Duplicate errors usually occur when Air Flow isn't sure which version of a file or folder should be the "master" version. This often happens due to:
Parallel edits: A file is edited offline while another user edits the same file in the workspace.
Duplicate creation: An item is added, renamed, or moved in the workspace, and a local file is exists with the same name in the same location before the sync completes.
Race conditions: Two users upload or rename items with the same name at the exact same time.
Recognize and resolve the error
When Air Flow detects a conflict that it cannot automatically resolve, it will pause syncing for that specific item and display a "Duplicate detected" error. You will see a prompt asking you to intervene.
To resolve the issue, tell Air Flow which name to use. You generally have two options available in the action menu:
Rename in Finder: Select this if you want to change the name of the file on your local computer. This preserves the name currently in the Air workspace and opens the path for the file in a Finder window for you to modify the file name.
Rename in Air: Select this if you want to change the name of the item in the Air workspace. This preserves the name on your local computer and opens Air in your web browser to the path where the asset is located for you to modify the file name.
Once you have selected your renaming preference and made the modification for the detected duplicate, click Retry to resume syncing.
Note: In some cases, you may see an option to Pull from Cloud. Use this if you want to discard your local version and replace it with the version from the Air workspace. If you have unsaved local changes you want to keep, save a copy of the file outside the Air folder before selecting this option.
Prevent duplicates
You can minimize the risk of sync conflicts by following a few best practices:
Enable 'Automatically resolve duplicates': Air Flow takes care of all duplicates detected and you don't have to lift a finger. Air Flow will identify the duplicate, append a unique suffix to the file name, and proceed with syncing.
Establish naming conventions: Ensure your team uses unique names for files and folders to avoid accidental collisions.
Wait for sync completion: Before performing bulk moves or renames, check that your Air Flow status is "Everything is up to date."
Coordinate offline work: If you know you will be working offline, try to avoid editing files that others are actively working on.
Unable to resolve the duplicate error using the steps above? Our support team is here to help. Contact us using the messenger icon below to start a chat or email our team at help@air.inc. Include the following information to speed up the troubleshooting process:
Your Air Flow logs folder (accessible via Air Flow Settings > Preferences > Advanced).
Timestamps of when the error occurred.
The specific board path where the affected files are located.