Cog freezing due to Sandbox bookmarks to network resources timing out

[JacobusdeKerle]

I just upgraded from Catalina on my 2015 MB Air (to hopefully be able to run another app, which didn't work) and now find that COG locks up with a previously-chosen folder. Won't play it, can't clear it. I used to just be able to drop & drag from from whatever folder on my MBA or from a network drive attached to another Mac but no longer. I wasn't previously even aware of choosing a folder to play files, I just dragged them in. I then updated to the most recent version of COG, which didn't help, so restored this version from Time Machine. Can't find any Application support files to clear. Apparently no option to "Clear menu" so that any previous file links or folder choices are cleared? Worked perfectly well on Catalina.

[kode54]

Please visit the General page of preferences and clear the folder list of invalid folders by right clicking and clearing invalid. It will take just as long to open the General preferences, due to an annoying shortcoming in macOS's bookmarked folders system, which Cog uses to remember security access to files and shares.

It will take approximately one minute per bookmark.

Alternately, if you feel comfortable with a Sqlite editor of some sort, you can drop all the entries from the Sandbox bookmarks table, then later recreate it by right clicking on the General Preferences pane for the folder listing and asking it to suggest paths for you to bookmark. Just delete the row items from the ZSANDBOXTOKEN table when Cog isn't running, then restart it.

The path suggester tries to allow you to pick the shallowest folders if you want, or you can use deep folder bookmarks, but there will likely be more of them.

[kode54]

Basically, the cleanup of all sandbox settings for a rebuild later:

1. Open Terminal.app
2. Run sqlite3 ~/Library/Containers/org.cogx.cog/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Cog/DataModel.sqlite
3. Allow the application data access prompt that appears either when you complete this command, or while you're tab-completing folders into the ~/Library/Containers/ directory.
4. Execute the query: delete from ZSANDBOXTOKEN
5. Exit sqlite3 by pressing ctrl+D

[kode54]

This is a more general problem with file and folder bookmarks of network shares and resources. Unfortunately, SMB shares have an incredible timeout duration of at least a minute, and the system holds the calling app on the timeout completely, especially if the sharing server is not responsive or offline, or even no longer existent.

[JacobusdeKerle]

Thanks. Not all that familiar with messing about in Terminal but I'll risk a dive in. The problem isn't just with remote files (on a HD attached to an old iMac) but initially with local folders on my MBA. I just want to get it back to good ol' drag & drop :)

[JacobusdeKerle]

Couldn't get anywhere with Terminal... :( Went to the General Preferences page and deleted any invalid paths, then cleared all links. This happened pretty much instantly (??) Still havea folder in the playlist window, though...

[kode54]

Now right click on the list in General and choose Suggest Paths, and add at least the folder configured for the file tree.

[JacobusdeKerle]

Well, yes, that works :) Problem is, not all my audio fles are in the same "home" folder. I usually keep them on an external drive attached to my old iMac, but some newer downloads are on the MBA, which is why opening a blank window in COG and then navigating to the desied folder in FInder, then dropping in whatever files was so convenient. Now I'm navigating in COG rather than the FInder, which seems a litlte more fussy, but it works :) (And it would work better if my music files were better organized!)

Many thanks :)