What does “resolve conflicts” mean?
Mac/PC Scrivener 3 can determine when conflict files exist within the project structure, and offer the user options for fixing the conflict. But it doesn’t control what files Dropbox (or another service) views as “current” when deciding what to upload/download from the server.
If I make changes from two computers, I want them either merged or flagged for manual resolution (so I don’t lose changes). That’s all I mean by “conflict resolution”. If a Scrivener document was just a bunch of files, then per-file resolution (with a “hey, that file got changed in multiple places”) would be fine, and I could just write myself a little app that picks the younger file from both sources and slam them together (which is of course what Dropbox does).
But Scrivener docs are bundles with (I assume) indices and cross-references and stuff. So there’s got to be some post-merge cleanup that’s generally needed (I assume that’s what the “rebuilding” dialog is about). That’s why I assume that Scrivener needs to take some part in this game.
At this point, it’s getting clear that I don’t actually understand how Scrivener syncing works. Is this written up somewhere where I can read about it? I’ve read the whole manual several times, and clearly I don’t understand it yet…
Cheers
– perry
My understanding and practice for many years is that the best practice is to make changes on one computer, let Dropbox sync up to Dropbox servers, and then on the other computer, wait for the sync done from Dropbox servers into the second computer.
See Section 14.1 of the 3.3.0-01 version of the Scrivener Manual.
I’d just like to add my reasons not wanting to use Dropbox. The first one is very mundane, I’m not a russian journalist or whatever. I simply exceeded the number of three devices I’m allowed to sync with Dropbox for free. I have a TB of OneDrive storage I don’t use from my Office subscription and I also have my iCloud drive. I don’t want to pay for Dropbox.
The second reason is probably not really on Dropbox, but on the whole iOS syncing process. I just tried and having not synced my Scrivener for a while it took almost two minutes to open a project on my phone. I now it’s faster if done more regularly, but still it is cumbersome. I know and appreciate that the syncing is more safe than with other apps. And I now I’m probably especially sensitive to the whole process as I was a “victim” of that terrible and hard to track down bug we had a few years ago.
Using an iOS device, and especially the phone, is to me something that’s mainly associated with quick edits or spontanous notes. Maybe Scrivener just isn’t the app for that. But this means that I rarely use it on iOS at all and I think that’s a pity.
I don’t say I know a solution. But with apps like Notes or Drafts or also Ulysses on iOS devices people are just expecting to use their apps without a barrier. Thus the complaints about Dropbox will never end (even though they might not really adress the service itself).