Yet Another Question re iCloud vs Dropbox

[Susan Park]

I've been thru past posts on this topic and I've consulted the online instruction manual but still have a question. I do not use Reunion Touch. I have a desktop and a laptop. I am not actively researching any more but occasionally do make changes to my Reunion database (i.e. corrections to dates and place, etc). I never have Reunion open on both computers at the same time. The Reunion database contains 6,734 people.

I'm using Sequoia 15.5 on both computers, along with Reunion 14. Daily backups are made on an external HD via TimeMachine and to Backblaze.

I recently abandoned my paid Dropbox account after 15 years. I still have the free version and the only thing in it now is Reunion. Dropbox says all the various Reunion files are now taking up 749.3 MB of space. It SEEMS like I should be ok keeping my Reunion program in iCloud instead of Dropbox. Will I be sorry if I move it over to iCloud Drive?

[theKiwi]

No you won't - I moved when Reunion offered iCloud support and have experienced no problems with it.

Roger

[Herb]

My situation is almost the same as yours although I'm still actively researching. Several months ago I switched from iCloud to Dropbox because iCloud was so slow to sync between my M4 Mini and my M2 MBAir - it could take from 1:30 to 2:00 minutes to complete. On the phone with Deb in support, we could not figure out why iCloud was so slow. I'd rather go back to iCloud, but for whatever Dropbox is or isn't, it does work well so I have continued to use it.

[Bob White]

My situation is almost the same as yours although I'm still actively researching. Several months ago I switched from iCloud to Dropbox because iCloud was so slow to sync between my M4 Mini and my M2 MBAir - it could take from 1:30 to 2:00 minutes to complete. On the phone with Deb in support, we could not figure out why iCloud was so slow. I'd rather go back to iCloud, but for whatever Dropbox is or isn't, it does work well so I have continued to use it.

It's not likely to be the devices but more likely to be related to connection issues. Are you trying to synch both devices at the same time?

My experience is the opposite of yours; iCloud is superb while Dropbox is just plain Jane quick.

[Herb]

Not sure what you mean by "sync both devices at the same time". I never have Reunion open on two devices at the same time. Usually, I work on my M4 Mini and then Quit Reunion. I then look at the Dropbox icon the make sure it has finished syncing. (it would be the same process using iCloud Drive by opening the Finder and confirming that iCloud sync had completed). Then I can open my MBAir and look at the Dropbox icon to make sure that it has synced to that device. (again, I could open iCloud Drive in the Finder and confirm that syncing had completed) After that I can open Reunion. Insofar as I'm aware I have a fast Internet connection. Perhaps I should try again to use iCloud Drive?

[Susan Park]

Thank you Roger, Herb, and Bob for the encouragement. I think I will definitely give it a shot.

[DrJJWMac]

> (it would be the same process using iCloud Drive by opening the Finder and confirming that iCloud sync had completed).

From what I read, iCloud sync can sometimes be a hit-or-miss proposition. Unfortunately, one cannot force iCloud to sync manually, even with superuser-level terminal commands. The sync happens depending on factors that may or may not be entirely clear at any given time. Some have hinted at a need to "touch" not only the file that is being synced but also the folder where the file is stored as a way to re-initiate the iCloud sync. Others have suggested the need to rename the file after it is updated, then name it back. A search suggests that DropBox can also require similar or its own specific actions to force a (re)sync of a file. In summary, to answer the question ...

> Will I be sorry if I move it over to iCloud Drive?

With regard to stability with syncing: You may be, or you may not be. Perhaps changes made on one machine will not appear as promptly as you would want on the other machine. Whether what you experience with iCloud is any different from using DropBox may be a matter of the phase of the moon, your longitude and latitude, and the wind direction at any given time of day.

One suggestion with your configuration is to establish that only one computer is used to backup the iCloud stored files. Specifically, if your desktop is configured to backup iCloud, the laptop should not (and vice-versa). This is because what any one computer sees in its access to the iCloud (or DropBox) may not agree with what the other sees, even at the same time.

The other suggestion is to make routine, manual ZIP archival snapshots of your (important) iCloud files. An archival snapshot is a read-only storage, giving the peace of mind that a specific set up can be recovered in an emergency such as the iCloud (or DropBox) vaporizing and your Time Machine drive failing. Store the ZIP archives on their own external drive separate from the Time Machine drive.

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JJW

[Bob White]

iCloud was brought on line on Columbus Day in 2011. I first started using it during its first week. I cannot recall any synch problem that was the fault of iCloud. Actually, the synch problems I've had were when I was beta testing various applications or experiencing communications anomalies not related to Apple.

Regarding Dropbox, I have recently dropped it but during the approx. 10 years that I used it, I had very few synch problems. Regarding your first paragraph, I will just say that, in 14 years of using iCloud and helping many Mac users, I've never had occasion to "force" an iCloud synch.

For lots of years, I have synched across several Apple devices without synch problems. (Currently, three Macs, two iPads, an iPhone and an Apple watch.)

As the Mac saying sez: It just works! Final note: As per your second paragraph, mileage varies (but not per the moon or wind)..

[DrJJWMac]

I recall reading that one distinction in the robustness of sync with iCloud is based on the option that the app uses to sync with iCloud. Which is not the moon or wind, but sometimes can seem to be. My experiences are also that sometimes I do have to wonder whether ways exist to force a sync with iCloud. Even when I am on a hard-wired high-speed connection.

Here is an article from the Electric Light Company on ways to try to resolve iCloud sync issues.

https://eclecticlight.co/2023/07/24/how-to-fix-problems-with-icloud-and-icloud-drive/

I can also recommend browsing their other pages. They are a well-informed group of folks.

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JJW