Synch files in my Dropbox
Tom Duffield
I've noticed that when synching my MoneyDance file in my Dropbox there are maybe a hundred relatively small .mdtxn files left there... can I a lot of them from months ago ? Do I need more than the last few most recent ones ? Even though they are small files, there are so many
that they take up some of my ever shrinking space on my Dropbox. Please let me know if I can trash some...
Thanks,
TD
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1 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 03, 2023 @ 05:38 AM
On you primary MD, Run toolbox extension, advanced. Force reset/push sync data. Wait 10 mins. Restart MD. Then restart other secondary MDs and mobile MDs. The mdtxn files in Dropbox will disappear.
2 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Feb 03, 2023 @ 05:48 AM
If I do that, will I lose any of my data ? Will MD go back to normal synching, etc ?
Also how do I know which of my 2 computers is the Primary MD ? The first one I installed it on, my laptop?
I don't remember if I started syching until I installed MD on my desktop a few weeks later...
Thanks
Tom
3 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 03, 2023 @ 05:56 AM
It’s fine. No data is safe. But always do backup first (file/export backup).
Launch toolbox on both. It will alert you when you launch on the secondary.
4 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Feb 03, 2023 @ 06:07 AM
It's a bit confusing...so it looks like I have to launch MD, then drop down 'Extensions' > Manage Extensions> then Download & Install Toolbox
and then after that is installed I'm able run your prescribed, Run toolbox extension, advanced. Force reset/push sync data, an so on...
Please advise if that is correct....it's pretty unnerving for me with a lot of financial data involved
Thanks for your help...
5 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 03, 2023 @ 07:01 AM
Correct.
It’ll be fine.
Do file/export backup first.
6 Posted by dwg on Feb 03, 2023 @ 07:17 AM
As Stuart said take a backup first.
Installing toolbox is easy, and each of the tools in it have been extensively tested, and there is a significant amount of internal testing toolbox does.
7 Posted by peter3 on Feb 04, 2023 @ 11:47 AM
I have checked my Dropbox and, similar to Tom, I have loads of these files in the V3 folder.
What isn't clear from the discussion so far, is this normal and, when cleared, will they return?
8 Posted by dwg on Feb 04, 2023 @ 11:59 AM
The number of files in Dropbox is constantly being added to, that is normal, there is no automated way of pruning these files, hence it is a manual process.
9 Posted by peter3 on Feb 04, 2023 @ 12:37 PM
Many thanks for your reponse.
10 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 04, 2023 @ 12:37 PM
each change in MD data will create a new .txn file... These grow forever.... MD uses them to reapply changes from the base copy of trunk.. This can go back many years.. The problem is that if a file goes missing for example, then sync can get screwed up.. Also the file size grows of course..
Toolbox - advanced - force refresh/push, puts a brand new copy of your live dataset into sync and then the txn files start from there... Yes they will grow again, but you are starting from a great position and this will speed up sync....
11 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Feb 04, 2023 @ 09:57 PM
Stuart-
So today, per your instructions, I installed the Toolbox extension on both of my Macs, and launched them both to determine
which is the primary and which is the secondary, but I got no alert when I tried that...where is the 'alert ' supposed to be ?
Please advise & Thanks...
12 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Feb 04, 2023 @ 10:34 PM
Stuart-
Still trying to figure out which is my primary and secondary MD sources…
Both Toolbox reports looks identical upon launch…can you tell me where I should look on those
reports to determine primary and secondary ??
Also what happens if I use the ‘ Toolbox - advanced - forced refresh/push’ from the secondary computer by mistake ?
Sorry to keep bugging you with this…but I’m trying to do it correctly and save some tears…
13 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 05, 2023 @ 10:19 AM
Look here - see attached
Then assuming both are primary, on the one that you want secondary, use toolbox, advanced mode, advanced options, DEMOTE dataset to secondary option.
Then on the primary, proceed....
14 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Feb 05, 2023 @ 07:12 PM
Stuart-
Just wanted to let you know I was finally able
to demote one computer to secondary…(I have
no idea how both were primary) and then ran
the ‘forced/refresh push…’ from the primary
and all seems well.
Thank you for your help, as I couldn’t have done
it without your assistance.
For sure, you are Mr Toolbox
Thanks again,
Tom
Sent from my iPhone
15 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Feb 05, 2023 @ 08:09 PM
👍 Toolbox 🧰 +1 😃
System closed this discussion on May 07, 2023 @ 08:10 PM.
