Not all files are text, it helps enormously if these files are associated to projects
Many people still manage their data hierarchically, and for it helps me a lot finding data (itâs hard to say if the increased searching time exceeds the time required to store the files)
How do we manage to make a client, that everybody can integrate it in their working routine and that it still is easy to use? There is the virtual FS / complete sync, but as well people who want have one synced folder or seveal synced folders on different locations on their clients (like pictures and documents on different drives). Conflict handling etc.
Nextcloud canât do a client that fits only your (or my) needs.
@ings
If symlinks wonât work for you then Iâm not sure how to cover points 2 and 3. For more advanced functionality, Iâd probably be using a *nix server (as I am now) where Iâm more comfortable using the unix tools to do what I need.
During a compute emergency, your data is still on the drive, and the location is not that obscure. You can make a shortcut to the location on your desktop. The VD client even gives you the option to open a folder directly to the data.
@anon9582441 Right, that is the advantage of the VD!
@KarlF12 You still can do the full file sync since VD can make all the files available offline.
@tflidd Let me know if my understanding of the VD system is incorrect. I think I have a grasp on it, but Iâm sure youâd know better.
Does it have to be in a drive letter? One of the great things about Nextcloud is the ability to sync folders from anywhere on my disks.
For my part, Iâd prefer to see the offline files in their usual locations, with placeholders that can be hydrated by the client in those same folders. Sure, if the client isnât running, the placeholders wonât exist, but the offline files would be right there in their normal paths. Otherwise, weâre stuck reorganising our content just to fit the client.
IMHO, there are roughly two very different user groups with differing requirements:
PRIVATE USERS, who have their own data storage strategies in place, most of which have grown over many years and are tailored precisely to their individual needs. This data is anchored decentrally, often distributed over several devices.
BUSINESS CUSTOMERS, who (probably) have already a centralized data storage solution in place, collaboration needs and who know and appreciate a file server-like approach (sure, with enhanced funtionality).
In my private environment, where I run a Nextcloud server for family members, relatives and friends, a total of 32 people of different ages and with very divergent technical affinities, the existing Nextcloud client sync concept was understood quite quickly and accepted right away, everyone almost immediately felt at home, nobody asked for a virtual drive funtionality. With the more technically gifted of them I talked about the new sync approach and NO ONE! (except me) found this solution really useful, a few were even overwhelmed with it.
Maybe that my experiences arenât completely accurate, sort of biased, though certainly they are neither totally exotic. Personally, I think that both approaches have their raison dâĂȘtre and should be available/selectable concurrently. M2C.
After reading lots of questions and answers, iâm still wondering why it has to be a virtual drive instead of a folder?
Correct me if iâm wrong but the idea is to be able to choose what file are to be synched and which are to be only downloaded on demand, to spare some local space and have the files online.
Why is the development not making a dropbox-like solution (they call it smart-synch)?
(which, if i interpret lots of remarks of this post correctly, is what people would like?)
you do have a ârealâ folder (not a virtual drive letter) where you see all your files.
All your files and folders are listed in that folder.
By right clicking on it and changing that âstatusâ you can choose which file/folder has a local copy and which one is stored online-only and downloaded on demand .
The files/folder where you decide to be online only are visible but they are placeholders which even show previews of the files, but it is not the ârealâ file
when you are offline or the client would not work, you would still see all your files, but only the ones you have set as available local are real files, the other are the placeholders.
You donât need a virtual drive but you have a folder like it always has been and you keep the same hierarchy/ order wether you are online offline so you can find your files easily. But you have the advantage of saving some space by keeping just ârealâ local copies of what is needed.
I hope I make some sense, but IMHO the way to have a virtual folder is just complicating everything ?
Sorry if Iâm missunderstanding somethingâŠ
I added a screenshot of the smartsynch solution, just to be clear how it looks.
I too have tried to test, but my installation - though successful (somewhat) - yielded no fruitful results. In summary, the Dokan install appears to have been partial (explained below), and the Nextcloud client fails to connect to my server (citing a TLS handshake error).
Dokan Installation Error
This appears after clicking the âFinishâ button for the Dokan installer. For all intents and purposes, it appears the installation is successful (as I can see it listed in Programs and Features), yet still this error pops up right after you click âFinishâ.
Nextcloud Desktop Client Stuck in Waiting State
After rebooting the PC (following the Dokan installation), the Nextcloud desktop client still remains in a âwaiting to start sync stateâ. With v1 of the preview build, it shows no errors. With v2, it shows âTLS handshake failedâ.
Exit button hides below taskbar
Finally, I noticed that when you right-click on the taskbar icon the âExitâ button immediately sinks below the taskbar - making it difficult to quit the client.
Hope you guys are able to resolve the problems above so I can test. I like the idea of the Virtual Drive, but hope that it functions in the same way as Dropbox currently functions.
Please. Post that on the github section of the nextcloud/client and look if some has already spoke about that problem. Itâs important for improvement
It is quite strange that OwnCloud; Seafile, Dropbox, OneDrive etc have the âsmartâ sync but Nextcloud doesnât, for me its the only reason I can not use next cloud. I have seem many discussion about this topic - whatâs the best way to address the development?
I donât really know, lots of people seem to give their idea/opinion on that topic but i canât find a clear response/ discussion about it. I also donât know why the idea of a virtual drive seems to be predominant instead of the same folder just with âsmartsynchâ (or whatever they want to call it.).
As I tried to explain, it seems to me that having a virtual drive that only shows when the client is running as the solution for a smartsynch alternative would be reinventing the wheel by complicating itâŠ
I think a virtual drive should be like a normal mapped network folder. This means files can be opened and edited directly off the share/drive without first downloading a local copy. It would be very useful för LAN connections.
hey gatak, thanks for your feedback. Thus the question is not what a virtual drive is and how a virtual drive should work.
My question is, wouldnât the idea of âvirtual filesâ be better solved with a solution similar to that dropbox, onedrive etc than with a virtual drive.
