dropbox alias issues

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jlc2023 Author

Level 1

4 points

dropbox alias issues

I have recently shifted to Ventura (13.0.1) and, almost simultaneous with this, Dropbox has recently updated to v164.4.7914, unilaterally shifting its architecture and location on my hard drive in the process. As a result of one or both of these changes, I am no longer able to create certain types of aliases within Dropbox folders on my Mac. Dropbox insists that this is a MacOS issue.

What I know: In the past, I was able to make aliases for files and folders within Dropbox, then move them out of Dropbox, so that I could access the files within Dropbox from other locations on my hard drive. Since the above changes, I am still able to make aliases for certain kinds of files and folders from within Dropbox, but not for others. Specifically, I am no longer able to make aliases for .scriv files related to the word processing program Scrivener. These "files" are actually a kind of meta package (like a folder) that contain subfiles, but these subfiles cannot (to my knowledge) be opened by the Finder; they are, rather, opened by Scrivener.

Notes:

My attempts to create new .scriv aliases from within Dropbox appear to be successful for a few seconds; the correct icon appears, but then that icon changes to a blank document. When I attempt to click on this icon, I receive the following message "Item 'alias name' is used by macOS and can't be opened."
I can still make, use, and move aliases for .scriv files NOT on Dropbox.
.scriv aliases made in the past still function from within Dropbox.
I can still make and use aliases for various other file types (e.g. .pdf, .docx) AND folders from within Dropbox.

A substantial portion of my workflow hinges on the use of these aliases specifically for files housed in Dropbox.

I will be grateful for any suggestions anyone can offer.

Best wishes,

-Josh

Posted on Jan 6, 2023 2:35 AM

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Answer 1

jlc2023 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2023 11:27 PM in response to jlc2023

A solution that I've found to work. Instead of creating the alias with a right click dropdown menu, create it with the drag shortcut method (⌘+⌥+drag to new folder). This places a working alias in the folder outside of Dropbox, while leaving a blank document icon (mentioned above) in the original Dropbox folder. The blank document icon can then be deleted without issue.

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Answer 2

DiZoE

Level 4

3,033 points

Jan 7, 2023 1:05 AM in response to jlc2023

Hey jlc120...,

No problem, glad to help if I can. I don’t know that much about Dropbox, only a little, but know for Mac, since Catalina, user files could no longer be stored outside of User folders:

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina or later - Apple Support (IS)

Wish I could tell you if the result was with Apple, or with Dropbox, or perhaps both, knowing if other people experiencing the same would shed some light as well.

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Answer 3

DiZoE

Level 4

3,033 points

Jan 6, 2023 11:34 PM in response to jlc2023

Hey there!

Can you say the locations you are storing these files exactly, and where the info of the shortcuts lead to by clicking the file and hitting Command i?

Likewise, do you also use iCloud as a syncing service? I do know that if certain directories are being backed up by iCloud, or Dropbox, etc. conflict, as it should be one or the other, and not both. (Such as iCloud Desktop and Documents).

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Answer 4

jlc2023 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2023 11:51 PM in response to DiZoE

Thanks DiZoe!

As I mentioned above, I've found a solution that's working for now but, in answer to your questions:

I'm storing the actual files on Dropbox because Scrivener integrates with Dropbox. The latest update of Dropbox actually changed its location on my Mac hard drive, and I can't see where it is with cmd+i because that only reveals "Dropbox" as the top level in the file hierarchy. I gather that this was a security-related shift, but I don't know the details. I used to be able to find Dropbox within the hard drive's folder structure, but this is no longer the case.

I don't use iCloud or any other syncing service for the files in question. I use Dropbox specifically (and only) because Scrivener has integrated it as a preferred sync method.

Thanks again for your reply.

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Answer 5

DiZoE

Level 4

3,033 points

Jan 7, 2023 12:33 AM in response to jlc2023

Hey again!

So I found this documentation from Dropbox:

Expected changes with Dropbox for macOS https://help.dropbox.com › Installs

It states that the Dropbox folder is now stored in ~/Library/CloudStorage.

Not sure if this helps, I'm sure if you spoke with them they would have mentioned this, as well as not being able to store it on an external drive, etc. Anyway, hope that helps.

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Answer 6

jlc2023 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2023 12:44 AM in response to DiZoE

Thanks DiZoE!

It's good to know where the Dropbox folder is, and to see the various other problems that come with this shift. (There are quite a few serious issues, actually.)

I did speak with Dropbox and they didn't mention the location or even point me to the documentation that you shared, but that may be because the gist of our conversation was about them blaming Apple for the problems users are currently facing. I am guessing that my problem (and some of the other problems mentioned in the documentation that you shared) may result from the way MacOS deals with files that exist outside of the "Users" folder, but that's just a guess. In any case, it's good to be aware of all of this. Thanks again!

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dropbox alias issues

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