HT201104: iCloud Drive FAQ

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agbontrager
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Q: iCloud vs. Dropbox product questions

I'm considering using iCloud as opposed to dropbox and have a few questions.  What I basically want to do is move specific folders from the master documents folder into the iCloud folder so they are accessible elsewhere both online and offline and sync immediately with any changes (just like Dropbox).  So here are my questions.

 

1.     Do the files I move to my iCloud folder on my mac stay resident on the hard drive for offline access? I'd still like them to be backed up using Time Machine in addition to being stored in iCloud

 

2.     When I drag & drop a folder with documents within it, the folder gets moved to iCloud but the files have a dotted cloud icon next to them (waiting for upload) and stay that way indefinitely.  However, when I "copy" the folder as opposed to just dragging & dropping into the iCloud folder everything is copied and uploaded.  Why is this?  Can't I just drag and drop?  I want the files actually moved and not have two sets of the same data on my HD

 

3.     How often does the iCloud app sync?  Dropbox is instantaneous, where as there appears to be a lag with iCloud.

 

4.     How many nested subfolders are allowable in iCloud files?

 

5.     What is the max individual files size allowed in iCloud?  I have some large presentation and excel files.

 

Thank you.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 28, 2016 2:22 PM

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agbontrager

Q: iCloud vs. Dropbox product questions

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jan 29, 2016 7:22 AM in response to agbontrager
    Level 10 (103,673 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 29, 2016 7:22 AM in response to agbontrager
    1. Yes
    2. The documents inside the folder should upload to iCloud when you drag and drop. Do you have enough room for them, have you tried navigating away from the folder in the finder and then back to it. They work as expected for me.
    3. iCloud is instantaneous for me.
    4. I'm not aware of any limits for your own folders, it's different if you are referring to the special numbers, pages etc folders provided by Apple.
    5. 15 GB

  • by agbontrager,

    agbontrager agbontrager Jan 29, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks,

     

    I still can't drag and drop a folder and have its contents sync.  I've tried letting it sit for over an hour, navigating away from the folder, you name it.  Only when I drag/drop and individual file or use the copy/paste command for a folder will its contents sync to iCloud.

     

    Given this problem with syncing, I may have to use DropBox which I'd rather not do.  The tight integration with Apple is part of what I like so much about its eco-system.  But their history with cloud services has been sketchy over the years.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jan 29, 2016 9:01 AM in response to agbontrager
    Level 10 (103,673 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 29, 2016 9:01 AM in response to agbontrager

    You didn't say whether you have enough room for them in iCloud or on your computer.

  • by agbontrager,

    agbontrager agbontrager Jan 29, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Sorry, yes.  I'm just doing some tests with a folder with maybe 10 megs worth of files.  I have a gig left.  trying to determine if the service will function as I need it before buying more storage.  Have tried diff folders as well (same sizes) but unfortunately get the same results.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jan 29, 2016 9:12 AM in response to agbontrager
    Level 10 (103,673 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 29, 2016 9:12 AM in response to agbontrager

    Where exactly are you trying to add them too.

  • by agbontrager,

    agbontrager agbontrager Jan 29, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    I will drag a folder from let's say "Documents".  The folder has roughly 10 files of any where from a few kilobytes to a meg.  The folder gets dragged directly into the iCloud folder in finder (not any subfolder like Keynote, etc.), but directly into iCloud drive itself.

     

    After I do this, the individual files within the folder have the dotted cloud next to them and nothing happens.

     

    When I access iCloud drive on my iPhone I can see the new folder, but when I click on it, it is empty.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jan 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to agbontrager
    Level 10 (103,673 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to agbontrager

    I don't know what else to suggest, I'm not able to replicate that, I have no issues dragging and dropping folders.

  • by agbontrager,

    agbontrager agbontrager Jan 29, 2016 9:28 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 9:28 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Ok, thanks.  Seems I'm the only one.  Appreciate the help.

  • by RF8881,

    RF8881 RF8881 Jan 31, 2016 6:57 PM in response to agbontrager
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 31, 2016 6:57 PM in response to agbontrager

    Hi.

    I may have the similar issue.

     

    I have tried testing migration of some of my docs from Dropbox to iCloud drive. It doesn't seem to sync all of the files. I've waited over 1 week, still no progress

     

    When I've contacted Apple Care, they've suggested I log out of iCloud from all Apple devices then log back in. Apparently, this would reset iCloud and it may fix the issue.

    I didn't feel this method is acceptable for me, because I'm afraid of the underlying issue may be still there and I don't want to reset/resync iCloud drive everytime there is an issue - I certainly don't want to resync 100GB data each time there is an issue with iCloud drive.

     

    I'm hoping Apple can fix the underlying issue, rather than customers having to work around it somehow. Until then, it might be best to continue using other document cloud products such as Dropbox, which seems to integrate quite well with Apple products.

     

    Cheers.