We need to have everyone set up the same folder structure on their computer (such as “C:\LO_DB”), have all changes made there, and then copy those files to their local Dropbox folder where they will be updated to the Dropbox server. That would eliminate any specific references to one person’s computer. The question is how do we eliminate those references from the existing files? I found the .ODB references but not the .ODS ones.
When using Dropbox use a synced folder and run from there. This keeps the the dropbox files up to date without moving things around. The registered name of the DB is retained locally in LO so it can be used across all LO modules. Using Dropbox and having multiple users updating the files requires co-ordination. No two can update simultaneously. View this post for one users solution.
Just a further note of clarification. User A gets access to Dropbox files. User B also gets access. If they each move these from the Dropbox folder and work on them locally, when placed back in the Dropbox folder it will replace (not an update of data) the files. So User A replaces the files first, then user B replaces the files & user A’s work is lost.
Just looked at one of my Calc files with a DB link - it is in the root content.xml. I found my connections by doing a search on table/query name used. Registered database name is also in there.
I understand the potential problem with multiple users accessing the same file and making individual changes. We would have to set up some process to allow only one person at a time to change a particular file. That is what the post you reference discusses. It also mentions setting up a separate folder where changes would be made and then copied to the Dropbox folder for updating to the Dropbox server. That is my thinking as well.
I looked at the content.xml file for one of the Calc sheets in question and could not find any directory reference. How are you searching? He set up some macros in some of these. I looked under the LibreOffice Basic Macro and noticed that under the .odb reference was a “Standard” > “Embedded” section which indicates the the HSQLDB is “installed”. Does this have any affect?
Please see edit in my answer.
Ratslinger,
We finally got it sorted out. I am not exactly sure what it was. It could be that I was renaming the .odb file but not the files in the “database” subfolder. I deleted everything I had (folders, files, registered names, etc.), re-downloaded the files from Dropbox, copied them to a new folder, and registered the database. I was then able to do the Data > Refresh. Thanks for your help.
You’re welcome. Had already gotten the word. The specific problem was the registration of the database. The database you are using has the ability to be moved from location to location and work without modification. The associated file(s) were originally set to access the DB based using a specific name, the registered name. When you received the file, the name was not registered with this original name and this name pointing to the new DB location. Once done, you were back in sync.