Thomas Duffield re-opened this discussion on Aug 29, 2023 @ 04:43 PM
16 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Aug 29, 2023 @ 04:43 PM
Stuart-
Hope you don't mind me asking your advice again, but I'm going to change from synching with Dropbox
to synching with iCloud drive...
From the IK website you stated to change synching from Dropbox to iCloud Drive:
Pretty easy.
- File/syncing/don’t sync. Restart MD - File/syncing/iCloud
App
Setting cog. Disconnect. Restart app. Connect. iCloud.
As for Box. This won’t work if you want to use the mobile app. But on desktop, file/syncing/shared folder. Point to a folder inside Box.
That would be for the Primary Drive, right...do I need to remove the .moneydancesynch folder from Dropbox before I synch with iCloud drive ?
For my other secondary computers I turn off synching, restart MD and then I should select iCloud Drive in the MD synching selection box...is that
all I have to do or do I have to find/select the actual synched file on the iCloud drive?
Thanks for you help,
17 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Aug 29, 2023 @ 05:04 PM
Set up sync on primary - correct
No, no need to remove .moneydancesync folder... It will be there, just irrelevant
ON secondary, NO.. File/New/Open Sync'd copy, select iCloud.
18 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Sep 19, 2023 @ 05:57 PM
Stuart-
Hope you don't mind me asking for your help one more time...
I just bought a new MacBook Pro and want to set up synching on iCloud Drive with my old laptop and desktop...which were previously synched on DropBox
Before I attempt it, I want to run the procedure by you...I want to get it right the first time and not have to bug you again...or lose any data...
1 - Back up most current MD data on old laptop and transfer it onto new MacBook Pro
2 - New MacBook Pro will be 'Master'...checked updated Toolbox and it is listed as 'Master'
3 - Launch MD on new MacBook Pro and restore MD data from most recent back up from other laptop
4 - Then select File>Synching>Don't Synch
5 - restart MD, then select File>Synching>iCloud Drive
6 - on old laptop...using Toolbox: select Advanced Mode>Advanced Options>Demote Data Set to Secondary
(Do I need to restart MD on former Master Laptop before proceeding ?)
7 - then on old laptop and desktop secondary computers: Open MD and select File>New>Open Sync'd Copy>iCloud
Is that it ???
Does that all above look correct to you ? I won't attempt any of this til I hear back from you...
Any other advise on this will be appreciated.
Much Thanks !
19 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Sep 19, 2023 @ 07:46 PM
No. It’s wrong. Sorry.
On your current master
- disable syncing - file/export backup - copy backup to new Mac
On new Mac
- restore backup, restart, make sure file is opened ok on new Mac - enable syncing, iCloud. Wait. Restart.
On old Mac
- file / new / open sync copy. Select iCloud. Select sync copy. - wait, restart.
Repeat on any other sync copies too.
20 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Sep 19, 2023 @ 08:40 PM
21 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Sep 19, 2023 @ 08:58 PM
You don’t. Once you have a new master on new mac, you are nuking the other datasets. This is why on each secondary you then do file/new/open sync copy and open the new iCloud sync copy. This build you new secondary datasets.
22 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Sep 19, 2023 @ 09:06 PM
Stuart-
OK...I was just going to try to demote the old laptop...and yes, I just checked, and that
old laptop dataset is now a secondary dataset...
It all seems to be working well at the moment...
The newc Synch file on iCloud Drive is invisible, correct ?
Can I delete the old MD synch folder on dropbox ? I can see it there if I try...
THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!

23 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Sep 19, 2023 @ 09:49 PM
Toolbox. Top right. Open md folder. Open sync folder. Will open iCloud sync folder.
Once you are happy, yes you can delete Dropbox sync folders.
System closed this discussion on Dec 19, 2023 @ 09:50 PM.
Thomas Duffield re-opened this discussion on Jul 31, 2024 @ 09:25 AM
24 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Jul 31, 2024 @ 09:25 AM
Stuart,
Well it's been nearly a year since I asked for your help...I'm hoping you're still around.
I've developed a very strange Moneydance problem and could sure use you help again...
I was away from my house in LA for about a month, and used Moneydance frequently while
I was traveling.when I got home, Moneydance on my desktop, yeah still running Mac OS 10.14.6
Mojave, began acting strangely...data from my laptops, one running Mac OS 13.5.2 and my other
laptop also running Mojave would sync with the desktop, but Moneydance entries on my'
desktop wouldn't show up on either laptop...I tried a lot of stuff under the direction of 'dwg'
but nothing seemed to help...do you think you might be able to give me some help ?
