Does deleting SyncKey only delete the local copy?

Codebook Issues
1

I’m installing Codebook on a new computer. When I attempt to restore from Dropbox I get an error “The Sync Key stored in this instance of Codebook is unable to open the changesets database.”

This is what I’ve done:

  1. Installed Codebook.
  2. Logged on and created Master Password (same password as on my other devices. Side question - does the password need to be the same?)
  3. Called up the word list on my phone and entered it into new computer.
  4. Tried to restore and got the error message.
  5. Removed Codebook.
  6. Rebooted computer.
  7. Reinstalled Codebook.
  8. When I opened Codebook it did not prompt me to set a Master Password, and the password I entered on my first install worked.
  9. Attempt to restore from Dropbox and got same error.
  10. Attempted to re-enter word list - option not available.

It looks like the removal did not remove everything.

Additional Information:

  1. Dropbox is still syncing on my new computer.

Questions:

  1. What do you recommend I do?
  2. If I delete the SyncKey on my new compter will that only delete the local copy and I’ll get prompted to enter a word list or scan a QR from my phone.?
  3. How come the renoval didn’t remove everything? Documentation led me to believe it would.
  4. Do I need to use the same Master Passwod on all my devices?

Thanks

2

Hi @edbeckphotography

Thanks for using Codebook and reaching out. I’ll be happy to help.

“The Sync Key stored in this instance of Codebook is unable to open the changesets database.”

This error message indicates that your Codebook Sync Key on your new device doesn’t exactly match the Codebook Sync Key used to encrypt the changes previously synced to Dropbox. Some of the words in the word list can be similar, so it’s important to ensure you’re entering the word list exactly as it appears on the source device.

same password as on my other devices. Side question - does the password need to be the same?

No, the Codebook Master Password on each device is used to encrypt your locally stored Codebook data (on your device). It’s not required to have your Codebook Master Password be the same on each device. That being said, we typically recommend using the same Master Password on each device to make it easier for you to remember it.

When I opened Codebook it did not prompt me to set a Master Password, and the password I entered on my first install worked.

Your encrypted Codebook data on your device is stored separately from the Application installation, so uninstalling/reinstalling/updating Codebook will leave your Codebook data in place which is why you weren’t prompted to re-establish your local data.

Attempted to re-enter word list - option not available.

You’ll need to delete the (mismatched) Sync Key (locally) on the new device via Sync menu > Delete Sync Key. Then re-import the correct Sync Key by going to Sync menu > Setup Sync Key.

  1. Dropbox is still syncing on my new computer.

Do you mean Dropbox is still syncing on your old computer?

  1. What do you recommend I do?

Delete the mismatched Sync Key on your new device by going to Sync menu > Delete Sync Key, then re-import it via Sync menu > Setup Sync Key. Make sure you double check the word list from the source device (the one successfully syncing with Dropbox) to ensure you’re entering it exactly as it appears there. As a side note, it’s slightly easier to import your Sync Key via QR Code if your new device has a camera by choosing the Scan Sync Key option during import.

If I delete the SyncKey on my new compter will that only delete the local copy and I’ll get prompted to enter a word list or scan a QR from my phone.?

Correct, deleting the Sync key via Sync menu > Delete Sync Key will only delete the Sync Key on the device you’re performing the action on and then you can re-import the correct Sync Key.

How come the renoval didn’t remove everything? Documentation led me to believe it would.

Your encrypted Codebook data on your device is stored separately from the Application installation so uninstalling/removing Codebook won’t remove your Codebook data. Could you link over what documentation you saw?

Do I need to use the same Master Passwod on all my devices?

No you can use different Master Password on each device if you’d prefer. We typically recommend using the same Master Password on all devices to avoid confusion.

Let me know if you’re able to sync with Dropbox on your new device after deleting the mismatched Sync Key and re-importing the correct one. I’ll be happy to help if you have any questions or run into any issue along the way. Thanks!

3

First, thanks for the quick reply.

Second, I still have the error but have done more digging. The problem is that when I tell Codebook to restore from Dropbox it opens up a browser, goes to Dropbox and says Codebook would like to connect. All normal, and I’ve done this before, but this time I get “Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419”.

I originally was using MS Edge, when it failed with that error message I installed and made Firefox my default browser.

I’ve been trying things today, the latest of which was to do these steps in this order:
.
Edit:
I re-entered the word list, triple checking it, but given the error I’m getting I wonder if it’s even getting that far.
/Edit

  1. Unlinked Codebook from Dropbox
  2. Rebooted
  3. Opened ESET Network and saw that my network was untrusted, so I trusted it.
  4. Codebook: File → Preferences → Sync → Enable sync with Dropbox
  5. Opened Firefox and went to my online Dropbox
  6. Codebook: Sync → Operation → Restore from Dropbox
  7. Firefox (Dropbook page): Codebook would like to connect… I clicked Allow
  8. Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419.
  9. Uninstalled Codebook
  10. Rebooted
  11. Downloaded and installed Codebook
  12. ESET: Disabled firewall
  13. Opened Codebook
  14. Ensured Dropbox is running
  15. Codebook: File → Preferences → Sync → Enable sync with Dropbox
  16. Codebook: Sync → Operation → Restore from Dropbox
    17.Firefox (Dropbook page): Codebook would like to connect… I clicked Allow
  17. Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419.
  18. Turned my firewall back on.

