Ever since an issue I had last week with Scrivener crashing, I have been unable to use Dropbox. Scrivener syncs without any problem, but when I go to my iPad or iPhone, I can’t get into the files. All the scenes are there down the left hand column, but when I touch one to open it I get the message - Couldn’t Load File
There was an error loading the file.
This is along with a graphic of a question mark.
Alternatively, when I touch one that has a title it says - Unable to Read Document
An error occurred while reading the document.
No graphic.
I have searched the internet, but finding anyone else with this issue has not happened. Has my dropbox account been corrupted? Is it an IOS8 issue? If I go to the dropbox website, everything is there, ready to read. I am completely baffled, as well as frustrated as I can’t access my work.
All I can really advise to you, from the Scrivener side of things, is to try recreating the sync folder from scratch—at least, I assume that is the feature you are referring to, when stating that “Scrivener syncs without a problem”.
As for the rest, I don’t know what apps you use or much about troubleshooting Dropbox, beyond the basics. It sounds to me like a permissions issue (which I’m not even sure of the relevancy of, in the context of iOS Dropbox integration), or perhaps a bad linkage between the apps you use and Dropbox, but that’s just speculation.
Moderator note: split to a new topic since the source topic was not about using iOS.
Thanks for your reply. I thought I posted my question in the Dropbox thread.
Yes, I have tried deleting all the Dropbox folders and starting from scratch. Dropbox itself works fine and has all my files when I go online through safari or Firefox. It is only when I sign in on a mobile device that I have the issue.
You were in a Dropbox thread, but it is for sorting out issues with cases where you are using multiple computers, all linked to the same Scrivener project in the Dropbox folder (or via a similar service). With iOS you are exporting individual files, or syncing with servers like SimpleNote, so it’s a bit different. No biggie!
Have you verified that the files are okay on the disk itself? They should be, if they are showing up in the Dropbox web site, but it never hurts to check—see if you can open one of the synced files in a text editor.
Even in the Dropbox app itself? If so then it sounds like they would be the best ones to talk to. I have no ideas on what could cause that, and have never run into a similar situation.
Yes, using the app itself. I have tried reinstalling it a few times, just to see if it helps. I even signed on the app on my son’s iPad. Still no readable files. It is completely bizarre.
I will contact Dropbox tomorrow, see what they have to say. Thanks again for your prompt help. Much appreciated.
Very interesting, yes they probably would like to hear from you on the matter, since it seems to be iOS 8 update related. They might have a bug that needs fixing.
In the meanwhile, note that most iOS text editors let you dump files into the app via iTunes, meaning you can still get work done, just without the convenience of using the Internet. I just tested this using WriteRoom on iOS:
Dragged the “Draft” folder from my sync folder into WriteRoom’s app file browser in iTunes.
On the iPad, I opened one file with WriteRoom, closed it without changes, then opened a second and added a paragraph.
I plugged the iPad back into the computer and dragged the Draft folder back into Scrivener’s sync folder (overwriting the old one).
In Scrivener, ran File/Sync/with External Folder Now.
The file I added a paragraph two was updated—the rest were left alone, as normal.
As with all things of this nature, I do recommend testing on a sample project first before applying the workflow to your important work.