I am using the Novel Template on Scrivener (Version 3.2.3) on macOS (Monterey version 12.6.1) and I have the project linked to Dropbox. I use my iOS Scrivener app as well to put entries and make edits to the same project. I always close one and Sync before opening in the other. In any case, an ongoing issue for me has been randomly disappearing texts and snapshots. This is really frustrating as I have to go back to an old backed up version to replace the text. I have to do this every time I open my project on macOS. Please help.
Hunch. You have set Dropbox to have your Scrivener files “online”. This makes for incomplete syncs. With the Dropbox app, make “offline”. Dropbox has documentation about this in the app and on their website.
1 Like
In addition to what @rms said:
Closing is not enough. You have to give the Dropbox app time to complete an upload on the first device and a download on the second device. If you close Scrivener and close the lid of your laptop, the upload probably doesn’t happen. If you logon your laptop or desktop and open Scrivener immediately, the download hasn’t happened. The cure can be as simple as waiting a few minutes before opening Scrivener. If you didn’t wait, and you see missing text, it likely works to close Scrivener and wait a few minutes … unless the problem @rms mentioned is in the way.
In that case, you can right-click on the project (or the folder it’s inside) and select Make available off-line.
Not only is it annoying, but it has the potential to cause more problems than it solves.
1 Like
If I make available offline, then whatever changes I make to a project won’t be synced, correct (that is, until I get internet access)? Since I am editing a project from two devices, making it available offline could create conflicts, no? Thanks!
I think the waiting thing is something I should consider doing. I have dropbox app on my macOS and I rely on an indicator that tells me the sync has finished. Maybe I should give it more time after it says it has finished. I admit, I do rush sometimes when I’m done with something on my desktop and then I have to leave, I’ll immediately sync the project on my phone. I’ll try this.
No, that is not correct.
If a project is available “offline,” a full and complete copy is available both on the local device and on the Dropbox server. This is the situation that Scrivener is designed for.
If you allow Dropbox to store any part of the project “online only,” you create a risk that Dropbox will not download a component to the local device in a timely manner, resulting in exactly the behavior you describe.
Thanks for explaining that to me. These replies were really helpful.
1 Like