Reunion Touch - iCloud Sync, Problems

[David Walton]

Reunion Touch - iCloud Sync, Problems
Download 380Mbps, Upload 70Mbps
Reunion 14, build 260412
ReunionTouch v1.0.21

No problems with Dropbox but concerned about the 2GB storage cap at default thumbnail media settings. I have tried to use iCloud in the past but desktop to icloud sync was reluctant to complete. Decided to give icloud another try so removed my familyfile (1.27GB - 6523 thumbnails large - 6557 thumbnails small) from Dropbox + disconnected and transferred to iCloud.

To summarise a day spent trying combinations of reinstalling apps + sharing resets made no progress fixing incomplete sync, the occasional empty file, disappearing thumbnails, thumbnails set to low res. small, loss of preferred pictures etc etc. Even tried emptying iCloud of all but the familyfile i.e. 50.26GB available for the 1.3GB familyfile.

I could access the familyfile on my iPad but never managed to fully sync the iCloud account - on the desktop gave up waiting for sync to complete after 3 hours. On the iPad, as a test ignored incomplete sync, loaded the familyfile and other than all preferred pictures being reset to 1st image in the media library all appeared well. Sync did not complete and all media items reverted to small thumbnails (re-adding media 'fixed' thumbnails and used large thumbnails). Waited through an afternoon with Reunion 14 open on desktop and ipad shutdown but sync would not complete the last few MBs. I have followed the ReunionTouch setup instructions and waited for sync before installing on the iPad.

That same familyfile is now back in Dropbox and working without issue, using large thumbnails - once setup then rapid syncs in the order of seconds etc. Is there a setup procedure for iCloud to give a clean/complete sync?

[DrJJWMac]

... Is there a setup procedure for iCloud to give a clean/complete sync?

Sync with iCloud can be notoriously difficult to control for consistent reliability.

[David Walton]

Sync with iCloud can be notoriously difficult to control for consistent reliability.

Thanks for the response - a confirmation of iCloud's inconsistent performance! I persevered and had sync work desktop - iPad - desktop but when it came to edits/add new data on the desktop then iCloud could only do a couple of new records before sync failed (I waited 5 minutes). The initial setup sync may have worked because I chose to try setting up early in the morning (in UK around 06.00 or 01.00 EDT). I don't know the actual timezone for iCloud servers and early morning here was a guess for best performance?

[Bob White]

I've been using the iCloud sync since Day One (which is, I think, about September 1, 2023). Zero problems. Always consistent. The only time that I've had to pay attention to this sync is when I've bought a new Mac or iOS device and that was a request to locate a particular folder.

If set up correctly, both of you should get the same experience. Question: Is Touch the only app where you have sync problems involving iCloud? I recommend that you work with the Reunion help desk to troubleshoot your problem. (By the way, David, servers are all over the world. Apple does not publicize how many or the locations. And all iCloud files are duplicated to other Apple servers so nothing is lost if one is destroyed or quits working. And it's Internet traffic that affects your speed -- not the servers.)

[DrJJWMac]

If set up correctly, both of you should get the same experience

It is not uncommon to hear about iCloud sync issues. One person can always have consistent behavior. Another person can have sporadic issues even with what seems to be the most basic hardware and software set ups that are set up as fully correct according to instructions.

I don't know the actual timezone for iCloud servers and early morning here was a guess for best performance?

As near as I have been able to decipher, iCloud sync issues are most often a function of local machine and local internet settings. Everything from boot into safe mode, log out and log back into iCloud, and uninstall the software app, clean out iCloud, and start over have been given as recommendations.

Just for fun, try asking Google "are iCloud sync issues common".

--
JJW

[David Walton]

1. I have no problems using Dropbox.
2. I always have sync annoyances with iCloud > Reunion.
3. My use of iCloud is limited to a total of around 150MB i.e. stripped down and no issues with sync. Even this removed for ReunionTouch testing.
4. As a test:

I use MFT as a desktop app. without CloudTree. I turned CloudTree on for 3.1GB, roughly 11.5% of my 50GB iCloud storage (data ex. manage storage window). Ran CloudTree for a couple of days (Reunion familyfile removed from iCloud, in Dropbox) and had zero sync issues. Removed MFT from CloudTree - restarted my Mac Mini - checked that iCloud storage was clean - setup ReunionTouch - back to incomplete sync. These iCloud sync problems are taking too much time + effort so back to Dropbox. iCloud has been reliable as per Bob White's experience and it is only Reunion with ReunionTouch where sync is an issue. Bob & DrJJWMac - thanks for the responses.

EDIT
One additional thought. My internet service is 5G Home Broadband so reasonably fast but with poor latency. Checked this morning > 450Mbps download, 70Mbps upload, latency - idle 50ms, download 90ms, upload 110ms.

[Kathy C]

I find this subject very interesting. I have had many sync issues using iCloud. For me, it was very unreliable. And slow .... did I mention "slow?" I have a very fast internet and that should not have been an issue, but it always has been with Reunion. It has kept from using Reunion as my "one and only" genealogy app for a long time. Recently, I tried again to switch to Dropbox syncing .... and, it has been working very well with no problems since then. I don't know why syncing works well with one or the other of these services, and not for the next person trying it., but that is how it is. My advice would be that if one method does not work for you, try the other. When it works, it works very well.