Syncing

[dpn]

I have a similar problem but which the threads above do not seem to answer. I have Reunion 11 on 2 Macs, and the corresponding app on an iPhone and an iPad. They have worked and synced via Dropbox until now. However, suddenly, the family file on both Macs won't open, and the files on the iPhone and iPad, while they will open and can be updated, do not sync with each other. The family file on each is showing as being about 3MB in size (so has presumably not disappeared or been deleted). I do not know whether this problem is caused by Reunion or Dropbox (or both).

Before submitting this, I have just tried to open Reunion again, and it now opens on one Mac and, after a long delay, on the other. But still nothing will sync. And the usual notification that I am opening on one computer so the application on the other has to be closed does not appear.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.

[dpn]

Re: Syncing

2 further points to add to my posting of 6 May. First, the family file seems to have disappeared again from the Mac. Secondly, while Reunion does not sync between devices, Dropbox seems to work normally with other files, e.g. a document put into Dropbox immediately appears on all other devices. A worrying mystery!

[Mark]

Re: Syncing

Quit Reunion, open a Finder window, and navigate to your Dropbox folder -- do you see your Reunion 11 family file(s) in the Dropbox folder?

Thanks,

[dpn]

Re: Syncing

Yes, and it now opens again. But it still does not sync between Macs, iPhone and iPad.

When it would not open, a window appeared giving me a selection of sample files but not including my family file.

At this moment, when I open the family file on either Mac, a message appears (as it should) saying the file has to be closed on the other Mac.

[Mark]

Re: Syncing

But it still does not sync between Macs, iPhone and iPad.

Which of the 4 icons shown in this article do you see in the main menu-bar at top-right of your computer screen? The "Fully Synced" icon or one of the other three?

Thanks,

[dpn]

Re: Syncing

I see the 'fully synced' icon on both Macs. I have been trying to test the syncing by adding notes to one person on the family file, sometimes adding a note to one device, sometimes to a different one. It seems to be entirely random as to whether any particular note then syncs with the other devices. Some do and some don't. Very odd!

[Mark]

Re: Syncing

It seems to be entirely random as to whether any particular note then syncs with the other devices.

Are all of the devices connected to the internet? Are any of the iOS devices in "Low Power Mode"? Finally, on the iOS devices, what does it say under Sharing Status (found in the Tools menu - look for the hammer icon)?

Also, keep in mind that changes may not sync immediately. It could take a few minutes depending on a variety of factors (internet speed, load on Dropbox's servers, etc.).

Thanks,

[dpn]

Re: Syncing

Thank you, Mark. The devices are all connected to the internet and are not in low power mode. I appreciate that syncing might take a while. When I look at Sharing Status, there is different information on each device.

The iPad lists itself and the MacBook (but not the iMac or the iPhone). It is headed, in green, 'Sharing'.
The iPhone lists itself, the iPad and the iMac, but is headed, in red, 'Dropbox not responding'.
The MacBook lists itself and the iPad, and is headed, in green, 'Sharing'.
The iMac lists itself and the iPad and is headed, in green, 'Sharing'.

When I open Reunion on either Mac, it correctly shuts down on the other Mac. The test Notes I added still do not appear on every device.

I have tried to reset the sharing but the result stays as above.

I am still mystified!

[Mark]

Re: Syncing

The test Notes I added still do not appear on every device.

Do notes added on the iPad, MacBook, and iMac sync between those three devices? Is it just the iPhone that doesn't appear to be syncing properly? That would make sense given the sharing statuses you're seeing on the 4 devices.

If so, and if there aren't any changes on the iPhone that need to be synced to your other devices, delete the family file from the iPhone (as outlined here), then re-download it from Dropbox to the iPhone and see if it updates appropriately.

Thanks,

[dpn]

Re: Syncing

Thank you, Mark. That seems to have worked on three devices, but I am away from my iMac for a few days and will have to see in due course whether that is fine too. I am very grateful for your help.

Sorry, but I also have another syncing problem. With the old (pre-Dropbox) system, after syncing, photos enlarged from the thumbnails appeared clearly on all devices. Now, they are clear on the MacBook - I cannot check the iMac yet - but are heavily pixellated on the iPad and iPhone. Where, please, should I store the folder of photos for them to be able to be enlarged clearly on all devices?

[Mark]

Re: Syncing

Where, please, should I store the folder of photos for them to be able to be enlarged clearly on all devices?

ReunionTouch uses thumbnails that are built into the family file, not the original images.

You could try increasing the large thumbnail settings by opening the family file in Reunion 11 (not ReunionTouch) and go to:

Reunion -> Preferences... , Multimedia

Then click "Rebuild Thumbnails...". In the window that drops-down you can increase both the size and quality to improve the appearance of the media in ReunionTouch. Note that this will increase the size of your family file.

HTH