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

Stephen B.25's avatar
Stephen B.25
Collaborator | Level 9
7 years ago

Dropbox on Linux (Ubuntu) moving directory: no icon

On Ubuntu 18.04. Dropbox has been purged and  *re-installed* because I want to put the Dropbox folder to an external drive.  ( I have read the documentation and I understand the issues. I will work w...
desktop
Linux
Setting up the apps
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    7 years ago
    I just tested it on our Linux device here, and you’re correct in that it doesn’t allow moving the folder prior to when the files begin to sync.
     
    As that’s the case, the desktop app needs to be used to move the folder.
     
    Since you’re not seeing the icon in the menu bar and have already done an advanced reinstall, there’s little else that can be done from our end. Currently we only officially support Ubuntu and Fedora, so different flavors (like Ubuntu MATE) aren’t supported.
     
    The only thing that comes to mind is that the icon can’t appear in the menu bar due to the desktop environment, of which Unity, GNOME Classic, XFCE (with some Nautilus dependencies) and the GNOME (with an extension TopIcons) are supported.
     
    I’d recommend checking with the developers of Ubuntu MATE to see if they have a solution to this matter.
Stephen B.25's avatar
Stephen B.25
Collaborator | Level 9

Thanks for this Jay, but it doesn't work like that on my system. After the advance re-install I am back where I was. Here is what I did with some notes along the way. 


#https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/advanced-reinstall
# dropbox stop responds with Dropbox isn't responding!
pkill dropbox 
dropbox status 

# not running

rm -rf ~/.dropbox-dist
rm -rf /var/lib/dropbox
rm -rf ~/.dropbox*
sudo apt-get purge nautilus-dropbox
sudo apt-get purge dropbox
rm /etc/apt/source.d/dropbox
sudo chown "$USER" "$HOME"
sudo chown -R "$USER" ~/Dropbox
sudo chattr -R -i ~/Dropbox
sudo chmod -R u+rw ~/Dropbox

#Unble to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cMap
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/X11/util
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cmap/adobe-cns1
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cmap/adobe-gb1
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cmap/adobe-japan1
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cmap/adobe-japan2
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/cmap/adobe-korea1
#Unable to revert mtime: /usr/share/fonts/X11/encodings/large

exit
reboot
==================

 

#Selecting previously unselected package dropbox.
#(Reading database ... 222588 files and directories currently installed.)
#Preparing to unpack dropbox_2015.10.28_amd64.deb ...
#Unpacking dropbox (2015.10.28) ...
#Setting up dropbox (2015.10.28) ...
#Please restart all running instances of Nautilus, or you will experience problems. i.e. nautilus --quit
#
# ***No filesystem browser whatsoever is running
#
#Dropbox installation successfully completed! You can start Dropbox from your applications menu.
#Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu3.18.04.1) ...
#Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.3+18.04.20180207.2-0ubuntu1) ...
#Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
#Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
#Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
#Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2) ...

dropbox start -i
# <Dialog offering opt-out from daemon download, warning about absence of python-gpgme>
# apt install python-gpgme
# Package 'python-gpgme' has no installation candidate
# chrome launches dropbox web page
#
#Stephen Boston,
#
#Would you like to connect the computer acer to your Dropbox account ([email removed])? If you didn’t request this, please click cancel.
#
#Connect Cancel
#or connect a different account
#
# *** I choose Connect ***


#Your computer was successfully linked to your account
#
# *** Caja (MATE file browser) opens to the Dropbox folder. ***
#
# Webpage with link to "Continue to Dropbox" -- I accept
#

And that is all. Installation Done.

 

 

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
I just tested it on our Linux device here, and you’re correct in that it doesn’t allow moving the folder prior to when the files begin to sync.
 
As that’s the case, the desktop app needs to be used to move the folder.
 
Since you’re not seeing the icon in the menu bar and have already done an advanced reinstall, there’s little else that can be done from our end. Currently we only officially support Ubuntu and Fedora, so different flavors (like Ubuntu MATE) aren’t supported.
 
The only thing that comes to mind is that the icon can’t appear in the menu bar due to the desktop environment, of which Unity, GNOME Classic, XFCE (with some Nautilus dependencies) and the GNOME (with an extension TopIcons) are supported.
 
I’d recommend checking with the developers of Ubuntu MATE to see if they have a solution to this matter.
  • Stephen B.25's avatar
    Stephen B.25
    Collaborator | Level 9
    5 years ago

    As a workaround :   

      dropbox stop
  mv ~/Dropbox /mnt/hd2
  mkdir /home/stephen/Dropbox
  mount --bind /mnt/hd2/Dropbox /home/stephen/Dropbox
      dropbox start

    On restarting, Dropbox sent multiple messages to stdout but the Dropbox folder updates up and down just fine. After system reboot the journal shows no alarm so... 

    To make this setting persistent add to /etc/fstab

    /mnt/hd2/Dropbox /home/stephen/Dropbox  ext4 bind 0 0

     

About Apps and Installations

Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!