff