You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.
Forum Discussion
Excel files - Dropbox cannot find file - "It may have been moved, renamed or deleted..." HELP me!
Hi i am having major issues with especially excel files. Whether 'drag and drop' them into my dropbox file - or 'save as' them, and later want to access them - it says: "Cannot find file / File may have been moved, renamed or deleted."
I run my entire computer off dropbox and now am having major issues. Please help me.
I have been experiencing the same issue. I think it has something to do with re-arranging folder through your Desktop and not letting enough time for DropBox to sync. The only way I have been able to retrieve my files is to no open and email to myself from my desktop file folders, it is a pain. I am planning to call DropBox if there is no quick response here.
So I think I figured out the issue. It seems to be that Excel will only open files with file names under 216 characters, so if a file is embedded in many sub-folders with long names, the file name will easily exceed that limit. Obviously, this largely Excel's fault especially since the error says the file has been deleted or moved instead of simply notifying the name is too long. But Dropbox is also to blame. Since Dropbox won't share sub folders separately from the parent, we end up using very long parent and sub folder names.
So I think I figured out the issue. It seems to be that Excel will only open files with file names under 216 characters, so if a file is embedded in many sub-folders with long names, the file name will easily exceed that limit. Obviously, this largely Excel's fault especially since the error says the file has been deleted or moved instead of simply notifying the name is too long. But Dropbox is also to blame. Since Dropbox won't share sub folders separately from the parent, we end up using very long parent and sub folder names.
It's not a problem with Dropbox alone. The same happens most of the time when you transfer or save Excel files from your email or flash drive to your desktop folder. This headache started to occur in Windows 8, 8.1 & 10. Never experienced this problem with earlier versions.
I have been experiencing the same issue. I think it has something to do with re-arranging folder through your Desktop and not letting enough time for DropBox to sync. The only way I have been able to retrieve my files is to no open and email to myself from my desktop file folders, it is a pain. I am planning to call DropBox if there is no quick response here.
Thanks Erin - that seems to work... Appreciate.
Same problem with Excel and Dropbox. Seemed to happen after parent folder name change on desktop. Very concerning.
You can also avoid this issue by re-naming and moving folders around IN Dropbox vs on your desktop. This will avoid the syncing lapse that is causing this problem.
Thanks Alexsis! We were experiencing the same problem and your fix worked. Much appreciated!
