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Forum Discussion

alaindesilets's avatar
alaindesilets
New member | Level 2
5 months ago

All my files have zero bytes, eventhough they are supposed to be available offline

I installed Dropbox on a brand new macbook. Originally, Dropbox was configured so all files were online, and therefore, it created a bunch of zero bytes files as placeholders for the online files.

 

Then I changed the configuration so that all files would be available offline. 

 

At that point, I expected DB to download all the files to my macbook's Hard Drive. But it didn't. And it claims that all my files are in sync.

 

I can't find a way to make DB synch the actual content of the files to my HD.

 

Any help will be appreciated.

 

Thx.

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    5 months ago

    Hey alaindesilets, thanks for the details! 

     

    This setting applies to content that is added to the device from the website. 

     

    So if you were to add a file through the website, it should sync as "available offline". 

     

    For existing content, you need to select the file/folder you wish to make available offline, right click on it and choose the relevant setting. Once you do that, the content should then sync accordingly,

     

    Want to give it a go? 

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hey alaindesilets, let's jump right into this! 

     

    Would you mind clarifying your device's OS, along with the Dropbox version you're using there? 

     

    You should be able to locate your version by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon on your menu bar, next to your WiFi. 

     

    Also, what is the app's syncing status at the moment? You mentioned that you changed the configuration on your end. Would you mind clarifying the steps you followed on your end? 

     

    Let me know more, and we'll take it from there! 

    • alaindesilets's avatar
      alaindesilets
      New member | Level 2

      Would you mind clarifying your device's OS, along with the Dropbox version you're using there? 

       

      OSX Sonoma, 14.4.

      Dropbox 203.4.4857

       

      Also, what is the app's syncing status at the moment? You mentioned that you changed the configuration on your end. 

       

      When I go to "Sync History", it says at the bottom "Your files are up to date"

       

      Would you mind clarifying the steps you followed on your end? 

       

      I installed the Dropbox app and it "synced" very fast. I was quite surprised by this, but did not think much of it. I browsed the directory structure and opened a couple of files, and it seemed like all the files were there. I can't say whether or not the files were zero bytes then, but I assume they were, based on how fast DB "synced" my files.

       

      Then I decided to move the DB box folder to /Users/Shared/Dropbox. I did this by clicking on "Preferences > Sync > Dropbox folder location", then changing the locartion.

       

      At some point after that, I noticed the zero byte files and tried to address that by going to "Preferences > Sync" and clicking on "available offline".

       

      I then expected DB to download the actual content of all the files, but it seems it did not. Pretty much all the files are still zero bytes, yet the app tells me my files are up to date. 

       

      Some time after that 

       

       

      Let me know more, and we'll take it from there! 

      • Megan's avatar
        Megan
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hey alaindesilets, thanks for the details! 

         

        This setting applies to content that is added to the device from the website. 

         

        So if you were to add a file through the website, it should sync as "available offline". 

         

        For existing content, you need to select the file/folder you wish to make available offline, right click on it and choose the relevant setting. Once you do that, the content should then sync accordingly,

         

        Want to give it a go? 

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