Web Folders and Shared Locations

What is WebDAV?

You can use WebDAV to share files over the internet. WebDAV is compatible with most operating systems. When you set up WebDAV, also called a web folder, you can manage all the files for your course.

On a Mac, you'll set up a shared location rather than a web folder.

Use web folders to perform these actions:

• Create folders and easily move items between folders.
• Rename and remove files and folders.
• Drag content from multiple drives and folders into the web folder or shared location.
• Easily view and edit a file in a web folder. You don't have to download the file, edit it, and upload it again.

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About file names

These characters are acceptable to use in file names:

• a-z
• 0-9
• period '.'
• underscore '_'

All standard ISO 8859 characters are also supported. No foreign characters or symbols are allowed.

All spaces are converted to underscores '_' in the name of the uploaded file. Special characters aren't supported in file names.

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Set up a web folder for Microsoft Windows^©

To connect to a web folder, use the web address of the Course Files folder and a valid username and password.

1. In Course Files, select Set Up Web Folder for the top-level folder. Starting from this location ensures WebDAV access to all folders contained in Course Files. You can choose any folder inside Course Files, but the web folder path must be fewer than 240 characters. Each folder chosen has a different address.
2. On the Using Web Folders page, right-click and copy the URL that appears for Current Web address. You'll paste the address in later steps.
   
3. From the Start Menu in Windows, select Documents > My Documents. Select My Network Places in the left frame.
4. Select Add a network place from the Network Tasks menu.
5. In the Add Network Place Wizard, select Choose another network location to create a shortcut.
6. Paste the URL for the web folder you copied earlier and select Next.
7. If prompted, type your Blackboard Learn username and password. Type a name for the network place and select Next. Select Finish to close the wizard. You may be prompted again for a username and password.
8. The web folder opens and displays the files and folders in the Course Files folder.

Move files to the web folder

1. With the web folder open, navigate to the folder where you'd like to add files or folders.
2. In a separate window, locate the folder on your computer containing the files and folders you want to transfer.
3. With your folder and the web folder open, you can drag and drop files or folders to move items between them. Select an item and drag it to the destination folder. Drop it into the folder by releasing the mouse button. Files and folders moved to the web folder are copied to Course Files.
4. If you prefer, you can also use copy and paste to move files between the web folder and a location on your computer.
5. In Course Files, select Refresh to view the uploaded files.

After you copy all files and folders, disconnect from the web folder. If you don't disconnect, the server connection remains open until you shut down the computer. If you use a computer that others use, they'll have access to everything in Course Files.

When you need to use the web folder in the future, access My Network Places and select the web folder shortcut you created.

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Set up a shared location for Mac^©

To connect to a web folder, called a shared location for the Mac, use the web address of the Course Files folder and a valid username and password.

1. In Course Files, select Set Up Shared Location for the top-level folder. Starting from this location ensures WebDAV access to all folders contained in Course Files. You can select any folder inside Course Files, but the shared location path must be fewer than 240 characters. Each selected folder has a different address.
2. On the Using Shared Location page, copy the URL that appears for Current Web address. You'll paste the address in later steps.
   
3. 
   On the Finder bar, select Go > Connect to Server.
4. In the Connect to Server window, paste the URL you copied in step 2 into the Server Address box. Select Connect.

   Select the plus sign next to the pasted address to include it in the Favorite Servers box. When you save the address as a favorite server, you won't have copy and paste it each time. In the future, start with step 3 to connect to this shared location.

5. If the WebDAV File System Authentication window appears, type your Blackboard Learn login username and password. Select OK.
6. After you are connected to the shared location, the Mac network icon appears on your desktop. Double-click the icon to open the shared location. The shared location displays the files and folders in the Course Files.

Move files to the shared location

1. With the shared location open, navigate to the folder where you'd like to add files or folders.
2. In a separate window, navigate to the folder on your computer containing the files and folders you want to transfer.
3. With your folder and the shared location open, you can drag and drop files or folders to move items between them. Select an item and drag it to the destination folder. Drop it into the folder by releasing the mouse button. Files and folders moved to the shared location are copied to Course Files.
4. If you prefer, you can also use copy and paste to move files between the shared location and a location on your computer.
5. In Course Files, select Refresh on the action bar to view the uploaded files.

After using the shared location, some files may appear with duplicate file names that begin with "._" or ".DS Store." You can safely delete them from Course Files.

When you have copied all files and folders, close the window and drag the Mac network icon to the trash to disconnect from the shared location. If you don't disconnect, the icon and server connection remain open until you shut down the computer. If you use a computer that others use, they'll have access to everything in Course Files.