Did you encounter the pop-up 'The source file you are trying to access is missing' or experience delayed synchronization while co-authoring with DataSnipper? Here are some ways to solve the issue.
Pre-requisite:
You must be using DataSnipper Version 6 or later
Case 1: Source files are stored in non-shared location
When co-authoring, if one user imports files from a non-shared location such as their desktop, the other user(s) will encounter the popup 'The source file you are trying to access is missing' when attempting to view the Snips.
To resolve this, ensure that all users have saved the source documents in a shared location accessible to all collaborators e.g. Sharepoint.
Case 2: Source files are synced at different timings
Your shared file location e.g. SharePoint, and Excel each have their own synchronization timelines, and both need to sync properly for all source files to be visible in the Document Viewer. If this synchronization doesn't occur, users may see the popup 'The source file you are trying to access is missing.'
Don't worry - this typically resolves itself if you wait for the sync to complete.
Case 3: Sync speed is limited by OneDrive / Sharepoint
Syncing user data with DataSnipper Co-authoring is reliant on OneDrive/Sharepoint - which is can be impacted by many external factors. Normally, co-authored data is synced in less than a second, but it can take up to 30 seconds in some instances. When this happens, simply wait for some time incase you cannot view each other’s Snips instantenously.
Don't worry - this typically resolves itself if you wait for the sync to complete.
Case 4: User(s) makes changes to the source files
Modifying the source document in its stored location can result in the pop-up 'The source file you are trying to access is missing.' When a user redacts texts, or rotates / removes pages from a document, the source file is considered modified, hence 'different' from the original file.
Please ask the user who has modified the document to save the file in a shared location. You can then re-import the modified file from the shared location to resolve the issue.
Case 5: User's computer time differs from internet synchronized time
As part of a distributed system, each computer self-reports the timestamp for operations. While computers typically use internet-synchronized time, users can manually change the time on their machines. If this time significantly deviates from the actual time, it could cause discrepancies in the chronological ordering in DataSnipper, differing from the true sequence of events.
Ensure that your computer's default timing is set to the time-zone you are working from. This way, you can ensure that chronological discrepencies are prevented.