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Forum Discussion

DolphinRadio's avatar
DolphinRadio
Explorer | Level 4
8 months ago

Files of a specific user don't sync to my desktop app

I run a community radio station; several program producers upload their prerecorded show files to Dropbox and these automatically sync to the local Windows PC.  This works like proverbial clockwork!  One station staff member, however, uploads her files to Dropbox.com, but they never show up in the local folder; I have to go to the website and "hand" download them.  I think everything is set as it should be (she, I, and the station itself are the only ones with control over her folder).

 

I have searched and read and tried virtually every vaguely related solution I can find, but still I can't figure out how to remedy this.

 

Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Recipes?  Colorful anecdotes?

Thanks!


  • DolphinRadio wrote:

    One station staff member, however, uploads her files to Dropbox.com, but they never show up in the local folder ...


    First make sure she's not using any characters in the file name that would be illegal on your operating system. For instance, if she's on a Mac and you're on a PC, she can use certain characters that are reserved on Windows, so Dropbox can't sync files that use them in their names.

     

     

    If that doesn't resolve it, make sure that the folder she's uploading them to hasn't been removed from your computer using Selective Sync. Go into the Selective Sync settings and make sure that the folder is checked.

     

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    DolphinRadio wrote:

    One station staff member, however, uploads her files to Dropbox.com, but they never show up in the local folder ...


    First make sure she's not using any characters in the file name that would be illegal on your operating system. For instance, if she's on a Mac and you're on a PC, she can use certain characters that are reserved on Windows, so Dropbox can't sync files that use them in their names.

     

     

    If that doesn't resolve it, make sure that the folder she's uploading them to hasn't been removed from your computer using Selective Sync. Go into the Selective Sync settings and make sure that the folder is checked.

     

    • DolphinRadio's avatar
      DolphinRadio
      Explorer | Level 4

      Indeed, her filenames were filled with odd characters.  I just renamed a file online and it popped up immediately in Dropbox locally.  I emailed the show producer and suggested a simplified naming convention that does NOT have colons and commas and extraneous characters.

      Many thanks!

       

    • DolphinRadio's avatar
      DolphinRadio
      Explorer | Level 4

      Rich,

      Thanks for the quick reply.  She is, in fact, using a Mac and the station is using Windows; I will double-check to see if she is using any special characters.  This may be the solution!