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Forum Discussion
iPad mdwriter app created multiple file copies when Dropbox was offline
I was working offline in mdwriter (simple markdown editor) on Dropbox files while in airplane mode. I went back into normal mode when inside a corporate network wifi where apparently Dropbox is block...
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
HI autologout, as the app wasn't able to connect to the Dropbox servers to update the file, you should have differing versions of the files. Do you have the updated versions of the files in that app? Are you able to upload them manually to your Dropbox account via the mobile app?
Hi Jay, I did have many versions of the file, I did not lose data. But the only way to stop copies from getting created was to actually delete the original file, otherwise it was hung on that file and kept generating copies even when fully connected again. I think that the helper / service app is not detecting its online status correctly. I think that the corporate network is blocking some, but not all ports, so that it thinks it’s online but it really is not. This leads the markdown app to try saving, failing, and going into its “keep saving forever” loop. I would prefer that Dropbox defaults to “offline” since pure offline mode works fine (i.e. when in airplane mode etc.). This semi-not-connected mode feels dangerous, and multiple copies of files make me nervous about losing data : )
Hi Jay This does seem to be a real error. Using a laptop (Win 11) on the same network give similar problems with MarkdownMonster. Dropbox shows a grey icon with “Connecting”. It cannot write, gets confused, and half-saves files and creates backup copies. I think that Dropbox sees some ports, thinks that it is online, shows itself as online, but when asked to sync files it fails doe to some (not all) ports being blocked. Since the behavior is consistent across the iPad app and Win11 I think there is a real problem here. If not all required ports are responding, Dropbox should report itself as offline, then the programs work normally as expected and sync later. Even if it is still connecting, it should report itself as offline to other apps.
