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

just an update...

we tested a bit more:

• created 2 new document libraries ("A" and "B") on SharePoint.
• Synched "A" to my PC. Synched "B" to colleague PC
• I worked with files on both "A" and "B" while my colleague was online. No duplicates happened. All good.

So - we are thinking 2 things - about possible root cause of problem

• anything wrong with our (old) SharePoint Document libraries?
• At one point - about a year ago, we had a sync problem, and created new document libraries. The names of the new ones are very similar to the old ones - eg. old "Templates" was "Templates1". But we synched them to same local location. I am thinking if there has been some kind of update to either OneDrive or SharePoint that is creating some kind of problem??

Kindly,

Morten - Software-Pro

Answer 2

Morten,

Sorry for the delay response.

As the issue only happens to this existing document library, for the current situation, you may consider trying the following steps to workaround this issue:

1.Create a new library.

2.Sync both the new created library and the affected library to local.

3.Copy needed files from the synced affected library to the synced new created library in local (File Explorer) and make sure files are synced back to cloud (new created library)

4.Delete the affected library.

If you need to use this affected library and want to further investigate the issue, please save the affected library as template (it applies to document library too)and send it to us for further analysis. I have sent you a private message to collect it and you can access it via this URL: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/privatemessage/inbox

Regards,

Sky

Answer 3

Hi Morten,

Do you have any updates?

Regards,

Sky

Answer 4

Hi Sky,

yes - this fixed it... very happy, thanks!!! :-)

However - it created a new problem. 

When I created the new document library (item 1 in your instructions), I called it "Library2" to distinguish it from the problem library. Then followed points 2-4.

But now - the local (PC) folder is called "Library2". And I want it to be just "Library". So - I renamed the document library on SharePoint via SharePoint Designer and List properties. However... even though I can rename to "Library" on SharePoint, the synced folder on local PC continues to be "Library2" - and I cannot rename. 

How can I rename the local copy of a synched (Onedrive Business) SharePoint Document Library??

Answer 5

Hi Morten,

Please follow the steps below:

1.Right click the OneDrive sync icon -> settings -> stop syncing this folder library2

2.After you stop syncing this folder -> you can rename it to library in local

3.Go to your teamsite through browser ->click sync to sync this library -> a window as below will popup and click  use this location.

Regards,

Sky