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Forum Discussion
How to make dropbox watch certain folders and sync automatically on change.
Hi.
I have the dropbox business advanced account.
I have the offline installers etc for the newest version of the Dropbox app.
But, I am finding it rather difficult to use. What I want to do is make this program only watch certain folders and then sync them as the files and the folders in those folders change.
For example, I don't want my desktop constantly synced.
So, can somebody please direct me on how to do this?
Thaks.
I'm very glad to hear that everything is set up and working nicely Valekea!
If you need to format the hard drive and remove the Dropbox folder contents in the process, you'll need to unlink your desktop app from your account first.
Once you've finished re-formatting, you can sign back into the desktop app and it will re-sync your files from your account online.
I hope that helps!
- Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Hey there Valekea, welcome to the Dropbox Community!
I'd be more than happy to assist you with this, let's see what we can do.
When the desktop app is running it will keep all files and folders on your desktop synced with your account, I'm afraid there's no way around that. However, you can use selective sync to choose only specific folders that you want available and syncing to your computer.
The selective sync settings can be changed at any time. Any folders that are unchecked in those settings will be safe in your account online and will no longer appear and sync to your desktop.
Does this sound like it would work for you?
Let me know if you have any questions - thanks!
Hello @Daphne
Thanks for your reply.
However, my problem persists.
The selective sync only seems to concern the files and folders that are inside the dropbox folder that is located in the hard disk drive from where, basically, you can hide some of the files and folders inside that folder.
This is the opposite of what I am interested in, as that is selectively syncing from the cloud and not from my own computer.
Basically, I want to be able to point out to certain directories in my hard disk, and have the app watch these directories and upload as the files are changed / added.
Also, there are 2 ways to "upload" files and folders, one on the website, where I can drag a folder or a file into, and those I can not even see in my hard disk drive dropbox folder.
And one, where I drag files and folders into the hard disk dropbox folder location.
Both of these are just failing to perform the task of backing up and uploading files on to the cloud as the changes take place and I am deeply dissatisfied with what I had in mind for this app.
Please keep in touch with me in communication.
I am completely unable to do what I want to do with Dropbox at this point in time.
- Daphne
Thanks for getting back to me with this additional info Valekea!
In terms of syncing files between your computer and your account online, the files/folders would need to be located within the Dropbox folder on your computer to be synced. There currently isn't a way to have content outside of the Dropbox folder sync to your account I'm afraid.
If you want to upload files to your account via the desktop app, you would indeed need to move the files within the local Dropbox folder which will automatically sync these to your account. If you want to upload via the website, in addition to using "drag and drop" into the web browser, you can choose specific files/folders to upload with the steps here.
I understand that this isn't exactly how you wanted to use Dropbox but it seems like what you want to achieve here isn't something that we currently support.
I hope this helps, give me a nudge if you have more questions about this!
WHAT!!!!!!!!??????
OK.... I'm quoting you.
You typed this...
When the desktop app is running it will keep all files and folders on your desktop synced with your account, I'm afraid there's no way around that. However, you can use selective sync to choose only specific folders that you want available and syncing to your computer.
I wish to GOD there was a way to make my desktop on my Mac constantly sync with my dropbox.... but I've searched for days and days and all I can find are countless forums of people going on and on about symlinks being taken away. I don't know about any of that.
All I know..... Is I've been a dropbox customer for a long long time.... and I pay for the business account. So there must be a way to select my entire documents folder if I so choose and have it sync constantly online without having to manually drag the stuff over.... RIGHT??? RIGHT?? Either there is a way to do this... Or it is true that I have already died and am in some pergatory where I think I'm still living... except nothing makes sense. Like soundcloud rappers with tatooes on their faces mumbing about pills are rich and famous, our president is a reality star idiot, and Dropbox doesn't allow your desktop on your computer to automatically and contantly sync with your dropbox account!!!!! Because we all know the dangers of turning on that **bleep** icloud. You'll be trapped forever with apple if you fal down that rabbit hole!...... WAIT!!!! That MUST be it!!!! Apple has paid y'all off. They have told you that you BEST not interfere with their schemes to trap us into more icloud storage purchases!!!! Yep.. I just figured it out whilst typing this. **bleep** this world.
