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    I am using Microsoft Money Sunset on Windows 7 64-bit and Windows XP 32-bit.  Both Windows versions have the latest services packs and updates applied.  I store my Money file in my Dropbox folder and have been doing so for the last few months.

    I have come across one issue, though.  If I have my Money file open (even if I am not actively going through it--in other words, it doesn't matter if Money is or is not the active window--Dropbox notices changes in my Money file and creates sometimes multiple versions in just 1 minute.  This in and of itself is not a big deal.  Except that I'm worried with all these "versions" Dropbox is seeing that my upload bandwidth is going to be used up because Dropbox is going to upload, for example, four 13 MB files every minute.

    Has anyone come across a similar problem?  If so, does anyone know if the ENTIRE Money file is uploaded with each supposed change?  Or is just a new version created on the Dropbox servers?

    I know this is more of a Dropbox issue than a Money issue, but I figured I'd try here first.

     

    thanks,

    mike.

    Thursday, December 15, 2011 4:15 PM

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    I would consider using a scheduled task -- a batch file that would execute at maybe 4:30 AM daily. I would maybe have the batch file create a file named mike.zip (or mike.7z --like a zip file but a little different). When the batch file fires off, if mike.zip (or .7z) is newer than mike.mny, do nothing. Otherwise have 7za.exe make an encrypted compressed copy of mike.mny over mike.zip (or mike.7z). Then have your service store mike .zip (or mike.7z) rather than mike.mny.

    Compression saves bandwidth. Limiting saving to daily at max saves bandwidth.  Encryption can be with a strong password (don't lose it). 

     

    Friday, December 16, 2011 9:03 PM
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    Money is constantly updating the file, and expects the file to be INSTANTLY available. Never try to open a file that is not on your hard drive. Any delay or caching of the data between your computer and the stored location will cause the file to become corrupt or will lose data. The fact that the server is making extra copies is an indication that Dropbox cannot keep up with the changes and is trying to make versions, in the hope that you have some way of merging the changes.

    Money cannot merge data from different files. Stop accessing the file directly from a shared location. Copy the file locally, work on the file, close Money, wait for the file to be properly closed (wait for the *.lrd file to disappear - don't delete it yourself), then copy the newly edited file back up to Dropbox. This warning applies to any non-local storage, not just for Dropbox.

    The Readme.htm file in Money's install directory clearly lists this, it is item #20 for Money Plus/Sunset.

    Bob - MSN Mobile
    Saturday, December 17, 2011 4:13 PM