Dropbox full because of shared folder

 #2 - I just want everyone to raise voice against them.

 #3 - Selective sync is right now available (which is on folder basis). So changing that to file basis should not be a big task (as per my understanding.. I am not Computer expert, so Can't comment on that). Syncing per machine is not a feasible option because then people can sync different data at different devices and it will not solve DB's problem. For shared folder it should be per account.

#4 your option (sharing with only 2 people or limited people ) will create problem in DB concept. :)

Let me propose another solution

#5

• Create a default folder inside Dropbox account "shared folder". - this can be done because they have "camera upload" default folder algo.
• User can control the size of the "shared folder". It's like another db account inside the Main Db account. 
• This "shared folder" works similar to what's happening right now in db.
• rest MAIN_DB_Space - shared_folder_space ... you can use as your normal cloud space.

I hope #5 can solve all the issue with minor changes and this is something unique from the competitor and help db also. :)  

I'm screwed.  Never even used any of these folders.

As much as I like everyone trying to duplicate the presidential campaigns for snarky comments the core issue is really not how DB charges but the way it is being used by people.

I also have been tormented by DB's assumption that everyone wants everything in a shared folder downloaded locally.  But the real culprit is the person sending the share.  What keeps happening is folks will share a parent folder that has tons of stuff you don't want instead of the child folder that has what they actually need to share with you.

It is unfortunate that DB keeps getting used this way and it's a bit their fault for promoting it in a way that encourages people to use it that way.

I use DB but in the way it is actually designed for, to fully share folders that can be changed on either end.  This is really most useful not for team work but for personal sharing among a persons various devices.

One of the reasons it is not good for team work is because of the auto downloading of stuff you don't want but also because deleting while shared will trickle back to other users.  It's just really bad for what a lot of people are using it for.

I came here because of the common problem that others are complaining about.  A show "shared" a folder with me.  I need some parts of that folder but not most of it.  But accepting the share fills up my quota and starts downloading gigs of stuff I will have to delete AFTER I un-share, if I remember.  I didn't know about the trickle effect a couple of years ago and deleted all the "garbage" that got dumped on my computer.  Then I got a frantic phone call because it all disappeared from the drop box.

The result is that to safeguard your data you need to keep two copies locally.  One in your drop Box (or reconnecting will start downloading all over again) and one somewhere else so that if someone accidentally deletes a file on their machine your copy won't also disappear.  And of course all (what you need and what you don't) gets counted toward your quota.

Fundamentally I don't think it's DB being greedy or "stupid" but their sharing model being used in ways it's not designed for.  I personally try hard to dissuade people from using DB for project sharing because of how vulnerable the files become.  But IF I have a say at all (not often) at least I get them to be selective in the folders shared so that I don't have to download 5 gigs to get the one text document I need.

I'm no techie so I was definitely mislead when I was encouraged to join DB. It's my own fault soI will not be recommending my friends to join.

"DB wont change this, they dont change anything on user request, I doubt they even read this forum."

That appears to be the case... Too bad...

Jacob - deleted files do not use quota, hence why they dont tell you how to remove deleted files to free up quota.... 

The ONLY files using up quota are 'active' ones you can see at www.dropbox.com/home 

Adam C. : You failed to address WHY its a crap explanation, so Ill have to assume you really meant its just an explanation you didnt like. 

As to telling you again , ill reply with "READ THE THREAD", asking someone to repeat themselfs is arrogant behaviour, you have added nothing to the discussion to expect me to explain anything more on why they use the business model they do.

You dont seem to understand how "space" (quota) is allocated and used, if so you are making assumptions about it without understanding and you simply have it wrong.

You have no individual "space" at all, they keep no "space" reserved for you, if you upload a file that they already have they map your file record into the same one as the existing one (this is technically done below the file level), you however now have access to that file now so it consumes YOUR quota. If someone shares a file with you, you now have a file record of that file and a map to the content of it, so it consumes your quota, additionally you are also granted the extra advantage that that file can be updated by multiple people so you can collaborate on its content.

Yes there are other services that provide this cheaper, like them use them, dont cry about this one.

IMHO if I don't like something I walk over talk.

@Adam C. : Its not a CRAP explanation, its the one that causes them to charge in the way they do, just becuase you dont like it doesnt make it crap, you just dont like it.

As to file ownership, I dont think you understood what I said about how they store files, so again.

You go to microsoft site and download the DirectX offline install file (say 300MB), and upload that to your dropbox. They store that into 300MB into their storage space, and link it to the file record in your account. I then upload that same file, I have from a MSCP DVD, and they see that the same file is in their storage space, and they link it to the file record in my account. Now we BOTH are the owner of the file. We have never shared a folder, or the file in anyway, its just the same file so they store it once. YOU have the file dont you, so it uses YOUR quota, I have the file so it uses MY quota, your logic is I should get it for no quota use because YOU uploaded it first. THANKS DUDE FOR THE FREE STORAGE ON YOUR DIME! (If only!)

Addressing your disk usage over your allowance, Usage is what you have access to, allowance is what you have purchased access rights to. Your logic here seems pretty skewed, you want access to files, but you dont think you should pay for that access, QUOTA is how much you can access and sync, its not 1TB of physical hard disk space, you would have to be insane if you thought every user was getting that, you can force that usage by uploading files that would be unique to you only, but each time you upload something they already have they link to the already have file. (as do other cloud storage sites).

If your talking of some other kind of inconsistencies between diskspace used locally and in DBs quota usage on your account, be aware that DB does not see local file replication nodes as one file, it counts each instance your storing against your quota, (see symbolic links and/or iphotos)

DBs business model is to give you a quota of space you can access, and charge you for it, if you use half thats your bus, if you use all thats on you, if you use all with unique files no one else has, thats all good too, but your paying one fixed fee, end of. Now if you have 3 devices and upload a file via the cloud then 3 devices download that file each one costs DB to withdraw that data from the Amazon s3 storage backbone, each new file , each changed file, also causes this, and if you have 30 devices thats 10 times as much cost, whats the change in cost to you.... nill change, you pay one fixed flat fee.

As to your curiousity about me, I dont defend Dropbox, I defend how they are charging for this service as how they charge to make some $$$ and survive, they are not google or MS who have a billion dollar bank account to fall back on as they scoop up market share, to then sell you other stuff interconnected, this is all they do. If you saw some other threads I post on you would see I have some serious issues with how dropbox does some things, one being slack as performance to business customers.   But really I might throw back your final question, with this "Why does it mater to me so much? ....  if you're leaving and said so twice now, why do you care?"

PS: Office365 is NOT 5 copies of office it's one licence to use on 5 devices, there are several inter device dependencies, that are not present when you have multiple licence to use, but thats a whole different forum discussion.

Adam C. : Saying someone has an inability to do anything, just because they disagrees with you doesn't make them incapable, if you think it does you're ignorant, if you think it should then your arrogant.

Since you leaving (again), ill just reply with this last message, People are NOT sharing "space" with you, they are collaborating on file content. The share content with you, you have to have enough space to house it. If you choose to see it as something else that is your right, it however doesn't mean anyone else much bend to that view.

Goodbye

You have access to every file shared to you, if you choose not to access it more the fool you for having them. They are not borrowed, they are collaboratively accessible by many, a library that can give you all the books at once, and allow you to read everyone's foot notes, any yet you still think it should be near free.

Ask you ISP for your internet free, I mean the sites you go to they dont own, why should you pay them to access them? pffffffffffffttttttttttttt.