Dropbox Behaves Strangely

CRM114 · 04-30-12, 01:13 PM

This pertains to the MacOS X version of Dropbox.

Normally, in MacOS, when you drag a file to a remote volume, it copies the files and leaves the originals in place. For some reason, and maybe it's a setting, when you drag files to Dropbox, it moves them removing the local copy.

This is bizarre and goes against what you'd intuitively think would happen. Am I missing a setting?

Tracer Bullet · 04-30-12, 01:32 PM

Dropbox isn't a remote volume. It's a folder.

CRM114 · 04-30-12, 01:37 PM

But it's a remote volume.

And like other remote volumes, I want to drop stuff in it and then retrieve that copy from another location. I don't want to move them to another location.

On a Mac, it shows up in the sidebar under "Places."

Tracer Bullet · 04-30-12, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

But it's a remote volume.

And like other remote volumes, I want to drop stuff in it and then retrieve that copy from another location. I don't want to move them to another location.

On a Mac, it shows up in the sidebar under "Places."

No, it's not, it's a folder.

Dave99 · 04-30-12, 02:04 PM

Yeah, it's actual file location is still a local folder, and the dropbox app syncs in the background to the cloud from there.

CRM114 · 04-30-12, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet

No, it's not, it's a folder.

They use a folder as an analogy but its space on a remote server. If I copy files to a server, it copies them and does not move them. But now I see how it works. I don't think the analogy works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave99

Yeah, it's actual file location is still a local folder, and the dropbox app syncs in the background to the cloud from there.

OK, I guess that makes sense. So if I log out of Dropbox, all my shit should still be in the folder. That makes me feel better.

Tracer Bullet · 04-30-12, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

They use a folder as an analogy but its space on a remote server. If I copy files to a server, it copies them and does not move them.

That's not relevant, nor is it strictly accurate. There's no "analogy" here: Dropbox is a local folder which uses the Dropbox software and service to sync files to the cloud. It's not a traditional remote volume.

CRM114 · 04-30-12, 02:26 PM

I see that now. Its predecessors like iDisk didn't work like this. There was no sync but an immediate copy. The way it SHOULD work to make sense as a UI.

Tracer Bullet · 04-30-12, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

I see that now. Its predecessors like iDisk didn't work like this. There was no sync but an immediate copy. The way it SHOULD work to make sense as a UI.

Believe me, the first time I moved a file to my Dropbox and saw it disappear from the origin folder I nearly lost it. Then I realized.

CRM114 · 04-30-12, 02:43 PM

I moved three files from my work computer to Dropbox. I went home and only two of them were there with an email telling me my Dropbox was full. I thought I lost the third file until I came in today and saw it in there with a red X on it.

Dave99 · 04-30-12, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

OK, I guess that makes sense. So if I log out of Dropbox, all my shit should still be in the folder. That makes me feel better.

Yep, on linux, mac or pc, it syncs your entire dropbox (unless you have changed folder settings), to that local machine, so everything is available offline. On the mobile versions though (at least on android), it doesn't sync everything, only files you select manually.

Todd B. · 04-30-12, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

I see that now. Its predecessors like iDisk didn't work like this. There was no sync but an immediate copy. The way it SHOULD work to make sense as a UI.

No, it's just a different paradigm. You're thinking about it like a remote volume, but you should be thinking about it as a special (local) folder that gets replicated to other places.

04-30-12, 01:13 PM	#1
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,824	Dropbox Behaves Strangely This pertains to the MacOS X version of Dropbox. Normally, in MacOS, when you drag a file to a remote volume, it copies the files and leaves the originals in place. For some reason, and maybe it's a setting, when you drag files to Dropbox, it moves them removing the local copy. This is bizarre and goes against what you'd intuitively think would happen. Am I missing a setting?

04-30-12, 01:32 PM	#2
Tracer Bullet DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IND Crosstown Posts: 23,362	Re: Dropbox Behaves Strangely Dropbox isn't a remote volume. It's a folder. __________________ Third World countries are worthy of our derision. -Sean O'Hara Personally, I would say that Tracer Bullet is leading you in the wrong direction. -Supermallet Sometimes you have to decide between the guy who won't give you a cupcake and the one who will stab you in the face. -DeputyDave

04-30-12, 01:37 PM	#3
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,824	Re: Dropbox Behaves Strangely But it's a remote volume. And like other remote volumes, I want to drop stuff in it and then retrieve that copy from another location. I don't want to move them to another location. On a Mac, it shows up in the sidebar under "Places."

04-30-12, 02:04 PM	#5
Dave99 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: US Posts: 7,681	Re: Dropbox Behaves Strangely Yeah, it's actual file location is still a local folder, and the dropbox app syncs in the background to the cloud from there.

04-30-12, 02:26 PM	#8
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,824	Re: Dropbox Behaves Strangely I see that now. Its predecessors like iDisk didn't work like this. There was no sync but an immediate copy. The way it SHOULD work to make sense as a UI.

04-30-12, 02:43 PM	#10
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,824	Re: Dropbox Behaves Strangely I moved three files from my work computer to Dropbox. I went home and only two of them were there with an email telling me my Dropbox was full. I thought I lost the third file until I came in today and saw it in there with a red X on it.