nextcloud-desktop/doc/faq.rst

FAQ
===

Some Files Are Continuously Uploaded to the Server, Even When They Are Not Modified.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is possible that another program is changing the modification date of the file.
If the file is uses the ``.eml`` extension, Windows automatically and
continually changes all files, unless you remove
``\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PropertySystem\PropertyHandlers``
from the windows registry.
See http://petersteier.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/windows-indexer-changes-modification-dates-of-eml-files/ for more information.

Syncing Stops When Attempting To Sync Deeper Than 100 Sub-directories.
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The sync client has been intentionally limited to sync no deeper than 100
sub-directories. The hard limit exists to guard against bugs with cycles
like symbolic link loops.
When a deeply nested directory is excluded from synchronization it will be
listed with other ignored files and directories in the "Not synced" tab of
the "Activity" pane.

There Was A Warning About Changes In Synchronized Folders Not Being Tracked Reliably.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On linux when the synchronized folder contains very many subfolders the
operating system may not allow for enough inotify watches to monitor the
changes in all of them.

In this case the client will not be able to immediately start the
synchronization process when a file in one of the unmonitored folders changes.
Instead, the client will show the warning and manually scan folders for changes
in a regular interval (two hours by default).

This problem can be solved by setting the fs.inotify.max_user_watches
sysctl to a higher value. This can usually be done either temporarily::

    echo 524288 > /proc/sys/fs/inotify/max_user_watches

or permanently by adjusting ``/etc/sysctl.conf``.

I Want To Move My Local Sync Folder
-----------------------------------

The Nextcloud desktop client does not provide a way to change the local sync directory. 
However, it can be done, though it is a bit unorthodox. 
Specifically, you have to:

1. Remove the existing connection which syncs to the wrong directory
2. Add a new connection which syncs to the desired directory

.. figure:: images/setup/remove.png
   :alt: Remove an existing connection

To do so, in the client UI, which you can see above, click the "**Account**" drop-down menu and then click "Remove". 
This will display a "**Confirm Account Removal**" dialog window.

.. figure:: images/setup/confirm.png
   :alt: Remove existing connection confirmation dialog

If you're sure, click "**Remove connection**".

Then, click the Account drop-down menu again, and this time click "**Add new**".

.. figure:: images/setup/wizard.png
   :alt: Replacement connection wizard

This opens the Nextcloud Connection Wizard, which you can see above, *but* with an extra option.
This option provides the ability to either: keep the existing data (synced by the previous connection) or to start a clean sync (erasing the existing data).

.. important:: 

  Be careful before choosing the "Start a clean sync" option. The old sync folder *may* contain a considerable amount of data, ranging into the gigabytes or terabytes. If it does, after the client creates the new connection, it will have to download **all** of that information again. Instead, first move or copy the old local sync folder, containing a copy of the existing files, to the new location. Then, when creating the new connection choose "*keep existing data*" instead. The Nextcloud client will check the files in the newly-added sync folder and find that they match what is on the server and not need to download anything. 

Make your choice and click "**Connect...**".
This will then step you through the Connection Wizard, just as you did when you setup the previous sync connection, but giving you the opportunity to choose a new sync directory.