Easy Photo Editing Program that can see Dropbox within Apples File Provider API Framework

[Josieb1]

Hi. I have persuaded my husband to buy a MacBook Pro 16. He has thousands of photos and they are stored in Dropbox. Those photos will be downloaded to his Macbook and the default for new photos is offline. His Nikon Studio software does not see Dropbox as under Apples File Provider API Framework its classed as iCloud even though the files are download to the MacBook.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an either free, or not too expensive photo editing program that can work with the Dropbox folder please?

Thank you

 

[gilby101]

The location of the Apple File Provider folders is under ~/Library/CloudStorage. I would expect the Nikon software to be able to use Dropbox from there.

By default the Library folder is hidden in Finder. You can show it (and other hidden files and folders) with the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + Period. If your software uses the macOS open file window, you can use the same shortcut there.

 

[Josieb1]

The location of the Apple File Provider folders is under ~/Library/CloudStorage. I would expect the Nikon software to be able to use Dropbox from there.

By default the Library folder is hidden in Finder. You can show it (and other hidden files and folders) with the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + Period. If your software uses the macOS open file window, you can use the same shortcut there.

No the Nikon Studio program cannot see anything Dropbox considers an iCloud storage even if it’s on the MacBook. We have tried shortcuts.

 

[gilby101]

No the Nikon Studio program cannot see anything Dropbox considers an iCloud storage even if it’s on the MacBook

A bit of terminology confusion there. Apple File Provider framework does not make it iCloud (which is Apple's cloud storage). Dropbox will be under CloudStorage (~/Library/CloudStorage) - also used by other 3rd party cloud storage using the framework. The location of iCloud and iCloud Drive is elsewhere. Keep looking.

Almost any photo editing software is able to see photo files stored in Dropbox. Pixelmator Pro, Affinity, Acorn, etc. He could even import photos from Dropbox into the free Apple Photos though that will use additional local storage.

 

[Josieb1]

A bit of terminology confusion there. Apple File Provider framework does not make it iCloud (which is Apple's cloud storage). Dropbox will be under CloudStorage (~/Library/CloudStorage) - also used by other 3rd party cloud storage using the framework. The location of iCloud and iCloud Drive is elsewhere. Keep looking.

We’ve tried everything. Shortcuts to Dropbox on the Desktop, which is a location Nikon Studio can see but they don’t show.

The only thing Nikon Studio can see are local folders, not anything macOS considers iCloud. If we copy a folder from Dropbox and put it in say Documents, then Nikon Studio can see it. But that’s a duplicate of the folder in Dropbox so we need to remember to put it back in Dropbox with any changes.

 

[Josieb1]

A bit of terminology confusion there. Apple File Provider framework does not make it iCloud (which is Apple's cloud storage). Dropbox will be under CloudStorage (~/Library/CloudStorage) - also used by other 3rd party cloud storage using the framework. The location of iCloud and iCloud Drive is elsewhere. Keep looking.

According to Google this is why Nikon Studio can’t see Dropbox.

Nikon NX Studio cannot see your local Dropbox folder because modern macOS routes cloud storage through Apple’s File Provider API into a hidden system directory (~/Library/CloudStorage), exposing only a specialized placeholder or symbolic link in Finder that traditional imaging apps fail to index or recognize as a standard browsable volume.

Why the Issue Happens

• • Hidden Cloud Architecture: Apple forces cloud providers like Dropbox to relocate root directories away from standard user paths into virtualized system containers.
  • App Incompatibility: Legacy or specialized software like Nikon NX Studio relies on direct volume or folder pathways. It does not parse Apple's cloud file-provider system hooks, making the folder invisible inside the app's internal browser tree.

 

[gilby101]

According to Google this is why Nikon Studio can’t see Dropbox.

I am not convinced by the explanation as Dropbox files are exposed at the real folder ~/Library/CloudStorage. Every other bit of software I have used can find that location - including Lightroom (but that is not low cost!). The Nikon Transfer 2 can find it as a destination for photo transfer, but I don't have a Nikon formatted SD card with photos so can't test it further.

I tried the Nikon NX Studio but (not surprising) it requires me to create a Nikon login, etc. We can only hope that a Nikon user can lead you through the steps. Otherwise try one of the other apps I suggested.

Alternatively, just use Dropbox as a way of getting the photos onto the Mac. Copy them to a local folder (e.g. ~/Pictures/Nikon) and use that for the Nikon software. After copying and establishing a backup routine, you can then delete the photos from Dropbox. But maybe you want to use Dropbox as permanent place for synchronising between computers - in which case don't have the photos permanently downloaded (offline) to the local Dropbox folders.

 

[Josieb1]

I am not convinced by the explanation as Dropbox files are exposed at the real folder ~/Library/CloudStorage. Every other bit of software I have used can find that location - including Lightroom (but that is not low cost!). The Nikon Transfer 2 can find it as a destination for photo transfer, but I don't have a Nikon formatted SD card with photos so can't test it further.

I tried the Nikon NX Studio but (not surprising) it requires me to create a Nikon login, etc. We can only hope that a Nikon user can lead you through the steps. Otherwise try one of the other apps I suggested.

Alternatively, just use Dropbox as a way of getting the photos onto the Mac. Copy them to a local folder (e.g. ~/Pictures/Nikon) and use that for the Nikon software. After copying and establishing a backup routine, you can then delete the photos from Dropbox. But maybe you want to use Dropbox as permanent place for synchronising between computers - in which case don't have the photos permanently downloaded (offline) to the local Dropbox folders.

Thank you for your advice and trying to help. Copying over the photos he wishes to edit to a local folder then back to Dropbox is probably the way forward for now until he can find an editing program he likes that’s works with Dropbox.