Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get about DropCopy. If you don’t find the answers to your questions below try the DropCopy Tips page for more helpful solutions!

If you still need more help, head on over to the Support Forum or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help.

The machines see each other but DropCopy transfers are spotty - sometimes the transfer times out without starting. Other times it works, then all of a sudden stops working.

This kind of problem is usually related to Bonjour (the auto-discovery technology we use). Try changing your Local-Link name to one continuous word: e.g., MikesPowerbook instead of Mike’s Powerbook. You can change this In System Preferences in the ‘Sharing’ tab. Where it says ‘Computer Name:’ at the top is where you should change the name to be one continuous word as described above. On the iPod, go to the ‘Prefs’ and change ‘My Identity’ in the same manner.

I accidentally clicked on an option to remove DropCopy from the menu bar. How do I get it back or get access to its preferences?

To get access to the preferences in situations where the menu bar is hidden AND the app is hidden from the dock, click once on the drop-zone and hit command+comma (i.e., the apple key + the comma key and the same time.)

After tapping ‘OK’ and ‘Done’, you’ll still need to quit out of Installer.app, and relaunch it. You should now see DropCopy (current latest version: 0.4.6) in the Utilities category.

How do I install 10base-t mobile applications using Installer.app?

Press the ‘Sources’ tab in Installer.app; then tap the ‘Edit’ button in the upper right corner of the screen. Next, tap the ‘Add’ button in the upper LEFT of the screen, and add the following URL: http://10base-t.com/repo

After tapping ‘OK’ and ‘Done’, you’ll still need to quit out of Installer.app, and relaunch it. You should now see DropCopy (current latest version: 0.4.6) in the Utilities category.

How do I configure my firewall to work with DropCopy?

Click here for configuration instructions.

Does DropCopy work long distance? I’m on my iBook in Philly and want to send a document to my iMac in Texas…

Yes, but it requires that the destination machine have a “public” IP number. This means that the machine in question is not connected to a router that provides it with a “translated” or “private” address. If your destination machine fits that bill, then you still need to know its IP number and add it as a manual destination in DropCopy on the machine that you are sending from.

Is there a Windows or Linux version of DropCopy?

Not yet, but if you are technically inclined you can make one yourself by simply creating an application that implements the DropCopy protocol, which is open. Contact us for more information if you want to give it a go!

When I’m on my iPod Touch and someone transfers me a song, how do I listen to it, and how do I set a path to where it should go?

The song goes into your incoming files folder just like other documents. There is currently no published way to add outside songs to the iTunes database on your iPod from the iPod itself. You can listen to the song, however, using the ‘quicklook’ feature. Simply click on the eyeball icon next to the song in your incoming files folder.

One of my Macs can send and receive files fine but the other can only send, not receive.

I’ve checked the firewall. What could be the problem? Are the Tiger and Leopard versions not compatible?

Versions 1.3.3 (for Tiger) and 1.4.x (for Leopard) are 100% compatible so the problem probably has to do with the auto-discovery mechanism (called Bonjour). One way to debug this is to add the Mac that cannot receive files as a manual destination (using its current IP number) on the Mac you are sending from. You can find the current IP number by looking in the Network control panel in System Preferences, or by using the “troubleshooting” tool in the hints menu of DropCopy (version 1.4 or later).

Mobile DropCopy problem: “Incoming file is a folder or an application, can’t handle yet, sorry”

I’ve just installed DropCopy (0.4b) on my Touch (1.1.1) and Powerbook. Files seem to copy to the Powerbook OK but any file I try to copy to the Touch generates the following error message on the Touch: “Incoming file is a folder or an application, can’t handle yet, sorry”

I’ve tried text files, PDFs, JPEG all produce same error. Any ideas?

Try changing the pref in DropCopy on the Mac to NOT preserve resource forks by default. Leaving this preference enabled causes DC to first make an archive of the file (to preserve the resource fork) which is then registering as a folder to mobile DropCopy.

How do I delete destinations I no longer want?

Highlight the destination in the list and hit the delete key.

The dropzone is obscured by other windows - how can I use DropCopy without moving windows all the time?

Use OS X’s built-in exposé feature to clear the desktop of all open windows and then drag to the drop zone.

I dragged a file to the icon and nothing happened - what’s going on?

You probably dragged to the dock icon, menubar icon, or application icon instead of to the drop zone. When you launch DropCopy it puts a small, circular ring in the upper-left corner of your desktop - this is where you drag files to be copied. If the drop zone is obscured by open windows, use exposé to temporarily move the windows aside.

I dragged a file to the drop zone and let go of it and the file didn’t copy

When you drag onto the drop zone, a list of destinations will pop up. You need to continue dragging the file until it is over the actual destination, even if there is only one destination listed. Simply dropping the file on the drop zone will not initiate a file transfer.

The file seems to copy fine but it lost its custom icon and/or the file doesn’t open correctly

Due to limitations with our networking engine, custom icons and other ‘resource fork’ data is not transferred by default. If you need this data for specific file types, simply hold down the option key when dragging the file to the drop zone.