After Effects: Smart Sync Files

[ClaireSel]

Hi there, 

I'd really appreciate any advice that anyone can offer?

I work with Dropbox daily, alongside Adobe After Effects.

Does anyone know how to stop After Effects automatically downloading and syncing online only files when you open up a project?  Often I just want to work in a limited way within an AE project (e.g. pull out a text animation), and the smart sync downloads that occur on opening can really slow the process down.

Any advice you can offer would be very much appreciated!

Thanks, 

Claire

[Megan · Accepted solution]

Hello, @ClaireSel! I hope everything is going well for you!

Any program or service that tries to interact with a file by default causes Dropbox to download it and mark it as Local again.

This could occur as a result of an antivirus check, a backup operation, or an application attempting to display thumbnails, among other things.

Dropbox will download a file if it receives a request for access to it.

I hope this clarifies things.

[ClaireSel]

Hello!  Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it.  Good to know I'm not missing a trick!

Thanks again,

Claire

[Megan]

Any time, Claire! 

If you have any questions, we're one post away @ClaireSel!