Chris-96
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: Files that are opened in an iCloud linked application are instantly copied to the application folder in iCloud.

When I open a file from any folder in the finder, in an application that is linked to iCloud, i.e. "PDF Expert" or "Preview", the file I opened, will instantly be copied to the application folder. This only happens on Mac.

 

On Mac the file appears in the folder as something like a shortcut (like in the picture):

Screen Shot 2016-09-08 at 11.13.12.png

 

If I open the mobile application (i.e. of PDF Expert) there is a hard copy of the file in the application folder.

I first thought that would only happen with PDF Expert, but I found out it happens with any application that is enabled in iCloud Drive settings. It's really annoying to delete them every time you opened them. What this feature actually was supposed to do, is creating a folder in iCloud Drive that is assigned to the app on any iCloud device.

 

Maybe someone knows how to turn it off, or maybe it's just a bug.

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014), Other OS, MacOS Sierra Beta 10.12

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 2:23 AM

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Chris-96

Q: Files that are opened in an iCloud linked application are instantly copied to the application folder in iCloud.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 4:05 AM in response to Chris-96
    Level 10 (105,852 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 4:05 AM in response to Chris-96

    It looks like a feature and not a bug.

    iCloud is not really duplicating the files in the application collection folders.  It looks like a duplicate file of the same size as the original you opened, but iCloud is saving storage by creating symbolic links. .

     

    I checked several of the apparent duplicates in the Terminal, and if I list the file with the Terminal command

    ls -li somefileoniclouddrive

    I can see that the inodes are identical for the original and the duplicate.  So no additional storage is required.

  • by Chris-96,

    Chris-96 Chris-96 Sep 8, 2016 3:32 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 3:32 AM in response to léonie

    That may be so, but still if I delete the file from the iCloud Drive folder, either by deleting it from the Finder or from the Terminal, the file is only deleted in the folder, not in it's origin folder.

     

    Thanks for your quick answer!

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 4:04 AM in response to Chris-96
    Level 10 (105,852 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 4:04 AM in response to Chris-96
    either by deleting it from the Finder or from the Terminal, the file is only deleted in the folder, not in it's origin folder.

    If you delete a symbolic link from the Applications collection folder, the original file will stay. But if you delete the original on your iCloud Drive, the duplicate in the applications collection folder will also vanish. At least, that happens, when I delete the original.

  • by Chris-96,

    Chris-96 Chris-96 Sep 8, 2016 3:59 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 3:59 AM in response to léonie

    Alright, that's what I meant.

     

    But do you know how to disable this annoying "feature"?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 4:10 AM in response to Chris-96
    Level 10 (105,852 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 4:10 AM in response to Chris-96

    I am afraid, there is no way, unless you disable the sync for the specific applications in the System Preferences > iCloud > iCloud Drive.  If you disable for example "Pixelmator" there, the complete Pixelmator folder will be hidden on iCloud Drive.

     

    I simply ignore the application collections folders. I created a folder "My iCloud Drive" on iCloud Drive and added the subfolders I need and dragged this folder to the Finder sidebar and the Dock. So I can open iCloud Drive directly for my own folders and do not have to see the predefined folders.

  • by Chris-96,

    Chris-96 Chris-96 Sep 8, 2016 4:08 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 4:08 AM in response to léonie

    Hmm...that's a little ugly.
    Anyway, thanks for your help!