You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.
Forum Discussion
Syncing icons on the files in the Dropbox folder have changed
Hello The Finder Extension Icons indicating whether a file or folder is Online Only or Available Offline are showing up in my Finder, however, the statuses are incorrect. For instance a folder that ...
Don't think so :^)
Rua
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox Staff
This is NOT an acceptable solution.
Please return the functionality of the synching icons to what they were previously.
Cloud = ALL contents of folder on the cloud.
Green check white circle = mix of cloud and local items
White check green circle = Local items.
What you have done is wreaking havoc with our production
Please change it back!
yes, for the BILLIONTH time, none of us misunderstand what the ticks now mean. The contention is, and always was, that it is a BAD system.
In particular:
• the distinction between files which are AVAILABLE and AVAILABLE OFFLINE is so trivial that it doesn't warrant a different icon.
• we have lost the ability to determine which "online-only" folders contain local files, and which don't.
The previous system was just perfect, and this new system is nonsensical and confusing. And as a result, I am currently looking for a new cloud service for my business.
I'm sorry, but how does this explanation resolve the issue? The problem isn't that we don't understand what the new icon system means, but that it doesn't make sense and it isn't useful. This doesn't address the most popular beef with this change - why would I want my folder icon to show online-only status if most of the files inside are available offline? I'm not saying that the way DB saves space on my computer is bad, but now it's hard to manage storage myself witch is very important to me.
What concerns me most about Dropbox's answer is:
"Additionally, online-only files will become commonplace for most Dropbox app users. If extra space is required on your hard drive, the Dropbox desktop app or the OS may automatically convert your files to online-only."
I signed up to Dropbox to have a backup of the files on my machines and to synchronize between them - NOT to start making files "online only" (and hence dependent on a continuing subscription).
Yup, it sounds like they are moving to a Google Drive / Box Drive model. The only thing is, those services are much cheaper (in fact, they are free at many universities). There is no longer any point to a Dropbox subscription. Unfortunately I've got almost a year left on my now canceled subscription, and now I'm stuck with a service different from what I purchased. What garbage.
Have I got this right?
Dropbox have awarded themselves the power to DELETE files from my local filesystem, and make them cloud-only, based on some hazy criteria of "if extra space space is required on your hard drive"? So I'm actually paying for Dropbox for the privilege of being made dependent on them by stealth? And the icons actually now mean: "we can take your files hostage at any time unless you keep paying us money"?
And we acknowledge that what the sync icons mean, and we're saying is that this was a completely unnecessary, useless, not completely though out change that does noting to improve the usability of the service, and in fact makes it more confusing and less intuitive. Sometimes the Product and Design teams get it wrong. Can they just take the L on this one and change it back?
Here's the latest reply from Dropbox:
Dear customer,
Are you an idiot? The new system could not be simpler.
A green icon means A, B, C, or D. And sometimes E.
A gray icon means F, G, or H. Except when it means I. (Please see attached schedule of icons for additional details.)
A white icon means J, K, L, or M. Basically, it's for folders that are a mixture of online and offline. Except sometimes white icons are arbitrarily attached to individual files. This means either that the file itself is a mixture of online and offline, or that it was synced using a different means than a file with a green icon. If you synced your file over Wifi, it will appear green; if you used LAN, then it will be white. (This may vary depending on your OS, so please see attached schedule.)
Like I said, the system is staggeringly simple, and you are a pathetic dolt for not understanding it. If you were smarter, you would like the new system.
To follow up with customer service, please navigate our nonexistent customer service page.
Sincerely,
DropboxActually, it's even more complicated that this, because I have FOLDERS that consist entirely of local files but for some reason have a white icon.
CC: Product and Design team
One other thing... this may sound crazy, but if you want to convey a new state then maybe, I don't know, come up with a new icon? I know, I know, this is edgy and extreme, but it actually can be done. The universe will not implode if more than 3 folder sync icons exist simultaneously.
I found a solution. Leave Dropbox. I now have my Dropbox files way under 2G and will not be renewing my paid subscription when it comes due next month. All my other files are now happily residing in someone else's cloud where they always sync correctly and I know exactly what is available off-line and what is not. And my annual cost decreased by a few bucks.
I tried emailing the heads of dropbox. Found their emails online and I'm tracking this email, and I've seen they've clicked on this forum thread.
It sucks to have gone this way, but let's see if it works.
In case you want to do it yourself, the emails are [Mod: removed as per Community Guidelines] , and just go to the about pages and email the big chiefs there.
best,
- Rua - I suggest you read this form to understand why people are so furious. This change makes the system useless. We need to be able to see (1) when a folder is mixed between cloud and downloaded (2) when a folder is all-cloud (3) when a folder is fully downloaded to our system.
This is how it used to be (it was perfect); this is how our company workflows worked, and anything that does not provide this is a violation of our trust, an violation of the reason we brought our companies to Dropbox, and an end to our ability to work with you.Hi folks, I've got business sales calls set up with representatives at Mega, Icedrive, pCloud, and Sync.
I'll let you know what they tell me about their systems, and whether they offer what Dropbox no longer seems interested in providing for its customers (clear desktop sync icons, and customer support).
I'm still surprised how poorly handled this whole mess is
