File duplicates are created in SharePoint

Question

Hello,

for some days, duplicates of files are created in SharePoint. Upon every edit, a copy is created and a number is added to the new file (see screenshot).

So, we use SharePoint as a document library. We are 3 people in the company. I and one other use the SharePoint to acces files. The third person in the team has set up a OneDrive sync to his local machine, so he accesses files from here.

This has worked perfectly for 2½ years. But now it does not.

I found a setting in SharePoint to create versioning. I thought maybe one of my colleage enabled this, so I disabled versioning. Problem persists.

I also disabled autosave on a file to see if it made a difference. No effect - problem persists.

A strange thing is that when I edit a file and it replicates itself, in SharePoint it appears as if it was my colleage (the one with the local sync) who created and modified the file. My name is not there. 

So, I suspect that it could be the sync job that does something. 

Another thing pointing in this direction - when I delete a file through the SharePoint interface, after a few seconds, the file re-appears. Again, from the guy with the sync to local disk, I assume.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Morten

Answer 1

Hi Morten,

The versioning settings should not cause such issues.

For autosave feature, we suggest you enable it. As this supports co-authoring.

To narrow down the issue you have, please provide the information below:

1.      To check if the issue is caused by OneDrive sync, please let your colleague right click the OneDrive desktop icon>settings>Pause syncing. Then check if the issue persists. You can resume syncing later.

·         If the issue persists after you pause syncing, please provide the information below for our more investigation:

1.      Does the issue happen to all the documents in this library? If so, please create a new document library to see the result. If the issue only happens to a specific document, please copy and paste contents to a new document to see the result.

·         If the issue doesn’t happen any more after you pause syncing, this issue may be caused by the OneDrive sync client. Please follow the steps 1 by 1 to see if the issue can be fixed:

1.      Right click the OneDrive sync icon>Settings>Office>sync conflicts to check if you select “Always keep both copies (Rename the copy on this computer)”, change to choose “let me choose to merge changes or keep both copies” to see the result.

2.      Follow the steps in this reference to reset OneDrive.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 2

Hello Morten,

Right click on the blue cloud icon(OneDrive for Business) >Click on settings >Uncheck the option "Use office 2016 to sync office files that i open" >Click on OKand check the behavior.

Below is the article for your reference:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-Office-2016-to-sync-Office-files-that-I-open-8a409b0c-ebe1-4bfa-a08e-998389a9d823

Regards,

Sohel Khan.

Answer 3

Thank you Rena,

I have investigated further. I agree that AutoSave is not the issue. 

In fact, we discovered that the creation of duplicate files did only occur, when my colleague (with OneDrive sync to local disc) has his computer on. When he is not online, it does not happen. So - this supports your theory that his sync is causing the problem. 

We have several libraries in SharePoint. They are all synced to local disk as described. However, only one of the libraries is causing problems. So - it concerns only files in that library. Not others.

Will try pausing syncing to get confirmation that the sync is the cause. And follow your instructions. Thanks - will post back results.

Answer 4

Thanks Sohel,

but given the fact, that only one of several document libraries are having this problem, I do not understand how this setting could be the explanation?

Answer 5

Hi Morten,

Have you paused sync to confirm the cause of the issue? And what's the result after you follow any suggestions above?

In the meantime, you mentioned that the issue only happens in a specific library, we would like to know does the user edit files in other libraries in the local client?

Thanks,

Rena