Working across Windows & Mac

Scrivener
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Hi all

Firstly, apologies if this has been covered elsewhere in the forum at some point. I did try and find an answer to my issue, but failed (sorry). By all means point me in the direction of where it has been discussed before if the answer is there.

I need advice on working across Scrivener OS and Scrivener Windows (version 3). I transferred my project from my Mac to my Windows machine via iCloud, but when I downloaded it onto the Windows machine, Scrivener didn’t seem to recognise it.

Am I right in thinking that if I transfer it by Dropbox it will work?
Why is this the case, when iCloud doesn’t?
Is it just a matter of uploading the project to Dropbox and then downloading it onto either machine, or is there some other steps I need to do?
Can I seamlessly work on the project on both machines?

Background, in case it’s relevant:

I’m predominantly a Mac user and have been writing on Scrivener for OS for many years. I recently got a new job and was given a Windows laptop and work gave me permission to install Scrivener so I could write after work (some days I will need to stay late in the office). Having resurrected my old windows key (years ago I’d paid out for the windows version) and having paid the extra to get Scrivener 3 for Windows, I’m all ready to go.

I reckon I’ll now be working 50:50 on Mac and Windows, so it really would be a great help if I could seamlessly synch my project between the two.

Lastly, thanks to everyone at Scrivener, and Ruth especially, for helping me out with my earlier query about finding my old Windows licence key. Was much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice anyone can give me on this

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We do not recommend using iCloud for Windows for live Scrivener projects: iCloud for Windows Advisory / Cloud Syncing / Knowledge Base - Literature and Latte Support

Best practices for using cloud services generally are discussed here:
https://scrivener.tenderapp.com/help/kb/cloud-syncing/using-scrivener-with-cloud-sync-services

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Been doing it for many years with a Windows using collaborator. But it seems iCloud on Windows is problematic, and even on Mac it can be slow and less than transparent.

If you have Dropbox, I’d use that, though there are other services that should work as well. Read the Knowledge Base article on cloud sync’ing. To me, the most important things are:

  • Make sure both machines have the project(s) available offline at all times, not “helpfully” stored on demand in the cloud.
  • Always make sure that your cloud service has fully uploaded and got everything in Sync after you shut down Scrivener and before you shut down the computer. One of the last things to happen is that the user.lock file is deleted from the server; if you shut down before that, Scrivener will tell you have the project open on another machine, even though you know you haven’t.
  • Similarly, always make sure the cloud service has fully downloaded everything and is fully in sync before you start up Scrivener.
  • Next, set both machines to backup on opening and closing, that way on both computers you have a record of the project as it was before you started working, and when you finished working, whichever machine you were on at any moment.
  • Set your backups to a minimum of 25.
    HTH

:slight_smile:
Mark

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