Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

[Paul Reitz]

It's said that making additional multimedia links doesn't significantly grow Reunion family file size, because the link is a small file. True, but if the original linked file was in Dropbox, using d&d between Reunion MM windows duplicates the file to Imported Media. That doesn't grow the family file, but it doubles file storage space for each file so linked, which can add up.

It depends on how links are made. If dragged from a Finder window, the link points to the Dropbox location as expected, and nothing is duplicated. But if a thumbnail in Reunion is dragged to another MM window, the original file is duplicated - once, regardless of the number of times the file is linked.

I don't know what happens if links are made by file system navigation. I can't contemplate that option because of a complex file system.

Perhaps it doesn't behave like this if the Reunion app is also in Dropbox? I don't know because mine won't fit.

Reunion Help makes clear the circumstances that require first saving a file to Imported Media, but that doesn't apply to Dropbox files; they're already on the computer.

Is there an alternative to using Finder that will prevent duplication of Dropbox MM files?

[Bob White]

Re: Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

Maybe the following will make the picture (pardon the pun) clearer for you.

The way that Dropbox works is by mirroring a file on your Mac or PC. In macOS, look at Macintosh HD > Users > YourName > Dropbox. When you drag anything to Dropbox, you are actually dragging to this folder or one of its sub-folders. Note: The Files and application parts of iCloud work the same way. (... Users > YourName > Library > Mobile Documents > com~apple~CloudDocs).

[Gregg]

Re: Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

...if a thumbnail in Reunion is dragged to another MM window, the original file is duplicated - once, regardless of the number of times the file is linked.

Can you be more specific as to what you are doing to get the media file to duplicate.

For example...
• Where are you dragging the thumbnail from and...
• Where are you dropping it.
• Where is the resulting duplicate media file appearing?

Perhaps it doesn't behave like this if the Reunion app is also in Dropbox?

This would make no difference, the Reunion application should be in your Applications folder and not in your Dropbox folder.

FWIW: I don't think Dropbox has anything to do with what you are describing here. Reunion treats your Dropbox folder just like any other folder on your system.

[Paul Reitz]

Re: Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

Gregg,

There was a particular file on which I saw the issue Saturday. I spent so much time trying to describe the process that I may not have actually observed it on others. If it did occur, I would have dragged only from Finder.

Today I couldn't replicate the issue on even that one file, nor were there other files in Imported Media that should only have been in Dropbox. (Only MLAs are kept there, "there" being the Dropbox instance on my computer.)

So let's chalk it up to something weird I did, and move on.

For completeness, here are the answers to your questions:

• Where are you dragging the thumbnail from and...

from one individual's MM window (in Reunion)...

• Where are you dropping it..

... to another individual's MM window.

• Where is the resulting duplicate media file appearing?.

In Pictures -> Imported Media.

[Paul Reitz]

Re: Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

Maybe the following will make the picture (pardon the pun) clearer for you.

The way that Dropbox works is by mirroring a file on your Mac or PC...

Bob, thanks for your input and thought. I was using the Dropbox folder on my computer, so yes, the files were present. Was thinking there might have been a complication akin to Photos, where the files are also on the computer, but in a fashion inaccessible via Finder.

[Bob White]

Re: Reunion MM drag & drop duplicates files if they're in Dropbox?

........ Photos, where the files are also on the computer, but in a fashion inaccessible via Finder.

Off topic but, yes, one can get to the Photos files via the Finder. However, the internal file structure is very complex, that even an old hand like me shouldn't touch it ... much less the less experienced users. So I don't describe how in a place like this forum.