If the files were all available locally, you could just do Reset File Sync History from the Sync pane of the app settings, but I've gone ahead and relinked all available files in your account.
many thanks Dan - this is a relief. I have several installations created over many years and no single installation has all the files in local storage.
I got confused by the messaging on the data purge function. It might be worth adding a clarifying caution to not purge unless all files are stored to a single local installation. My situation (many installations over many years with the 'as needed' sync setting to shorten setup time and preserve local storage) might be pretty common.
Whether you have files in a single location isn't relevant. Why did you try to use that option to begin with? What were you trying to accomplish? It's really very specific to what it says:
Use this to free up space for group libraries you own after disabling file syncing for My Library or switching to WebDAV storage.
I wanted to create a new group library but my storage was almost full - so 'free up storage for group libraries' was my goal.
I've had some big group libraries in the past that I've stopped syncing and I couldn't tell whether those old group libraries were taking up storage space, and I assumed that since purging doesn't touch local storage that my local files in my active installations would re-populate the remote storage on sync, but this didn't happen. My suggestion about local file storage is meant as a layer of protection against mistakes. As you suggested in your initial response, if all files are in one local installation a user could restore if they make the same mistake I did.
It doesn't matter whether you have the files all on one device. You would just need a copy somewhere.
I've had some big group libraries in the past that I've stopped syncing and I couldn't tell whether those old group libraries were taking up storage space
1) The storage page tells you how much space each library is taking up.
2) The option is "Purge Storage in My Library" — it doesn't apply to groups. So it wouldn't make sense to use it for what you describe. If you don't want group libraries you own to take up space anymore, you need to actually delete them.
Upgrade Storage
I got confused by the messaging on the data purge function. It might be worth adding a clarifying caution to not purge unless all files are stored to a single local installation. My situation (many installations over many years with the 'as needed' sync setting to shorten setup time and preserve local storage) might be pretty common.
I've had some big group libraries in the past that I've stopped syncing and I couldn't tell whether those old group libraries were taking up storage space, and I assumed that since purging doesn't touch local storage that my local files in my active installations would re-populate the remote storage on sync, but this didn't happen. My suggestion about local file storage is meant as a layer of protection against mistakes. As you suggested in your initial response, if all files are in one local installation a user could restore if they make the same mistake I did.
2) The option is "Purge Storage in My Library" — it doesn't apply to groups. So it wouldn't make sense to use it for what you describe. If you don't want group libraries you own to take up space anymore, you need to actually delete them.