Corrupted data after Dropbox sync
I'm a new Moneydance user, having recently migrated from SEE Finance. Been working through the migration and I think I'm at the end of that tunnel. The knowledge base and discussions here have been invaluable in getting this far. But yesterday I encountered an issue syncing my dataset from my (primary) desktop to my laptop. I had previously chosen the "Dropbox Folder" option, and initial tests seemed to sync fine. But after much work on the desktop yesterday, when I opened MD on the laptop one of my accounts appeared corrupted - it had switched from an asset to a bank account, the balance was wrong, and transactions seemed missing. I attempted a little cleanup, which was not successful, and then the corrupted info synced back to my desktop.
Today I went back to the desktop, turned off syncing, restored a clean new file from the last good backup, and now I'm wondering what to do next. Is there any cleanup I need to do in my Dropbox folder (recognizing that the MD stuff there is in hidden directories)? Any other cleanup elsewhere? I'm also wondering if the Dropbox Connection option is more reliable? I've deleted the corrupted MD datasets from both computers, so I think I'd be starting fresh on the laptop. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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1 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Aug, 2024 01:06 PM
Next post. Sync fix instructions.
2 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Aug, 2024 01:12 PM
Ensure you are using 2024.2(5146) on all devices. https://infinitekind.com/preview
on your good primary dataset. Install / run toolbox extension. Update mode. Advanced menu. Force RESET sync. Then restart MD
now backup using file/export backup.
now check your Dropbox folder. Look inside the hidden .moneydancesync folder. Make a note of the long name folder names…
now set up sync again using DB folders. Go back to Dropbox folder. Get the name or the new long folder name.
on secondary. File new / open sync’d file. Select the entry for the new folder. All should be well. After it’s sync’d ok, restart both. Then go back to Dropbox folder and manually delete the old long folder names (not the new one)
3 Posted by jameslfranklin on 30 Aug, 2024 01:42 PM
I got as far as clicking the Update Mode when Toolbox spit out an error message: Cross linked or orphaned security txns detected. Review console. Then there's a notation below to run 'FIX: Non-hierarchical...', but unsure what to do with that.
4 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Aug, 2024 01:43 PM
Basically, run that fix as mentioned from the transactions menu..
5 Posted by jameslfranklin on 30 Aug, 2024 02:01 PM
Okay, I did that, and it inserted a dummy TOOLBOX security in one of my transactions. I then went into that transaction and chose the appropriate "real" security, then unchecked and rechecked the update mode box in TOOLBOX. At this point, I no longer got that error message.
I realize I'm no longer on the sync issue, but it seems like it's better to get these other things fixed before I sync again. So, at the risk of getting sidetracked, I wonder why I cannot now delete the dummy TOOLBOX security (and I have one other dummy one I can't delete either). In both cases I can't see in the transaction register anywhere they are being used. Should I try to track this down before moving on to the sync?
I'm very grateful for the quick responses to my questions!
6 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Aug, 2024 02:13 PM
Toolbox has a security menu. Can I delete security (where used feature)
Go to the investment account. Details tab. Actions. Remove security. Remove dummy.
Now delete the security.
Yes. Get all these things fixed before sync.
7 Posted by jameslfranklin on 30 Aug, 2024 02:41 PM
Stuart, thank you so much for the guidance. All seems good. I was able to locate my orphaned security (which was under Accounts, where I wouldn't have thought to look, but your tool pointed me in the right direction). Deleted both orphans, reset and reestablished sync. Your Toolbox tool seems remarkable.
8 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Aug, 2024 03:37 PM
It’s more magic than remarkable!! Thanks.
Toolbox 🧰 +1 😃