Moneydance Dropbox folder is huge (936MB)
I have been using Moneydance since 2005 and am very pleased with the program. Some time ago I posted a question about very slow load times for MD and was shown how to use the Toolbox to shrink the dataset to remove the old log files. This has brought the dataset size to about 30MB, and the program generally loads quickly. I find that I regularly need to use the shrink feature to keep the data size in check.
I use a Dropbox folder to sync several of my household computers (Win, Mac, and Linux), and when I sync a new system, the initial dataset is huge. I noticed that my Dropbox folder is about 936MB in size in Dropbox, and the Toolbox shrink option does not seem to touch the many files still sitting in Dropbox.
Is there any way to remove the massive collection of old backup log files in the Dropbox sync folder without compromising my Moneydance data?
Thanks!
Bob
Screenshot_2025-01-23_at_12.46.28 PM.png
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Support Staff 1 Posted by Maddy on 29 Jan, 2025 06:08 PM
Hi Bob,
Thank you for contacting Moneydance support.
If you haven't already, you may want to install the latest update.
Moneydance 2024.3 (5213) is available to download from this page.
We recommend overwriting or manually removing the older version.
Then on your primary computer, you could navigate to Extensions->Manage Extensions and install the Toolbox.
Select Update Mode.
Menu Advance Options
Force reset/push sync data.
Wait 10 mins.
Restart Moneydance.
Then restart the devices you are syncing with and the mdtxn files in Dropbox will disappear without affecting your current data.
Please keep us posted on your progress, Thank you!
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Jan, 2025 06:17 PM
yes, this should do it...
3 Posted by Bob Englert on 05 Feb, 2025 04:26 PM
I let Moneydance running for almost 2 hrs and then restarted. The program has lost data and now hangs regularly when it is trying to run. I cannot calculate a net worth now. I will try to turn off the Dropbox Sync folder and try to restore the program from my backup.
Very frustrating. I will probably go back to the latest stable version of Moneydance.
4 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 05 Feb, 2025 04:36 PM
Several points..
The process above should have been very safe... So would be good to see the console output..
5 Posted by Bob Englert on 05 Feb, 2025 10:54 PM
I returned to the stable version of Moneydance and my files are all back. Program is running correctly without hangs or pauses.
I believe I did turn off the sync setting before I the steps suggested. My moneydancesync folder in Dropbox is now about 24MB.
After turning sync back on on the master computer I find that I need to restart Moneydance twice before the data is restored on the synced computers. The first time it starts, after giving Dropbox time to sync, the data is pretty much blank. Restarting the program once seems to restore the data is it should be.
6 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 06 Feb, 2025 07:40 AM
So in short, all is ok now… yes?
I would suggest it will be fine to load the 2024.3 preview again.
If you get blank again, grab help/console and upload that here.
Overall the procedures have worked, but you had this odd wait/blank/restart issue.
7 Posted by derekkent23 on 06 Feb, 2025 08:36 AM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Hi Bob
Note: there has been a number of preview build recently, the current being Moneydance 2024.3(5217).
8 Posted by Bob Englert on 06 Feb, 2025 01:30 PM
Actually, v5172 is that current Stable version. This is the one I am using on my various systems.
Bob
9 Posted by Bob Englert on 06 Feb, 2025 01:34 PM
When I update to a newer version of Moneydance, is there any particular order I should use when updating the master and the several secondary computers that I use?
I use a Mac Mini M4 as my primary system and use the Dropbox folder option to sync with the others. I have a Macbook Air M3, several Windows, laptops, and a couple of Linux systems as secondary computers. (I know, but I like playing around with older systems that no one wants, and I keep them out of the e-waste cycle for a while).
Bob
10 Posted by dwg on 06 Feb, 2025 01:48 PM
There has never been anything published but as someone who has had to deal with systems that sync, I would tend to do something like the following
1. Ensure transactions have synced to all machine and each is up-to-date.
2. Take a data backup of each machine.
3. Exit out of Moneydance on all machines.
4. Select the first machine to upgrade I would probably do the Primary Machine first
5. Install the new version of Moneydance
6. Start Moneydance and ensure all is working as it should be and that all data is intact.
7. Enter a new license key if needed
8. Repeat on each machine in turn.
With any syncing solution it is import that all machines are in sync before you start and there are no issues. You want stable data before your upgrade with no pending transactions.
It is then a matter of being procedural with the upgrades and step through the machines.
11 Posted by derekkent23 on 06 Feb, 2025 02:07 PM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Hi Bob
2024.2(5172) is the current stable build.
2024.3(5217) is the current preview build.
Have Fun, Stay Safe.
12 Posted by Bob Englert on 07 Feb, 2025 02:01 PM
Sorry derekkent23, you are correct.
Bob
Bob Englert closed this discussion on 07 Feb, 2025 02:01 PM.