I'm kind of at wit's end here...and could really use it...if you can I'll send you a synopsis
of what I've been doing...I really need Mr Toolbox...
Thanks in advance,

25 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Jul 31, 2024 @ 10:54 AM
First of all can you describe how many devices use sync and using toolbox confirm which is the primary and that all the others are secondary.
26 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Jul 31, 2024 @ 10:54 AM
And on the errant machine. Grab help/console and upload that here.
27 Posted by Thomas Duffield on Jul 31, 2024 @ 05:03 PM
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for still being there…you helped me a lot last year and I really appreciated it. Good news, for now seems to be
working again…I am wondering if this problem has come up much in the past...
What I have at the moment, 3 computers running Moneydance v.2023.1 (5006)
The desktop which was the problem, yes is old, and is running Mac OS 10.14.6 Mojave, as well as the one much newer
laptop. The other laptop is new 2023 and running Mac OS 13.5.2 Ventura, which I haven’t updated to Sonoma as
all were working well together and I didn’t want to upset the applecart so to speak, and I’ve alsoheard bad things about it
especially with iCloud.
I checked, only the new laptop is the Primary, the older machines are both secondary. This morning I discovered the
older desktop did not have the newest Toolbox so I installed that this morning.
This was the problem: When I entered transactions on the laptops they would sync with the desktop machine,
and they did sync with each other. When I entered transactions on the desktop it wouldn’t sync with the laptops.
I spent a lot of time with ’dwg’ last night creating a new data set but last night that didn’t seem to help at the time…
Here’s what ‘dwg' sent me to do:
> On Tue, Jul 30 at 09:51 PM PDT, dwg wrote:
>
> This is the approach I would take.
>
> 1. With Moneydance closed I would rename the existing data set, if you need help finding/rename look at the Knowledge Base article https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/file-locations-and-changes/renaming-files <https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/file-locations-and-changes/renaming-files>
> 2. When you start Moneydance it will come up as a new install.
>
> 3. Choose Create new account set
>
> 4. Select Open Sync File
>
> 5. Chose the method
>
> 6. Select the file to sync
>
> These are the basic instructions in the Knowledge Base article https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/syncing-and-sharing-data/syncing-with-other-computers <https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/syncing-and-sharing-data/syncing-with-other-computers>
> in the retrieving sync data section.
>
> If this works you can delete the old data set, if not you can return to the old data set just by opening it.
>
Here’s what I did last night:
Well I went thru all of the steps and renamed the data set from 'Personal Finance 9_19_23.moneydance’ to ‘My Finances Desktop.moneydance” with Moneydance closed.
Re-opened Moneydance, selected 'My Finances Desktop’ from the Welcome Window File, then selected> New > Open Synched File > then 'iCloud Drive' in the pull down button
hit ’Next’ and under ’Select a synced document to open' what popped up was “Personal Finance 9_19_23’ which is what it is called on the other laptops and I guess is the synced file.
I did notice it made new files in the Moneydance Data window using that name again…when I relaunch Moneydance it uses “Personal Finance 9_19_23’ and not 'My Finances Desktop’
and still it only synced incoming transactions, when I add a transaction on the desktop, it didn't’t sync with the laptops…
To me it seemed more like a problem with the iCloud Drive upload…so I logged out of iCloud and then signed in again…
Last night it didn’t help…This morning I got an Apple tech on the phone and we tried a bunch of stuff and we logged out
of iCloud again, but it kept saying it was still uploading stuff to iCloud Drive we waited a while and then turned off the uploading.
When we signed in again it took a good while for all the files to show up again on iCloud Drive, and after a while it looked like
all the files were there we turned off the uploading. That’s when I checked and saw the desktop didn’t have the newest Toolbox,
which I installed right away…the good news is, somehow it seems to be syncing across all 3 machines again…I have no idea why...
So my questions for now are: Did I do it correctly above in blue, and why doesn’t Moneydance display ‘My Finances Desktop’ that I tried to rename the desktop
dataset several times when I open MD ? it shows the old Personal Finance 9_19_23 now with the number 4 at the end for the several times I did try torename
the dataset (always with MD closed) trying to have it display My Finances Desktop?
So that’s where I am at the moment…so far it seems to be working again and I am breathing a bit better…not sure for how long though…
I would like your comments and maybe a couple answers to 'my questions for now'…
Again my total thanks for your help and anything that you can add that I can learn from…
28 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on Jul 31, 2024 @ 05:36 PM
I’m glad it’s working
(Sorry I don’t have time to read all the text you sent above)
System closed this discussion on Oct 30, 2024 @ 05:40 PM.