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Moneydance stops syncing with Dropbox (Macbook app)

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icycle

27 Nov, 2022 11:05 PM

Hi,
I haven't been able to pin down the cause yet, but eventually the Moneydance app running on my Macbook stops syncing with Dropbox. I'm reaching out to see if there are known issues or ways to debug this. We primarily use the macbook app but also have one Android Moneydance app, and are using Dropbox Connection sync.

The Mac app eventually gets into a state where it doesn't push updates to Dropbox anymore. I no longer periodically see the syncing status message at the bottom of the app. If I restart the app, it usually starts syncing again. Are there any known issues with running Moneydance for days at a time, through laptop suspends/resumes, and having sync stop working?

Thank you,
brett

1. Support Staff 1 Posted by Ethan on 28 Nov, 2022 01:07 AM

   

   Hi Brett,

   There are some issues that can come up with leaving Moneydance open for long periods, but I don't recall syncing issues like the one you describe being one of them. The program should keep constantly checking Dropbox for any changes.

   This may be difficult to track down without more information. If you could identify a specific point where it seems to consistently stop syncing, that could be a place to start, like if it is always after you resume your computer, for example. Please also let us know the exact version of Moneydance you are running and your operating system.

   Alternatively, it sounds like you already have a potential solution by just restarting the program, or just closing it when you're not going to be using it for a while. Unless I'm misunderstanding the situation, and there's also some kind of data loss happening in this process?

   Ethan
   Infinite Kind Support

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2. 2 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 28 Nov, 2022 06:45 AM

   

   Step 1. When this happens, grab help/console and post that here.

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3. Support Staff 3 Posted by Maddy on 28 Nov, 2022 12:31 PM

   

   Please can you send us your Moneydance error logs? The logs should include information about what might be causing the problem.

   They are saved on your computer as an errlog.txt file.

   You can get to your error logs as follow:

   1) navigate to Help->Console Window to show the console log in a window

   or

   2) in the Finder, press ⌘⇧G and then copy and paste ~/Library/Containers/com.infinitekind.MoneydanceOSX/Data/Library/Application Support into the field and press enter/return.

   At that point the finder will show an internal folder containing the errlog.txt file which includes the log.

   Finally you can paste the full content to your next reply.
   To add an attachment to this thread, please click on the "Browse" button.

   Thank you

   --
   Maddy, Infinite Kind Support

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4. 4 Posted by icycle on 28 Nov, 2022 02:09 PM

   

   Hi,

   Thanks for jumping on this so quickly! My goal is to help identify the bug so it can be fixed, happy to help debug this with you.

   I think I may have reproduced it with the laptop sleep last night--I started MD anew yesterday (Sunday) and the logs show sync messages, but nothing starting today (Monday) since waking the laptop.

   Full errlog.txt is attached, and I'm copying the section of logs here to show:

   • the last Dropbox sync
   • potential problem creating a conflict folder?
   • Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks log repeats indefinitely since waking laptop today

   local file is newer than sync file.  local=Sun Nov 27 15:42:06 EST 2022   synced=Sun Nov 27 15:41:32 EST 2022
   Writing file to dropbox API with debug mode=false
   Writing file to dropbox API with debug mode=false
   ICloudContainer.isContainerAvailable(): nativeGetICloudPath: null
   ICloudContainer.isContainerAvailable(): nativeGetICloudPath: null
   error creating base folder: com.dropbox.core.v2.files.CreateFolderErrorException: Exception in 2/files/create_folder: {".tag":"path","path":{".tag":"conflict","conflict":"folder"}}
   starting syncing via encryptedFS(DropboxAPI:/.moneydancesync/502a443e-9241-448e-b1d2-230114fc3933)
   local file is newer than sync file.  local=Sun Nov 27 17:02:12 EST 2022   synced=Sun Nov 27 15:42:29 EST 2022
   Writing file to dropbox API with debug mode=false
   Writing file to dropbox API with debug mode=false
   ICloudContainer.isContainerAvailable(): nativeGetICloudPath: null
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:21 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:23 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:25 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:27 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:29 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   Ran 0 of 2 MDP tasks @ Mon Nov 28 08:50:31 EST 2022) forcedRefresh=true
   ...
   

   thanks,
   brett

   • errlog.txt 31 KB
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5. Support Staff 5 Posted by Maddy on 28 Nov, 2022 02:26 PM

   

   The first thing you should try is changing sync method from Dropbox Connection to Dropbox Folder or Shared Folder (if you like).

   From your computer: Launch Moneydance and navigate to File->Syncing
   Choose Don't Sync and close Moneydance.

   From your phone: Launch the mobile app and select Settings->Syncing via Dropbox->Disconnect. Restart your phone

   • Launch Moneydance again on your computer and open the file you wish to sync.
   • Navigate to File->Syncing and choose Dropbox Folder.

   With "Dropbox Folder" you need to have Dropbox installed and running on your computer.

   • Create a Passphrase (You will need to enter the same later, on the mobile app)

   Launch the mobile app and choose the same file as your computer.
   Enter your Password to match the Passphrase on your computer.

   Finally, enter a "dummy"" transaction on each device and allow a few seconds for them to sync. They should display exactly the same transactions.

   • Please note for the sync process to work as expected, your data file must be stored in its default location.

   I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions or need more assistance.

   --
   Maddy, Infinite Kind Support

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6. 6 Posted by Brett Russ on 28 Nov, 2022 02:55 PM

   

   Thanks Maddy, I will try this. But I'm curious what the logs show, because
   I thought Dropbox Connection was the preferred method of sync. In other
   words, am I working around a bug here?

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7. 7 Posted by icycle on 29 Nov, 2022 01:53 AM

   

   OK, I have switched all devices (laptop and Android) over to Dropbox Folder sync. It's working so far, will see how it does after some sleeps.

   Also I'd replied to a support email hoping to comment here but I think it created a new case. Sorry about that. What I was trying to say was:

   I'm curious if the earlier logs show anything, because I thought Dropbox Connection was the preferred method of sync.

   thanks

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8. 8 Posted by dwg on 29 Nov, 2022 02:28 AM

   

   I think it is misnomer to say there is a preferred syncing method, some may propose the one method.

   The environment can dictate a method, for example the use of Android will mean that Dropbox must be used on all device, it will be connection on the android device itself but may be Folder or Connection on desktop systems. Moneydance from the Apple store will mean that Connection or iCloud must be used on that device.

   Technically the different between Dropbox Connection and Dropbox folder is on how and what is used to move the data to/from the Dropbox server, this has licensing considerations and it does have operational differences that may impact the solution.

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9. 9 Posted by icycle on 04 Dec, 2022 02:23 PM

   

   Looks like the Dropbox folder sync is working better than the direct connection in my use case. MD has been up for several days with the laptop sleeping off and on, and is still syncing reliably.

   Thanks for the help here.

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10. icycle closed this discussion on 04 Dec, 2022 02:23 PM.

11. Maddy re-opened this discussion on 07 Dec, 2022 03:40 PM

12. System closed this discussion on 05 Mar, 2023 02:30 PM.