LR no longer "finds" images in my dropbox

[margaretf63961458]

I am running LR Classiv v12.1 on a Macbook Pro with Monterey 12.6.2.

My catalog and photos are all in my dropbox and I have an external backup drive which backs everything up.

The problem (now that I have finally spent some time analysing it), testing old catalogues and backups ... etc

For some time I have noticed that LR cannot find many of my old JPG (and sometimes DNGs) files - the "!" appears in LR, and despite trying different options to find/re-import them, the issue persists.

If I go to the source file in my dropbox via Finder, or on my external backup drive, and try to open the file, the error "The file "IMG_nnnn.JPG" could not be opened" appears so I don't believe the problem is with LR.

However, if I go to dropbox.com and download the file, import it into LR, there is no error and the image is visible in LR.

Which I think leaves me with 2 options ... for which I am seeking some advice.

1.  Do I go to dropbox.com and download all my JPGs and import them again into LR

or

2. in LR set my source files to dropbox.com, rather than via Finder - if that's even possible ???

If anyone has any suggestions I would be super grateful !!

[Per Berntsen]

Most likely, this is caused by having Dropbox set to "save hard drive space automatically", which will delete local copies.  LrC needs to have the original files available locally, and will report them as missing if they are not.

You can fix the problem by setting up Dropbox preferences > Sync as below. Set Save hard drive space automatically to Off, and New files default to Available offline.

Then download all the missing files (with a "!" on the thumbnail).

Do not re-import the missing photos. LrC will then see them as new photos, and your edits will be lost.

Downloading them to the location where LrC expects to find find them is alll you need to do.

[margaretf63961458]

Per, thank you so much for your quick response.

The reason that I have not saved my images locally is because I don't have enough space on my harddrive.

My photos currently take up 1TB on the dropbox ... silly question, but is this setting going to want to sync this 1TB to my MAC ?

thank you again

Margaret

[margaretf63961458]

oh and my Dropbox icon doesn't have the same Sync options as shown above ... 

[Sean McCormack]

The online only option is where the files are moved online and as @Per Berntsen says, Lightroom needs the files to be local to operate. Changing back to offline will keep new files on the computer. You need to use 'Select folder to Sync to this Mac' to choose the image folders to download to access them in Lightroom, and yes if you choose all on them, Dropbox will place them on the computer. 

[Lumigraphics]

A 4TB USB hard drive is about US$100. I think you'll find that buying one will help your experience quite a bit.

[Sean McCormack]

@Lumigraphics I'd agree as well. I think the OP is using Dropbox for backup as well, which is probably why they haven't gone that route. 

[Lumigraphics]

Adobe does not support third-party cloud services. You cannot reliably use them together.

[TheDigitalDog]

I'll just add to what others have said: I've heard more users having issues using DropBox for anything LR related than I can count on two hands. Just don't go there. 

I use Dropbox, it's useful, but not for this product in terms of a catalog etc. Work 'locally'. 

[Per Berntsen]

FWIW, I've been keeping my photos on Dropbox for many years without issues. My impression is that OneDrive is much more problematic. I even kept the catalog on Dropbox for some years to be able to use it with two computers in different locations. This also worked fine, as long as I let Dropbox finish syncing before opening LR, and after closing LR.

[TheDigitalDog]

I keep lots of photos on Dropbox, no issues. A catalog? I'm simply seeing too many people report issues. An external HD has so many additional advantages and that it's my recommendation too.

[Lumigraphics]

I think the biggest problem with using graphics apps across a network is how variable the network performance can be. I've done support for a graphics department where everything was networked and it was all smooth, but they had a well-maintained, high-speed system with fast servers and enough capacity for all the traffic (and $$$$$$.)

When Steve Jobs first came back to Apple, he gave a talk where he showed how NeXT computers were all seemlessly networked and how all his data was online, and it worked beautifully. It IS possible to design apps that have network fail-safes and are fault tolerant, remember that computing started with a huge machine in a basement and everyone working off remote terminals. But its easier/cheaper/less of a support nightmare to just design for local use and if remote use works, well awesome.

I also find that power users and more experienced graphics/IT types will understand the gotchas and be able to work in riskier environments. When people know little about IT and expect Photoshop or Lightroom to always work the same regardless of network environment, and don't know how to anticipate or deal with problems, that's when we see posts on here complaining.

[margaretf63961458]

thank you all !

I have 2x 4TB HDDs, so plenty of offline space.  

will give this a go ..