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Forum Discussion
I'm getting duplicates when I export on my iPad
Frequently I find two copies of a file imported to Notability on iPad after export from Dropbox - only tapping once, then tapping OK after link message.
What am I doing wrong, please?
- Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Hey there normbay,
That sounds strange indeed!
Can you just ensure for me that you have the most up to date version of the Dropbox app on your iPad?
Also, can you confirm that you're following the exact steps for exporting as below:
- Launch the Dropbox app.
- Tap … (ellipsis) beside or under the file you'd like to export.
- Tap Export and select the Notability app.
Let me know what you find - Thanks!
THOUGHT I'D REPLIED TO THIS ALREADY.
YES, UP TO DATE, AND THAT IS HOW I DID IT.
BUT I THEN TRIED IMPORTING IN NOTABILITY FROM DROPBOX...AND THAT WORKED WITHOUT DUPLICATES. HMMM.
Every time I import a PDF on my iPad from Dropbox to Notability, it adds 2 files instead of one. Every time I have to go to "Pages" and unselect all pages in one of the two identical copies, in order to get only one file. How can I fix this?
I see that there was a previous discussion "I'm getting duplicates when I export on my iPad" from 8-16-2019 about this exact issue, with 30 replies or so, the last one about a month ago. That discussion is marked as "Solved" but in fact no solution was provided. People keep begging for a solution but nobody is helping them.
Any chance this request will reach someone at Dropbox who can fix this?
Repeating here that the best fix I have found is to do it the other way round - download from Dropbox cloud to Dropbox on your device, then go to Notability and import from there, renaming the file if desired as you go, and choosing the folder you want it in.
Good point. There is also an easy work-around from within Dropbox. The duplication problem occurs when you use "Export" and then choose Notability from the list of icons, but not if you use "Export" and then choose "Open in..." and then choose Notability from the list of icons. Mysterious.
When I export a PDF from Dropbox to Notability using Dropbox's export feature, two copies of the PDF get exported. There is already a thread on this that is marked "Solved" ("I'm getting duplicates when I export on my iPad"), but I don't see any solution -- just lots of people describing the problem.
- Lusil
Hey there cmacminn, thanks for reaching out.
I moved your post here, where other users have been reporting the same issue and to keep troubleshooting consistent.
Could you just confirm for me if you get the same issue when you export to your internal storage?
Are you also running the latest version of the Dropbox mobile app and the Notability app?
Check these out and let me know how it goes, cheers!
Hi Lusil -
The problem occurs when using the "Export" option and then choosing Notability from the row of app icons that are offered in the sheet. I don't seem to have any other apps in that list that can receive the document as a PDF (rather than as a link), so I don't know if the problem is specific to Notability.
If I use "Export" and then choose "Open in..." and then choose Notability (or Files), it works correctly -- I get a single copy of the file.
