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Forum Discussion
Smart Sync and Quick Preview on Mac
Smart Sync causes my quick preview function (spacebar) to not function properly on my Mac. I can't preview thumbnails, or quick preview any videos or photos. Any ideas why this happens?
Likely because you're trying to preview a file that doesn't exist on your computer.
When you set a file to Online Only, the only thing that's left of that file on your computer is the necessary information to make it appear in the folder. Since there's no content in the file, your OS (nor any other program) is able to preview it.
Remember, when you set a file to Online Only, the file is removed from the computer leaving behind only a marker file. In order to access that file, whether it be to open and edit it or simply preview it, the file needs to be on the computer (Smart Sync doesn't allow you to open files directly from the Dropbox servers). When you open a file, it's synced back to your local drive and then opened as normal. When you're done with the file, if you want it to be online-only again, you need to mark it as such.
Rich
Super User II
Super User IILikely because you're trying to preview a file that doesn't exist on your computer.
When you set a file to Online Only, the only thing that's left of that file on your computer is the necessary information to make it appear in the folder. Since there's no content in the file, your OS (nor any other program) is able to preview it.
Remember, when you set a file to Online Only, the file is removed from the computer leaving behind only a marker file. In order to access that file, whether it be to open and edit it or simply preview it, the file needs to be on the computer (Smart Sync doesn't allow you to open files directly from the Dropbox servers). When you open a file, it's synced back to your local drive and then opened as normal. When you're done with the file, if you want it to be online-only again, you need to mark it as such.
No, unfortunately it turns off Quick Preview (or Quicklook) for all of my files, even local, until I restart my Mac. And if I happen to try to preview an online-only file, it causes it to malfunction again. I can basically just avoid hitting spacebar with online-only files, but it is annoying if I want to use it to see those files' sizes.
The same happens to me. It's very difficult to work like this, and Smart Sync loses a great part of its sense :-(
Hello Andrew, did you find a solution to your problem? I am still having the same problem as you.
- Jane
Dropbox Staff
👋 Hi to all following this thread! In order to forward you reports to the relevant team of specialized technicians, please let me know if you’d like us to work on that together on this discussion here & I’ll reach out to you on my end on the email address connected to your Forum profile. Thanks in advance & I’m looking forward to hearing back from you!- So, have you the solution for this problem, in my case is a big issue?
8/9 months to fix is not good tech support.
Can you help us?
