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Forum Discussion
I don't understand the most basic elements to Dropbox
I've never felt so dumb, but I really think it's just that Dropbox assumes I know something, and they're not making it totally clear. For reference, yes, I understand the most basic premise that I c...
Hi tmelander,
😃😄😀 Yes, you have reason for such a remark to a large extent!
Basically Dropbox is a syncing service (at least initially). Additionally there are added some "features" targeted to local drive space saving. Not perfectly implemented and also so "perfectly" explained. In this context:
1 - Both.
2 - Both.
3 - It depends - see below.
4 - Fully agree with you.
5 - Make sure you haven't been activating the "feature" so called "Smart Sync"!!! Sometimes it's turned on by default - be careful!
6 - You have to build this file/folder structure under the Dropbox icon (immediately or nested in some other folder into Dropbox).
tmelander wrote:... If I want a folder that is currently C:\Documents\BirthdayParty to be updated both on the hard drive and cloud, what precisely do I have to do? Do I have to move it first under that Dropbox icon?
...Not "first"! Moving it under Dropbox is the only and enough action needed.
When "Smart Sync" isn't activated you achieve exactly what you expect. The only exception is that everything targeted for sync have to reside under Dropbox folder, not under arbitrary one. This is a disadvantage definitely. Some workaround, in some cases, could be setting a link outside Dropbox folder on place convenient for you, pointing to the actual content inside Dropbox folder. This is exactly what "Backup" feature do, for example, nothing more. You can do the same, if applicable for your cases, on arbitrary folders. Move a folder, you want to sync, somewhere into Dropbox folder and set, on the initial position, link with same name like the folder name pointing to the new location inside Dropbox folder. That's it.
If you activate "Smart Sync" ( intentionally or not! ) content of many files will get removed from your local storage to save space. That's the feature target. There are "placeholders" still in your local storage, but files recovering will be need (and internet connection at that time, of course). Otherwise the "placeholders" (empty files) will stay inaccessible. Be careful!
In points 1 and 2 above I assume your "Smart Sync" is off!
In this same context I made a proposal (so called "idea") here. Hope if Dropbox accept it some aspects of application organization will be more clear and intuitive, including everything related to your questions. You can vote up my idea if you want.
Hope this sheds some light.
I agree that the crews at Dropbox have done a very poor job of explaining how Dropbox really works. There are a lot of marketing terms but no nuts and bolts descriptions.
For example:
1- there appears to be NO glossary
2- from how they write the tutorials there appears to be no canonical bible or book of rules
3- they confuse simple terms such as folder and file. Depending on where one looks those terms are confused and mean different things
4- do we really need "Smart Sync" vs. "Selective Sync?” The word Smart is so subjective as to be meaningless
5- they even confuse simple terms such as Upload and Download. They should ALWAYS be used from the perspective of the user/person initiating the action
I could rant on, but I doubt anyone at Dropbox is listening. I agree with your criticism!
Does anyone really know how Dropbox works?!
