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Forum Discussion
iPad mdwriter app created multiple file copies when Dropbox was offline
I was working offline in mdwriter (simple markdown editor) on Dropbox files while in airplane mode. I went back into normal mode when inside a corporate network wifi where apparently Dropbox is blocked. The Editor showed errors syncing the files that I had modified and also created 2-3 copies of each of them. Question: can Dropbox present itself as „offline“ if a firewall does not permit it to sync normally? Anyone know what is happening here? In the Dropbox the files were showing as 2 weeks old (last time I modified them), so the editor did not / could not modify them in Dropbox (but tried to, and when failing, saved copies, I assume).
Later when I disabled the wifi and used cellular data, all of the copies synced & showed up in Dropbox correctly. The original 2 modified files are still not modified in Dropbox and the editor can‘t seem to save them.
- Mark
Super User II
Yes, if Dropbox cannot sync it will show as offline - so if the WiFi is blocking Dropbox it wont sync.
If you end up with conflicted copies you need to manually patch everything back together. The original file will not update or change - it has saved the updates as a conflict as it believes the original file is out of date to what is local, i.e. it has newer data that the one you are using.
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
HI autologout, as the app wasn't able to connect to the Dropbox servers to update the file, you should have differing versions of the files. Do you have the updated versions of the files in that app? Are you able to upload them manually to your Dropbox account via the mobile app?
Hi Jay, I did have many versions of the file, I did not lose data. But the only way to stop copies from getting created was to actually delete the original file, otherwise it was hung on that file and kept generating copies even when fully connected again. I think that the helper / service app is not detecting its online status correctly. I think that the corporate network is blocking some, but not all ports, so that it thinks it’s online but it really is not. This leads the markdown app to try saving, failing, and going into its “keep saving forever” loop. I would prefer that Dropbox defaults to “offline” since pure offline mode works fine (i.e. when in airplane mode etc.). This semi-not-connected mode feels dangerous, and multiple copies of files make me nervous about losing data : )
