[olug] [OT] DropBox will automatically move and convert files to Google Drive or convert to MS office. Motivation for self hosting makes it very on topic.

Mon May 15 20:30:39 CDT 2023

Syncthing.  https://syncthing.net/
I've been using it instead of dropbox for a number of years now.
I am a personal user and have not attempted to use it as a corporate sync
system.

-J

On Sat, May 13, 2023 at 1:51 AM Rob Townley <rob.townley at gmail.com> wrote:

> Last weekend when i really needed to do some serious work, Dropbox notified
> me only after logging into their web site that all GoogleDocs files inside
> Dropbox will be moved and converted to GoogleDocs.  A link will be created
> in Dropbox to the GoogleDrive version.  My first reaction was positive
> because Dropbox will integrate better with GoogleDrive.  Looked forward to
> possibly searching across providers.  Would help trying to find a file that
> I thought was in Dropbox, but was actually in GoogleDrive.
> But then following Dropbox directions of finding what files will be
> converted concerned me a great deal.  For instance, key files to open
> password databases would be converted which would likely result in losing
> access completely.    Their other option of converting the files to MS
> Office would convert LibreOffice files to Word.
> Attempted twice to post in their Forums for clarification.  Their
> moderators marked my Forum posting as spam!  For the people that have no
> idea, I sincerely hope they are just communicating poorly.  For a long
> time, I have been meaning to self host all of it anyway... this did it.
>
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Google-Drive-Docs-Sheets-Migration-Would-move-Much-More-Such-As/m-p/682344#M9423
>
> Google Drive Docs Sheets Migration Would move Much More Such As *.csv *.txt
> *.odt *.log files.
> <
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Google-Drive-Docs-Sheets-Migration-Would-move-Much-More-Such-As/m-p/682344#M9423
> >
>
> *Marked as spam.* If you believe this is an error, submit an abuse report
> <
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/notifications/notifymoderatorpage/message-uid/682344
> >
> .
>
>    - Google
>    <
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/forums/filteredbylabelpage/board-id/101001017/label-name/google
> >
>    - Third Party Integrations
>    <
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/forums/filteredbylabelpage/board-id/101001017/label-name/third%20party%20integrations
> >
>
> [image: Robert T.26]
> Robert T.26
> <https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/182491>
> Explorer | Level 4
> <
> https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Google-Drive-Docs-Sheets-Migration-Would-move-Much-More-Such-As/m-p/682344#
> >
> Saturday
> According to Dropbox, "How to find Google files in your Dropbox account
> <https://help.dropbox.com/integrations/move-google-docs>" directions
> (copied below), all our plainTextFiles.txt, LogFiles.log files,
> OpenOffice.ods LibreOffice files, CommaSeparatedValues.csv files,
> ankiFlashCards.apkg files, critical Firefox files,  and many other files
> will be automatically moved to google drive that I would never want in
> Google Drive.   Many of them will never work in using Google Drive, such as
> our .key files to open our password databases because DropBox devs think
> keepass.key files are Google Slides.  Now, we are talking a MAJOR SECURITY
> CONCERN in terms of password database confidentiality and Availability.
>    Not only is gDrive much more expensive, but I pay for dropbox for a
> reason.  Their directions  are below, but it is basically find your files
> that will be moved to google drive by searching for .gdoc or .gsheet or
> .gslides.
>
> Does not seem like this integration has been thought thru especially in the
> following scenarios:
>
>    1. The millions of people that use a key file to open their password
>    databases.
>    2. The millions that use LibreOffice or OpenOffice particularly because
>    you do not want to use a slow web browser to open your docs and you do
> not
>    want to use o365.
>    3. Have a python project in DropBox for importing
>    CommaSeparatedValues.csv files?  BROKEN.
>    4. Depend on old versions of Firefox to manage NetGear switches and iot
>    stuff?  Firefox would be destroyed!  These Firefox profiles contain
>    LocalStore.rdf and MimeTypes.rdf and other .rdf files which will be
>    detected as Google Sheets, thereby corrupting your Firefox profile.
>    5. I had to post this rough draft in order to not lose it, so a
>    moderator marked this as SPAM.  NOW, I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY.
>    6. I had really wanted to get some things done today, but now am forced
>    to move my files elsewhere.  TrueNAS ZFS SelfHosting would have already
>    saved the time and money.  The plugins are awesome.    I believe I
> created
>    my account in about 2008, so fifteen years as a customer is ending.
>
> Dropbox devs, change this to search based on what the file MIME type
> program returns.  Better yet, create an explicit Google Doc search.
>
>
> How to find Google files in your Dropbox account
> <https://help.dropbox.com/integrations/move-google-docs>
>
> Use Dropbox search <https://help.dropbox.com/view-edit/search> to review
> your Google files before uploading or converting your documents. To do
> this:
>
>    1. *Sign in* <https://www.dropbox.com/login> to dropbox.com.
>    2. Click the search bar at the top of the page.
>    3. Search for each individual file type: .gdoc
>    <
> https://www.dropbox.com/search/work?file_categories=document&path=%2F&query=.gdoc
> >,
>    .gsheet
>    <
> https://www.dropbox.com/search/work?file_categories=spreadsheet&path=%2F&query=.gsheet%20%E2%80%8B
> >,
> and
>    .gslides
>    <
> https://www.dropbox.com/search/work?file_categories=presentation&path=%2F&query=.gslides
> >
>    .
>
>
>    - Dropbox Help Center - How to use Dropbox  <https://help.dropbox.com/>
>    - Integrations <https://help.dropbox.com/integrations>
>    - How to move Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
>    -
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-- 
Best,

Jeff Hinrichs
dundeemt at gmail.com
402.320.0821
402.218.1473