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Forum Discussion
I keep seeing conflicted copies for my audio files, after using a third-party software.
Hi!
Recently I've been getting problems with duplicate files when I export audio files from my software directly into a Dropbox folder . One of them is labled "conflicted copy", (I think that's the english term, I've got dropbox in swedish where it says "konfliktkopia"). The one that has the original file name only is always incomplete, the end of the audio file is cut.
I've read that "conflicted copy" is something that happens when multiple users are editing the same file. However, I'm the single user on the account and I'm pretty sure I haven't been hacked by someone who consistently exports my audio files the same minute I am. Something seems to happen when I export the files (and thus add them to Dropbox). Like Dropbox thinks it's a new file, while it's still being rendered, and therefore thinks it's a conflict?
I've been using dropbox for years and never had this before. Any ideas on how to solve it?
I'm using a mac with Ventura 13.6.4.
I also have dropbox installed on an iPhone, if that might be causing this somehow.
- Nancy
Dropbox Staff
Thanks for posting on our Community today, JoelBille! Hope you’re doing well.
When saying that the original file is still incomplete, do you mean that the conflicted copy contains the latest updates you’ve made to the file when exporting it from the third-party app?
About the iPhone you also have linked to your Dropbox account, none of the audio files are open there while you edit them on your computer, correct?
Finally, can you quit the Dropbox app on your Mac device and reproduce the issue again? Do you still see conflicted copies produced then?
Let me know when you have more info.
Hi Nancy!
Yes, the conflicted copy is the "correct" and complete one. I've made no changes between the two versions. I don't know exactly when they appear, I can make some more tests to see when it actually happens. I think it is while the file is still being rendered.
And no, not editing anything on the phone, no technically possible way to do it. I just use the phone app to view and share.
I'll try quitting the app and see what happens, I'll be back with more info.Hi again, sorry for the delay. I havn't had time to look closer at this until today. Quitting the app on the computer does not help, it still happens. I just exported an audio file to look at what happens. The export process takes a minute or two, however the file is visible in finder as soon as the export has started. I noticed that the dropbox update/upload symbol showed next to the file name in finder, the one with a circle/clock getting filled, while the file was still in the process of being exported. However, it works fine and as expected. However, two minutes after the export was completed, the conflicted copy appeared, and the original audio file is now incomplete, it has shorter duration that it should and stops abruptly.
It doesn't seem to be 100% reproducable though, I tried the exact same thing again and this time the conflicted copy has not yet shown.
I have not made any updates to the third party software before this started, nor to my OS.
Sorry for the delay in response, I have been off work this week due to the holidays. I hope you both had a great Thanksgiving if you celebrate!
Similar to JoelBille, this issue stops occurring when I pause sync from the Dropbox menu. However, this solution is an inconvenient long-term fix, because the ability to sync is very helpful when I share files with my coworkers. The hiccup in my workflow can be annoying, and for someone who exports files regularly similar to Joel, it can be dealbreaker.
Is there another possible solution? Or is there some way that this issue can be addressed in a future Dropbox update?
I am willing to help however you need, Jay! Just let me know what further information you need from my end!
- Megan
Hey grantcrenshaw, let me also jump in here!
You can also try configuring these programs so that the Dropbox folder is excluded or white-listed, but please note that this may be a per user per computer setting and that this falls outside of the scope of what we support.
In any case, your comments on our website have been quite helpful, and I will do everything I can to ensure that your voice is heard.
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
Hey Megan! Could you give me more info on how to do that?
Additionally, this same conflicted copy issue just occurred with a short video I was exporting on Premiere Pro. Originally I thought this was limited to just Logic Pro exports, but it seems that this issue is greater and has continued to persist in other areas. Just wanted to give you this information as well!
- Megan
Hey grantcrenshaw, all info is more than welcome!
As for whitelisting Dropbox on your OS and specifically for the apps you're inquiring I'm afraid you'd need to contact your IT since this isn't something we can share details on our end, as to how you can achieve that.
You can take a look at our relevant Help Center article, but it might require some tweaks depending on your OS, and the specific apps that are creating these conflicts.
Interesting grantcrenshaw that you have the same issue with files from Premier Pro, it seems like the issue is not with Logic or Premier, but with how Dropbox is syncing files while they're still being written. It's strange that it doesn't seem to happen for everyone though, that would be a much louder problem. grantcrenshaw would you mind sharing your computer model and OS version? Would be interesting to see if it's the same.
I'm on a Macbook Pro 15-inch 2017, running Ventura (the latest OS that supports my machine). I started having this problem in Monterey tough.
Also, thank you for your helpful tone, and sorry for my grumpy one.Hey JoelBille! Sorry I am just now getting back to you. I am on a 13-inch 2020 Macbook Pro, 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processing system, running Sonoma 14.6.1. This has been a recently recurring issue. It seems our models are pretty different overall, mine being newer and more up-to-date from an OS standpoint. Perhaps this issue is more concerning seeing that we have different models and is not limited to one model.
And seriously no apologies needed for any grumpy tone! This whole issue is more amusing to me than anything else.
