Can we use iCloud to store family file?

[Amy]

Does Reunion 13 support using iCloud to store the family files and be able to access it from different devices (e.g., desktop, laptop, and iPhone)?

My free DropBox account is nearly full, and I don't really want to purchase an upgraded DropBox plan. I would rather be able to keep everything in one place, iCloud, so I only need to pay for one additional service.

[SGilbert]

Easy answer--NO

[Bob White]

Easy answer--NO

Absolutely true. It wouldn't synch. I would add the note that you could use iCloud to store a backup copy.

[Amy]

To conserve space on DropBox, I'm going to just leave my family file on DropBox, and move all my media files over to iCloud.

The other reason I'd prefer to be able to sync with iCloud is that free DropBox accounts work with a maximum of 3 devices.

[SGilbert]

To conserve space on DropBox, I'm going to just leave my family file on DropBox, and move all my media files over to iCloud.

The other reason I'd prefer to be able to sync with iCloud is that free DropBox accounts work with a maximum of 3 devices.

If, by "media files", you are referring to Reunion pictures/multimedia, they are NOT needed in Dropbox---only the family file(s). (FWIW, I, too, suffer from the 3 device limit, but it is what it is)

[Bob White]

To conserve space on DropBox, I'm going to just leave my family file on DropBox, and move all my media files over to iCloud..............

Or just leave them on your Mac unless you have a space problem.

[Amy]

Or just leave them on your Mac unless you have a space problem.

I like to have the media files in the cloud so I can access them from any of my devices—Mac desktop, Mac notebook, iPad, and iPhone. That's so handy if I'm at a Family History Center, or traveling. Or, more commonly, sitting on my sofa in the living room using my MacBook Pro instead of working upstairs in my office using the desktop machine.

[Amy]

If, by "media files", you are referring to Reunion pictures/multimedia, they are NOT needed in Dropbox---only the family file(s). (FWIW, I, too, suffer from the 3 device limit, but it is what it is)

Yes, I mean the files for the multimedia areas on the family card and in the sources. I have way more documents in my multimedia files than photos. I link the documents to the sources for them, and also to the person or family in the multimedia sidebar. It's a great way to be able to quickly review all the documents I have for a person or family.

[BL Samuel]

Re: Reunion 13 and ICloud backup...clarification please. Reading the discussion, there seems to be diverse opinions on using iCloud.
For example, does R-13 work sync with files in iCloud?
I've used Dropbox many years, but it has become rather expensive for the exclusive storing of one's genealogy. It also has become quite confusing to use --- like simply sharing a file with someone (I am now on their basic plan). As what I save is relatively small volume, is iCloud reliable and safe?
Oh, and love the new features in 13!

[SGilbert]

iCloud is reliable and safe--I would venture to say, far more so than Dropbox. However, it is NOT compatible with ReunionTouch; only Dropbox is. You can, however, store/backup whatever you so choose to iCloud.

[Bob White]

I like to have the media files in the cloud so I can access them from any of my devices—Mac desktop, Mac notebook, iPad, and iPhone. That's so handy if I'm at a Family History Center, or traveling. Or, more commonly, sitting on my sofa in the living room using my MacBook Pro instead of working upstairs in my office using the desktop machine.

Amy: Both Dropbox and iCloud drive simply mirror a folder on your Mac. And it works in both directions. If you add a file in iCloud on the Apple servers, it will synch a copy to the folder on your Mac and vice-versa if you add a file to the folder on your Mac, it will synch a copy up to the Apple server. Dropbox works the same way. Thus, all the files in iCloud are the same and available from all devices. With the advent of the file structure change on iOS devices with iOS 14, the file can also be added from iPad and iPhones.

I rarely open either Dropbox or iCloud. I just add or trash files in the local copy on my Mac and let synching do its magic. Both Dropbox and iCloud drive are located at Macintosh HD > Users > YourName. Hope this clears some things up for you.

[Frank]

...does R-13 work sync with files in iCloud? I've used Dropbox many years, but it has become rather expensive for the exclusive storing of one's genealogy... is iCloud reliable and safe?

As others have said, R13 does not use iCloud to sync with your devices.

iCloud should be safe for general use. But I wouldn't say it's any safer than Dropbox. iCloud continues to provide episodes of unreliability for me. I avoid it, when possible. As they say, your mileage may vary.

In my Dropbox folder there are folders for each of my kids — we share files, photos, and what-not. There are folders for friends working on projects with me. There are folders for work. Oh... and for Reunion and genealogy :-) It gets quite a workout. And it's been rock solid.

[Paul Reitz]

As Frank said, "iCloud continues to provide episodes of unreliability for me."

I've used iCloud Drive for a couple years to store mulltimedia files so they can be quickly accessed from my two computers. I don't use Reunion Touch.

But there are dangers, such as when my iPhone was recently updated to iOS14. It somehow triggered "Desktop and Document Folders" in iCloud, which I only realized after some time transpired, by the decrease in available iCloud storage space. To try to fix that, I signed out of iCloud on one computer to figure things out. BIG mistake!!

Doing so precipitated creation of an iCloud archive folder on that computer, which in itself was not a real problem. Rather, it 'relocated' most of the genealogy-related Finder folders kept in Finder's sidebar to folders with the same names in the Archive folder. So when records were added or changed, they were saved only to the archive folder.

iCloud can work, but be very careful!

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