In chronological order from this thread:
AmberV:
In other words, if a folder of files does not sync with a particular service, and there is no explanation for it other than that service trying to be “smart” and fouling up, that’s probably all you’re seeing. Sometimes the simplest technology is the best (and that is most certainly not iCloud).
A Scrivener project is different from “random file types,” in that it is actually a folder, with sub-folders and potentially hundreds of component files. The entire contents of the folder needs to travel wherever the project does. Your symptoms suggest that iCloud is “helpfully” storing all or part of the project exclusively in the cloud, to be downloaded on demand. You need to insist that the entire project be stored locally.
Again, have you checked to make sure that iCloud is making the entire project available offline? The other examples you mentioned are all single files, while a Scrivener project is a folder.
iCloud has a specific setting that allows it to store files – which in this case would mean both Scrivener projects and components of those projects – exclusively in the cloud. That setting is known to cause exactly this issue. I have asked, twice, if that setting is enabled.
In Finder on the Mac, look at iCloud Drive. There should be icons indicating the synchronization status of the various items.
Plenty of other users are able to use iCloud successfully with Scrivener projects. The screenshot that @rms asked for would be helpful, as would one showing your Scrivener projects in Finder on the Mac.
Exactly what I meant by the above: Scrivener’s files are just normal files, like JPG, TXT and so on. There is nothing “special” about its files that would make it difficult for them to sync anywhere.
It is imposssible for this to be a Scrivener problem. Go on, try it. Use Visual Studio Code, to create for yourself from scratch a simple Scrivener project. This is something anyone can do with a little patience. All it is is a folder with some XML files, some subfolders, and a naming convention on the main folder. Make your “project” and put it in iCloud. Does it work?
Sure. Because a ZIP file is a single file, and so the service’s handling of folders is irrelevant. We have always recommended sending ZIP files around as a great way to avoid the limitations of synchronization services.
Why haven’t you tried testing any well-known “package” formats? That might be more interesting than listing all of the file extensions you can think of.
iCloud’s ability to handle single files is not in question. Nor is it relevant to this particular issue.
Testing a long list of single file formats doesn’t tell you (or us) anything useful.
Testing a non-Scrivener “package” format might.
As evidence that it is not, you are presenting a list of single file formats. But since Scrivener is not a single file format, iCloud’s ability to handle those formats is not relevant to the question.
I’ll make it even easier for you: we do not officially support any cloud services and never have
Got it! We are on our own. Maybe you should have opened with that?
After all the suggestions you and your compatriot gave in this thread, one might be forgiven thinking Scrivener supported cloud services. My bad I suppose.
Just one final suggestion. You may want to consider updating Chapter 14 of the Scrivener Manual. The one titled “Cloud Integration and Sharing” with this “official” position because it is confusing when one reads from the manual things like:
“Placing your Scrivener project into a cloud folder, so that it is available to every