[request] specify directory to save notes

[pcause]

There are many different apps/ways to sync files between systems. I'd like the windows/linux/android versions to be able to use a directory I specify as the location for my notes. I use an app on android called foldersync to sync files and freefilesync on windows/linux. this change will allow me to use those and other users to use whatever tools that they choose.

[laurent22]

The answer to this might to enable syncing to a local directory - it's a feature that I've implemented for testing, but not enabled in the main apps as I wrongly thought nobody would need it. So please check again in a few days once it's enabled.

[bufferovercat]

Feature desired. I had to do some research to find out where the data is stored in order to manually sincronize between devices through Nextcloud.

[timwis]

Yes I'd like to sync via dropbox and I expected to do that by having Joplin save markdown files to my file system, and specifying my dropbox directory as the place to save them. At that point, joplin doesn't really need to know it's syncing; just saving files and detecting changes on the file system.

[closecrowd]

This. The documentation says that filesystem synchronization is supported, but there doesn't seem to be any way to configure this in either the app or desktop. I use syncthing to share directories among my workstations and mobile devices. It's not going to work to sync the sqlite database file itself... it needs to be supported in the application.

[croulibri]

Hello,
Your app seems very nice : nice features but simple tu use. Congratulation.
I am also very much interested by filesystem sync on android and desktop. Could you let us know how to activate this function ?
Thanks in advance.

[laurent22]

I might be missing something but how can an Android and desktop app sync? File system sync in Joplin allows two applications to share a directory and synchronise with whatever is on it. So you can have the CLI and desktop apps sync to this dir, or if it's a network share, you can also share over the network.

But how does that work with a mobile app? It won't have access to the directory on the desktop anyway, or is there some method to make it work?

[closecrowd]

Simple - put the sync directory on /sdcard (or whatever external storage is called on your device). And establish a sync directory on the desktop system.

The external sync agent (syncthing in my case) detects changes in the shared directory and makes the contents the same. Just like rsync between 2 unix hosts, for instance.

It needs to be an external sync so Joplin knows to check the files for changes. Otherwise, unless you have the equivalent of an inotify handler, each Joplin instance won't know that the sycn files have changed.

[laurent22]

The latest desktop version has support for filesystem sync so for now it works in CLI and desktop. For mobile, a separate driver will have to be written since file access is a bit different.

Actually in case someone wants to try a pull request, I'm putting here the information to create this driver as it's quite straightforward:

• Copy the file file-api-driver-local.js to something like "file-api-driver-local-mobile.js"
• Change the calls to use react-native-fs instead of fs. Most calls are wrappers around the native library, and the logic of the delta function can re-used as is (actually it might be better to move it to a separate function so that it can be reused by both drivers).

Once this driver is working it's jut a matter of loading either this one on mobile or the regular one on desktop/cli.

[croulibri]

I have the same idea with @closecrowd
In my case, I might sync with my Nextcloud server using Foldersync on Android, and the desktop Nextcloud syn app on my laptop.
I have successfully tested the filesystem sync on desktop version, thanks for activating this function.
My skills are far below the requested level for making pull request... so I hope a skilful person will follow your advices and create the driver for Android. I will be much delighted.

[penzoiders]

+1 for the local sync for Android too.
My scenario (locked now due to absence of local folder sync in Android):

• Laptop with Appimage --sync-to-local--> in Nextcloud folder
• Nextcloud takes care of the remote sync
• Mobile with Nextcloud --sync-folder-to-sdcard(longpress folder + sync in nexcloud client)--> I have the "sync folder from Laptop" in /sdcard/nextcloud/me@mynexcloud.sever/Joplin/

at this point If I could set sync to local to /sdcard/nextcloud/me@mynexcloud.sever/Joplin/ on the Joplin Android app I would be fine

a bit of workaround until the proper Own/Nextcloud driver is done but will work as needed

[prcdslnc13]

Anymore development on this? I'd like to be able to sync through my Nextcloud server with the mobile app.