Forum Discussion
Files On-Demand for macOS QA
Hello there!
2.24.22 UPDATE: We've been listening to your feedback, and we've made some design changes. We're releasing a new version that addresses the most common themes and makes it easier ...
Jack_Nichols
Microsoft
MicrosoftHi Michael,
> From what I read (see below) files will not be indexed by Spotlight. This is
> a MAJOR issue, that will cause me to stop using OneDrive and use alternate services.
Spotlight will index the content in your sync root (the path in ~/Library/CloudStorage). That will include any file metadata there, along with file content for files available in this path.
As far as getting the file content into the sync root, we're looking at ways to make this experience better, but in the near-term, if you want to force files to be available here, you can click the little "down cloud" icon to initiate a download. This works for folders too. For files that we already have in our cache path, this fetch should happen more or less instantly. Otherwise, we'll download the file from the cloud.
I've also shared the gist of your feedback with the rest of our team so we can think about how to better support this scenario.
Jack
> From what I read (see below) files will not be indexed by Spotlight. This is
> a MAJOR issue, that will cause me to stop using OneDrive and use alternate services.
Spotlight will index the content in your sync root (the path in ~/Library/CloudStorage). That will include any file metadata there, along with file content for files available in this path.
As far as getting the file content into the sync root, we're looking at ways to make this experience better, but in the near-term, if you want to force files to be available here, you can click the little "down cloud" icon to initiate a download. This works for folders too. For files that we already have in our cache path, this fetch should happen more or less instantly. Otherwise, we'll download the file from the cloud.
I've also shared the gist of your feedback with the rest of our team so we can think about how to better support this scenario.
Jack
WOW, finally I have my issues solved. I just needed to click the small cloud icon!
Why isn't MS sharing this information more widely??
To be clear, for all readers, here's what I did when I found that all folders were set on 'File on Demand':
1) set the folder you need to have downloaded on 'Always Available' by right-clicking the folder in finder and selecting that option at the lower part of the menu that shows
2) I think this is optional, but I cannot test it without --> run "ls -alR ~/OneDrive" command in Terminal. This forces Mac OS to make the clone file in your root folder.
- You need to find the correct path to your ~/Onedrive folder.
- Go to ~/library/CloudStorage and there you will find your OneDrive and SharePoint folders. At the bottom of Finder, in the Path Bar, right-click the onedrive folder and select the path. That path you use in this command.
- Alternatively, you select 'open path in terminal' and then you run the command "ls -alR"
3) Click the small cloud icons next to the always available icons to force the files to be downloaded (or transferred from the hidden cache)
Now your files are in the Onedrive Root folder, Spotlight Indexing works again and Quick View works.
Why isn't MS sharing this information more widely??
To be clear, for all readers, here's what I did when I found that all folders were set on 'File on Demand':
1) set the folder you need to have downloaded on 'Always Available' by right-clicking the folder in finder and selecting that option at the lower part of the menu that shows
2) I think this is optional, but I cannot test it without --> run "ls -alR ~/OneDrive" command in Terminal. This forces Mac OS to make the clone file in your root folder.
- You need to find the correct path to your ~/Onedrive folder.
- Go to ~/library/CloudStorage and there you will find your OneDrive and SharePoint folders. At the bottom of Finder, in the Path Bar, right-click the onedrive folder and select the path. That path you use in this command.
- Alternatively, you select 'open path in terminal' and then you run the command "ls -alR"
3) Click the small cloud icons next to the always available icons to force the files to be downloaded (or transferred from the hidden cache)
Now your files are in the Onedrive Root folder, Spotlight Indexing works again and Quick View works.