iCloud files missing after Yosemite update

[AJB1971]

After upgrading to Yosemite, I noticed that some of my iCloud files were missing.

I’d done a clean install, set my machine up as a new Mac and used Migration Assistant to transfer my data. I didn’t transfer everything, just the applications and documents I wanted.

I knew I hadn’t deleted the files and my other iCloud files were there.

Fortunately, I found out that iWork files stored in iCloud are automatically kept in the ~/Library/Mobile Documents of your Mac and you can retrieve them from your Time Machine backup.

By default, the library folder is hidden and you have to use the following instructions to find it -
http://ianlunn.co.uk/articles/quickly-showhide-hidden-files-mac-os-x-mavericks/

By navigating through the last backup, rather than using the Time Machine application, I was able to recover the folders for Numbers and Pages.

Comparing the folders, I found that, for Numbers, my iCloud account had 18 files and yet the recovered folder had 21 files and, for Pages, the iCloud backup had 11 files and the recovered folder had 14 files.

I don’t understand why some of the files were missing.

I would say that I didn’t transfer all of my data using Migration Assistant. There was around 192Mb of ‘Other’ data which I decided not to transfer. I assumed that as my Numbers and Pages files were stored in iCloud they would not be affected by the transfer.

So, if you’ve just upgraded, I would suggest you check that all of your iCloud files are still there. Once the Time Machine backup has been overwritten, there would be no way to recover this information.

 

[theSeb]

Have you actually opened your apps that you have used to create files in iCloud? For me, some of the files only appeared in the "iCloud" location, once I opened the app.

 

[AJB1971]

My first thought was to log into my iCloud.com account and the files were missing from there as well.

I've tried opening a different file and reopening Numbers, but the files are definitely not there.

 

[AJB1971]

I opened up another Numbers file which was stored in iCloud, strangely it was an old version of the file. The copy I retrieved from my Time Machine backup was up to date.

The file was only ever kept in iCloud, so I can't understand why it should be different.

I’m also getting the following message when I click on an iCloud file -

‘Modifications aren’t in sync. Choose which version to keep.’
‘Modified on username’s iPad’
‘Modified on iCloud’

The dates and times are the same for both files, so I figure it doesn’t really matter which file I choose. I rarely use Numbers and Pages on my iPad.