You may wish to look at what Dropbox is pouting as “new features”, among which is setting naming conventions.
It may lead to new challenges down the line if users opt-into revised conveniences which clash with the way Scrivener names files and backups.
2 Likes
Thanks for pointing this out.
These features were mentioned in a blog post from 2021, so they’ve been around for a while, which I believe is a good sign–I can’t recall seeing any posts with issues possibly caused by this feature. Also, enabling automated naming conventions for a folder requires one to really dig into one’s files at the DropBox.com site–not something your typical user will likely do.
But–seeing your post made me dig into DropBox app settings, where I saw a feature I’d never noticed before: Flexible file names:
When Flexible file names is enabled, DropBox will replace incompatible characters (incompatible to the DropBox app?) with an underscores. This article from 2021 describes the feature in more detail.
On my Win11 PC, it was enabled by default. I couldn’t determine from the article whether renaming is a good thing, a bad thing, or a nothing burger from Scrivener’s perspective.
I turned it off–let’s see what happens.
Best,
Jim
2 Likes
I cannot find that option for “Flexible file names” in Dropbox (Version 226.4.5094) on my macOS (Version 15.5 with APFS file system, as delivered with this newish machine).
Some Dropbox commentary on filenames, including
Note: Users on the Dropbox desktop app for Windows can sync files and folders that contain certain special characters. When files and folders containing special characters sync to Windows, those characters are replaced with “_” (underscore). Learn how to turn flexible file names on.
from Naming Dropbox files and folders - Dropbox Help
Dropbox seems to be doing the “right” thing giving the complexity of different file naming on different systems. That being said, I’ve seen evidence of a many people know nothing of it and love using those “special” but not-recommended characters in file names.
A “wicked” problem which has been around a very long time.
3 Likes
This sounds… risky. Last thing I’d want is anything renaming files without my specific control: imagine those files are linked to something else, then DropBox (or something else) decides to rename it…? Broken links.
I’m guessing (but do not know) this option is “off” for Windows by default. Worth a check. If you have it “on”, best turn it off now.
1 Like
It is my hunch that L&L never uses these “special” and not recommended characters in the file names the apps create. And people should never do that either, but … “should” like other “shoulds” not done.