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Forum Discussion
How to identify what files are "online only" and change them to local?
I hope someone can help. I have never intentionally turned on Smart Sync. I always want all my files and documents to be local as well as in Dropbox. After adding a 3rd Mac, last month when I launched my Dropbox App, its new incarnation immediately wants you to Smart Sync. I thought I said no thanks, but now even though my Dropbox App Icon in the Mac Menu bar says everything is up to date and synced, but when you look in a Finder window the main Dropbox file has the blue arrow syncing icon and a mouse hover says "in progress."
I have NO IDEA what is in progress, since nothing should be.
When I check on the newer Mac in Finder that Dropbox folder has a green check mark and hovering over that says "Some files are on-line only" - what?! LOL....
How do you tell what files are "online only" and how to you stop this?
Thanks!!!!!
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey Edgemont, I hope you're doing well!
You should be able to see which files are online-only, by looking at the file's icon when you open your Dropbox desktop application.
Can you also let me know your app's syncing status?
Sending me a screenshot of the message you receive about the online-only files would be extremely helpful.
Keep me posted.
Hi Lori!
Thank you so much for your response! I can't explain why, but now it suddenly all seems normal again!
The Syncing Status always said "Up to Date" - which is why this made no sense.
The main folder in Finder ("Dropbox") had a clear circle with green checkmark and green circumference, which indicates "contains both local and on-line only files" - when I hovered over that check it said "some files are on-line only" which I could not understand why or see exactly which of the hundreds of files I have in DB these could be!
I have this account set up on 4 separate Macs and an iPhone, but all I could think to do was log out and login, but it still did this. However inexplicably the next day it was solid green and local like it always used to be.
Hopefully it will stay this way, but if you make some be online only, how do you tell which files or documents those are if they have disappeared from your Mac? I never use the actual application, just have folder and aliases on my desktop that I drag & drop files into, and rarely go online.
Thanks for your help!
- MeganHey Edgemont, I am happy to see that everything works smoothly now!
Keep in mind that Dropbox doesn't support aliases, and this could be the main root of the issue.
In order for files to sync, they would need to be placed within your Dropbox folder.
Also, with Smart Sync, your online-only files should be visible within your Dropbox folder and the icons next to those files should show up as grey little clouds.
I believe you should also read this article, which you will most likely find useful.
