With 4.4.0 auto upload stopped working

[ne20002]

Steps to reproduce

1. Shoot Photos

2. Do not open Nextcloud app for some time (days)

3. No auto upload / no increase of counter on app icon

4. Open Nextcloud app after some time (days)

5. Counter increases (detecting new photos)

6. Files are uploaded as long as the app is open / in foreground

Expected behaviour

At least not chunked photos and videos should be auto uploaded.

Actual behaviour

No auto upload at all

Environment data

iOS version: latest 15
Nextcloud iOS app version: 4.4.0
Server operating system: Debian bullseye
Web server: nginx, php-fpm docker
Database: postgres 13
Nextcloud version: 23.0.5

[dukey]

I believe this is related to the removal of the GPS code.  I also noticed that the upload in the background option has been removed. While I'm not a software developer, I imagine the "proper" solution would be to have Nextcloud server send a hidden notification to iOS clients to wake time up from time to time.  The client checks to see if there is anything to upload, and if there is, tells the server to wake it up on a more frequent basis so uploads process.  Once updates are completed, notifications resume at the original rate (maybe every 20 or 30 minutes) I imagine this would require changes in both the server code, as well as the iOS client.  Google, Amazon, Flicker, etc all seem to have the ability to upload in the background  without GPS. Other than manpower, I don't see a reason why Nextcloud can't see the same.

…

On Tue, 2022-05-31 at 00:13 -0700, ne20002 wrote: Steps to reproduce 1. Shoot Photos 2. Do not open Nextcloud app for some time (days) 3. No auto upload / no increase of counter on app icon 4. Open Nextcloud app after some time (days) 5. Counter increases (detecting new photos) 6. Files are uploaded as long as the app is open / in foreground Expected behaviourAt least not chunked photos and videos should be auto uploaded. Actual behaviourNo auto upload at all Environment dataiOS version: latest 15 Nextcloud iOS app version: 4.4.0 Server operating system: Debian bullseye Web server: nginx, php-fpm docker Database: postgres 13 Nextcloud version: 23.0.5 — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[jasondaigo]

I will miss this. Very sad they removed it.

[ne20002]

I don't think the intention was to remove the upload. In the comment @marinofaggiana mentioned that the upload in now anachronistic ... so I assume it shall be triggerd time based. But at least with my devive it does not seem to work.
But we all know that the backgroud upload in iOS is problematic due to iOS. I would really appreciate to have a rework/redesign for the upload, including chunked files in background, as I believe, the upload in background is a very important feature.

[jasondaigo]

delete pictures from iphone after upload option was also removed, idk.

[marinofaggiana]

Hi all, a bit of clarity:

• we have removed the GPS code for "detect" the new photo ? Yes ... why ?

1. Many users did not understand the reason for this choice and considered it almost a tracking system
2. Many users thought it limited the battery (False because the service did not use the true GPS but only the 3/4/5G interpolation of cells)
3. From several version Apple has introduced the Background processing, resolved ? NO but is a little more

• so how do I do it? ?

1. Put the phone on charge and you will see that sooner or later the iOS fetch will wake up the app that will start the routine. Unfortunately this is the best that can be done.

[marinofaggiana]

delete pictures from iphone after upload option was also removed, idk.

• Moved it here so works for all uploads (not only Auto upload)

[ne20002]

Put the phone on charge and you will see that sooner or later the iOS fetch will wake up the app that will start the routine. Unfortunately this is the best that can be done.

This is what I expected. Currently I haven't seen this behaviour.
:(

If/when this is working I'd really like to see chunk uploiads in background.

[fermulator]

@marinofaggiana
#2026 (comment)
i think a small mistake here was made
if the user previously had delete from camera roll enabled … since the change/move the setting is disabled :(
i had to come here to github to understand what was going on

[ne20002]

Hi @marinofaggiana

Now that there has been a few days since version 4.4.0 has been released I can confirm that background auto upload is indeed working. Even though it is triggered not as often as I would expect. It seems as if it really needs some time on the charger to kick in. If the iPhone is removed from the charger too soon after been fully charged it just does not upload.

I also see that big files or files bigger than the defined chunk size are still not auto uploaded. I request a change to the upload mechanism:

The uploads of big files in chunks does make sense in two scenarios:

a) limit the size of the http request payload and
b) be able to resume (an interrupted) upload (instead of starting again from beginning)

If it is possible to upload a small file in background it should also be possible to upload a chunk and to resume with next chunk the next time the background upload is triggered.

So this is what I'd like to have when the background processing is triggered:

a) a function to check for new files in the photo roll for upload and add those files to the upload list /queue. This function only needs to be processed at maybe every 15 minutes, so if the time from last call is less than that, just skip to the next function.

b) upload of next file or chunk.

1st) Check if a file smaller than chunksize is in the list

if yes -> upload the file
if no -> goto 2nd

2nd) check if a file for chunk upload exist with already uploaded chunks

if yes -> upload next chunk

if this has been last chunk:
check if all chunks are still available on server, if yes -> assemble file
if no: restart chunks missing on server

if no -> start with upload of first chunk of next file

then restart with function a)

With this approach small files (less than chunksize) will be uploaded with priority to keep the upload list shorter (easier to handle, big files don't block other uploads).
Also, big files shall be uploaded in background as well.

Would this be a possible way to do it?

[jstokholm]

Thank you for all your hard work.

Background autoupload of photos and videos was the main reason I set up a Nextcloud server.

Now it is not working anymore on any of our 5 family iPhones, which are the ones needed to be backed up automatically to avoid loosing precious photos. All are charging every night while Wi-Fi connected.

It worked flawlessly with the gps option on. It would indeed be a great thing, if you can bring back that feature - people afraid of tracking can just turn it off. But please let us choose this for ourselves.

[ne20002]

For me it is not really clear on when the auto upload happens. But this seems to be mainly caused by iOS behaviour. As it sometimes kicks in, I believe it is working (as much as possible in iOS).

[marinofaggiana]

For me it is not really clear on when the auto upload happens. But this seems to be mainly caused by iOS behaviour. As it sometimes kicks in, I believe it is working (as much as possible in iOS).

Exactly! Much as possible in iOS.

[twizzayy]

Sad to see the GPS syncing go. It worked flawlessly. I am missing photos on my server now. :(

[marinofaggiana]

Try the V 4.5