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Forum Discussion

Gayle1402's avatar
Gayle1402
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago

Selective Sync versus Smart Sync configuration

I feel that something simple is doing my head in. Sorry in advance for what is probably a dumb question. I've just migrated my system to a new Mac Mini. So far, so good. All documents in the DB fold...
Sync
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    7 years ago
    No worries, Gayle, I can help clarify this for you!
     
    Firstly, with selective sync, make sure all folders are ticked. This means that literally every folder will sync to your machine.
     
    If they were unticked, there would be no sign of the folders on your machine, and they would be ‘unsynced’.
     
    The ‘start as online-only’ applies for all new files, so make sure that is selected.
     
    However, for the existing files on the machine, you do as you said, right click the folders, Smart Sync, and choose Online-only.
     
    When all your files have the gray cloud icon, you’ll know that it’s working!
     
    Let me know if you need any further assistance. :)
Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
No worries, Gayle, I can help clarify this for you!
 
Firstly, with selective sync, make sure all folders are ticked. This means that literally every folder will sync to your machine.
 
If they were unticked, there would be no sign of the folders on your machine, and they would be ‘unsynced’.
 
The ‘start as online-only’ applies for all new files, so make sure that is selected.
 
However, for the existing files on the machine, you do as you said, right click the folders, Smart Sync, and choose Online-only.
 
When all your files have the gray cloud icon, you’ll know that it’s working!
 
Let me know if you need any further assistance. :)
  • Gayle1402's avatar
    Gayle1402
    Helpful | Level 5
    7 years ago

    Wonderful. Thank you so much for clarifying. Really appreciate it! :grinning:

  • marliesP's avatar
    marliesP
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    Dear Jay, 

    Quick question about this. 

    Where should ik see the 'smart sync' options when trying to smart sync the excisting select. synced folders? In Finder (for mac) or only on the online version? 

    Thanks 

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      7 years ago
      You’ll only see the options for Smart Sync in Finder, since each setting is specific to the machine. 
       
      Therefore, you could have all files online-only on a MacBook since there might not be enough space, but on another Mac you could have all files as local, since they have plenty of space.
      • Sivartis's avatar
        Sivartis
        Explorer | Level 4
        6 years ago

        I have to say, this is really confusing.  My goal with Smart Sync is to have every file available and visible, but online only, unless I've used it in the last couple months.  (or one, or three, whatever - this should be customizable).  

        I've been using Selective Sync on a computer that didn't have enough space for all my dropbox folders.  When I enabled Smart Sync, suddenly all my folders were visible and previously invisible folders were now visible and online-only!  Hooray!  I hadnt' changed any options with Selective Sync.  But I still had all my selective sync folders living offline on my computer and taking up unneccessary space.  Boo...  

        So it seemed to make sense to go into Selective Sync and uncheck all the folders... but HUGE BOOO, it removed all signs of every folder, even "offline only" folders. 

        So I had to go back in (all the while, Smart Sync is ON) and go BACK into Selective Sync and activate every folder, which is now doing some syncing thing where all the folders have the blue syncing symbol. Shouldn't most of them be offline-only if I havent' been using them (and most of them I haven't) and thus be instantly synced to my new Smart Sync-enabled laptop??

        <sigh>

        Come on, Technology. Get it together.

        ~Travis

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