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pbuckland's avatar
pbuckland
Helpful | Level 6
7 years ago

Smart Sync is default to online-only but not working

Hi all,   In my Smart Sync settings, I have the default set to online-only. i.e. new files should be set to online-only.   However, whenever someone adds a new folder+files to my shared folde...
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  • Sanchez's avatar
    Sanchez
    7 years ago
    Hey pbuckland, 

    In short, when you disable Smart Sync, the Selective Sync settings will apply. 

    When Smart Sync is enabled on an account, the default settings apply for new content only, so your existing files/folders are not affected unless the Smart Sync settings are manually changed. 

    Since your users are finding it difficult to manage both features, I understand that you want to disable Smart Sync, and have them only work with Selective Sync. Another way to do this would be to have each user set their preferences to Local for new files, go in and change to local any online-only content that they have manually set on existing content, and then only use the Selective Sync settings to manage things. Alternatively, they could select to sync all folders from the Selective Sync settings, and then use Smart Sync to manage it all. 
     
    Cheers
Sanchez's avatar
Sanchez
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
Hey again, pbuckland, 

I’ve reached out to our specialist for clarification on your question, and hope to get you an answer asap. 

Cheers! 
Sanchez's avatar
Sanchez
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
Hey pbuckland, 

In short, when you disable Smart Sync, the Selective Sync settings will apply. 

When Smart Sync is enabled on an account, the default settings apply for new content only, so your existing files/folders are not affected unless the Smart Sync settings are manually changed. 

Since your users are finding it difficult to manage both features, I understand that you want to disable Smart Sync, and have them only work with Selective Sync. Another way to do this would be to have each user set their preferences to Local for new files, go in and change to local any online-only content that they have manually set on existing content, and then only use the Selective Sync settings to manage things. Alternatively, they could select to sync all folders from the Selective Sync settings, and then use Smart Sync to manage it all. 
 
Cheers
  • Sanchez's avatar
    Sanchez
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Hey again, pbuckland, 

    Let’s make sure we’re on the same page here with the terminology. When a folder is Selectively Synced, it is syncing to your computer. If you have set this folder to online-only with Smart Sync, then the folder is removed from your computer, and you just see a placeholder. 

    If you now disable Smart Sync, your Selective Sync setting that still exist, will come into play, causing the folder to sync to your computer again. 
     
    As for the last part of your question, what happens if you attempt to open these “empty” files? Have you restarted the computer, and they are still there? 
     
    Cheers
  • pbuckland's avatar
    pbuckland
    Helpful | Level 6
    7 years ago

    Thanks,

     

    However that doesn't tell me whether the selectively synced file that are online-only will download once Smart Sync has been disabled.

     

    For example, with selective sync on and online-only set, files are there but with no content (empty files). If I disable Smart Sync, I wouldn't be surprised if the empty files then sync to the cloud. Hopefully that's not the case but I wouldn't want to try it without first having reassurance it won't happen.

     

    I've also noticed another problem - I've selectively synced to a bunch of folders and set them to online-only. I then un-selectively synced them, expecting them to disappear, but all the empty files are still on my local drive. They aren't syncing, and have no Dropbox icon on the folder icon, but they're still there. This is really concerning.

     

    Thanks,

    Paul

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