Place file from Dropbox into Indesign not working

[aaikele]

I’m using Indesign 2022 17.2.1 on Mac OS Monterey 12.3.1. In the past I was able to place (command D) a Word document and/or image from Dropbox into Indesign. Now when I place (command D) a document or image from Dropbox a "import failed" error pops up. I reinstalled the Dropbox app, still doesn't work. I opened the file in Dropbox so it will download on my Mac then tried placing the file in Indesign, that worked. The problem is I work with alot of files from Dropbox and need the "place"(command D) to work.

Thank you 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

You might want to check your Dropbox Sync settings. If your files are set to online only, they might be only symbolic links and not actual files you are trying to place, and although "placing" one of these should activate its download to your local DropBox folder, it may not be as instant as InDesign expects. based on your Internet speed.

As far as this workflow, I don't recommend it, especially if many people have access to the same files and can change/delete them at will. It's safer to copy files over to your document's Links folder.

[aaikele]

Thank you for the information. I found out this is a known issue with Dropbox. Dropbox is working on an update. 

[BobLevine]

Who told you that? There is nothing for Dropbox to fix. Smart sync is a terrific feature for most people but InDesign expects the file to be available and if it's not it will time out. You'll have the same problem with OneDrive or Google Drive.

[the drop · Accepted solution]

Dropbox says it here:
https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/macos-12-monterey-support

[BobLevine]

That is irrelevant. This is an issue on all operating systems. InDesign times out waiting for files to fully download. 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

"That is irrelevant"

Sorry, Nope. That is exactly the issue. Dropbox has acknowledged it and now includes a warning when you attempt to place an Online-only file into InDesign in Monterey.

[BobLevine]

Fair enough, but we're not even sure if that's the problem here. InDesign has been timing out on Windows and Mac operating systems since the "cloud only" option has existed. Same thing happens with OneDrive.

[markh35947808]

That's not true. InDesign used to convert "cloud only" linked files to "locally synced" when selecting 'Update Link' on modified linked files in macOS Big Sur. It's not been working since macOS Monterey, and instead, when you select 'Update Link', you just get an "Import Failed" error message. Nobody wants to own this problem, but after troubleshooting with Dropbox, it seems most likely that Adobe have not updated InDesign to work to works as it used to, and instead, everyone is just saying to leave InDesign, and jump all over the place in Finder and convert cloud files to locally synced. See this video for proof! Dropbox Big Sur InDesign Dropbox Big Sur InDesign