This is on a new Windows 11 Pro machine. I checked Windows Defender firewall settings, it said that these settings are being managed by ESET.

I did open up my router to have a look, but to be honest that stuff is magic to me.

Any ideas?

4

@edbeckphotography

Thanks for the response with the further details, although I’m sorry to hear about the continued trouble. Could you confirm that Codebook for Windows is open and unlocked for the entire time while you’re sent out to the browser and click “allow” (to allow Codebook access to Dropbox in the Firefox web browser).

After allowing Codebook access to Dropbox, it should redirect you back into Codebook and start the restore, but this won’t be possible if Codebook is locked/closed.

Could you double check what you have your auto lock timer set to in Codebook for Windows? That setting can be found under File menu > Preferences > General Tab, Automatically Lock Codebook After, if you have that set to a low value, could you increase it to 1 hour + and retry the restore with Dropbox again.

Let me know the results. Thanks!

5

Strange times. I still got the Dropbox error, BUT Codebook is working. Maybe it was scanning through a QR code. I used to work tech support so I’m used to writing everything down as I go through troubleshooting:

  1. Codebook: Opened Code book and check Autolock set to 5 minutes.
  2. Codebook: Reset to 1 hour.
  3. Codebook: Tried to restore. Dropbox page did not open to ask for permissions. Got “The Sync Key stored in this instance of Codebook is unable to open the changesets database”
    4.Firefox: Opened Dropbox web page.
  4. Codebook: Exited Codebook
  5. Codebook: Opened Codebook and confirmed Automatic lock after 1 hour.
  6. Codebook: Unlinked Dropbox.
  7. Codebook: Restore from Dropbox.
  8. Firefox: Allowed access.
  9. Firefox: Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419.
  10. Codebook: The Sync Key stored in this instance of Codebook is unable to open the changesets database.
  11. Codebook: Deleted Sync Key.
  12. Codebook: Unlinked Dropbox.
  13. Codebook: Setup Sync Key
  14. Codebook: Scan QR Code. (In the past I’ve scanned QR codes to sync. I needed a web cam anyway so I bought one)
  15. Codebook: Entered Master Password associated with QR code.
  16. Codebook: Sync Key Imported
  17. Codebook: Enable Sync with Dropbox , not linked
  18. Codebook: Confirmed Auto lock set to 1 hour
  19. Codebook: Restore from Dropbox.
  20. Firefox: Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419

BUT…
22. Codebook: Codebook downloaded data and it looks like everything is here.
23 .Codebook: Generated test entry in Codebook.
24. Codebook: Sync with Dropbox.
25. Open Codebook on phone.
26. Phone: Sync with Dropbox.
27. Phone: Test entry is present. Category, email, and password check.
28. Phone: Deleted test entry.
29. Phone: Sync with Dropbox.
30. Codebook: Sync with Dropbox.
31. Codebook: Confirmed test entry deleted.
32. Codebook: Reset auto lock to 5 minutes.

So, which step was the magic bullet?

  • I didn’t do anything with the firewall this time.
  • I should have said before, but this is an Ethernet connection, didn’t even attach the gear to the computer to connect via WiFi.

Thanks for all your help.

6

@edbeckphotography

Glad to hear you’re back in business and thanks for outlining the troubleshooting steps you ran through.

So, which step was the magic bullet?

For the original error (Sync Key Mismatch) it was almost definitely scanning the QR Code which did the trick. Some of the words in the Sync Key Word List can be similar, and with auto-suggest pre-populating similar suggestions, there’s a propensity to enter a word incorrectly. We have considered having some sort of “verification word” (a 21st word) in the past, which would ensure the word list was entered correctly.

When scanning the Sync Key QR code instead (the preferred import method assuming your device has a camera), there isn’t this propensity as the Sync Key is imported directly (after being decrypted with the Master Password).

  1. Firefox: Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at localhost:57419

Because your devices properly linked with Dropbox after going through the authorization flow, I suspect this is an erroneous error:

I feel like we may have seen this in the past with certain browsers, but I’ll double check with the rest of the team to confirm.

I suspect the firewall and connection type both didn’t come into play here.

I’ll post back up here with some additional info once I consult with the rest of the team and confirm about the “Firefox can’t establish connection…” error.

7

I’m very willing to believe I entered one of the words incorrectly, but I triple checked it and I only entered the word into the box by hitting tab once it was highlighted.

8

@edbeckphotography

One quick question about your Firefox settings when you get a chance:

Do you happen to have HTTPS-Only mode enabled?

When Dropbox completes “allowing” Codebook, it attempts to redirect to a non-Https URL, if you have HTTPS-Only mode enabled, it could be trying to upgrade the connection from http → https which might be the cause of this error in the browser.

There’s information about how to check whether that’s enabled here: HTTPS-Only Mode in Firefox | Firefox Help