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Status:
Closed
Can we have an option to lock files we're working on to avoid conflicted copies?
My business partner and I (often working from different locations) are constantly working on the same documents and trying to save our work at the same time. Result: lots of conflicted copies of file...
Mark
Super User II
Super User II
Brian B.39 wrote:
Every time a File open occurs right now, Dropbox always checks to ensure that the file is the most up to date version before allowing it to be opened.
No it doesnt.
It does no check, at all, to ensure this.
You can test this by having a file open on two machines and getting conflicted copies.
https://www.dropbox.com/help/syncing-uploads/conflicted-copy
My mistake, you are correct.
So that initial server check is the real issue.
Do you know what the standard timeout is for the Dropbox client to check for file updates on the server?
4 times per second
4 times per minute?
- MarkNo, but, I've always found that it is in almost real time - as soon as an update occurs its pushed to devices and viceversa.
I also agree with Rich. There are too many variables for this to work safely and simply (which is how Dropbox always thinks). For example. What happens if I open a file while my internet is down? Or on a mobile device? Or the website?I agree, my impression is near instantaneous (checking every couple seconds or so?) and I have taken issue in the past with the amount of traffic generated by the dropbox clients (many people in a large office with a mediocre WAN link is a recipe for a significant network percentage used up with checks for updates).
Your question broken up:
Q:
What happens if I open a file while my internet is down?
A:
You are offline so standard dropbox rules apply with conflicted copies.
Q:
Or the website?
A:
I am not proposing getting rid of the current Colaboration interface which is what is being used when you edit online.
An exclusion filter allowing the locking mechanism on every file except those covered by the current collaboration app plugin (the badge and online editing).
Q:
Or on a mobile device?
A:
The mobile app can also execute the same file locking logic on all but filtered collaboration file types.
https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/edit-microsoft-office-files-mobile
This very doable, and very nesseary for peer-to-peer solutions to be real competitors with file servers.
Dropbox uses an update-and-push for file changes. File locking could be handled the same way. Yes it doesn't work while offline, but it would eliminate most colissions. The other oppertunity is to badge all files, not just MS office files. This wouldn't be hard either. if a file is open, badge the window.
