Uploading files to Drop Box using WebDAV

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Introduction

WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) allows you to upload and download large files, multiple files, or folders of files to your course or project site more easily.

Before you set up WebDAV, at least one object (i.e., file or folder) must be in the destination Drop Box tool. For instructions on adding files without using WebDAV, see Adding, editing, or deleting an item in Drop Box.

Saving files directly to WebDAV (i.e., from within an application, such as Word, Excel, or Internet Explorer) does not work reliably. For best results, save the file to your computer first, and then upload it to your site.

Note: Filenames that include certain characters cannot be accepted. For a list of unsupported characters, see Unsupported characters.

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Using Windows Vista

Note: Connecting to your site's Resources using WebDAV on a computer running Windows Vista does not work reliably. Developers are currently investigating this issue. However, Microsoft has a software update available that may help correct connection problems for some users. For information about the update and how to download it, see article 907306 at the Microsoft Help and Support web site.

Search Microsoft Help and Support.

To add a shortcut to your Windows Vista computer that allows you to upload and access files in Drop Box using WebDAV:

  1. From the desktop, click Computer.

  2. Click Map Network Drive.

  3. On the Map Network Drive screen, click Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures, and then click Next.

  4. Click Choose a custom network location, and then click Next.

  5. In the "Internet or network address" field, enter a URL that points to the destination Drop Box tool, and then click Next.

    Contact your site administrator for the URL's format. It will likely include the siteID for your site.

    Note: For instructions on finding your siteID, see Determining your site's siteID.

You may now drag and drop folders between your computer and the sites to which you just connected. To delete an item, right-click it and select Delete.

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Using Windows XP

To use the Add Network Place Wizard to add a shortcut to your computer that allows you to upload and access files in Drop Box using WebDAV:

  1. On the desktop, double-click My Network Places.

  2. In the "Network Tasks" pane, click Add a network place.

  3. On the welcome screen, click Next.

  4. Select Choose another network location, and then click Next.

  5. In the "Internet or network address:" field, enter a URL that points to the destination Drop Box tool.

    Contact your site administrator for the URL's format. It will likely include the siteID for your site.

    Note: For instructions on finding your siteID, see Determining your site's siteID.

You may now drag and drop folders between your computer and the sites to which you just connected. However, you cannot delete items from a site by dragging them to the Recycle Bin on your desktop. To delete an item, right-click it and select Delete.

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Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard)

To use WebDAV to upload and access files in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard):

  1. In the Finder, press Command-k . (Alternatively, from the Go menu, choose Connect to Server.)

  2. In the "Server Address:" field, enter the URL that points to the destination Resources tool.

    Contact your site administrator for the URL's format; it will likely include the siteID for your site.

    Note: For instructions on finding your siteID, see Determining your site's siteID.

You may now drag and drop folders between your computer and the sites to which you just connected.

Optionally, you may click the + (plus sign) to the right of the server address after you enter it, and the server will be added to your list of favorite servers.

When you log in, you can choose to have the passphrase remembered in your Keychain. If you do this, you will not be prompted for a passphrase when you log into your personal Resources or the Resources for any site to which you have access. Do not do this unless your computer is secured from use by others.

Note: When you use WebDAV to access resources using this method, you may notice that .DS_store files are being created. Apple's knowledge base provides instructions for eliminating this behavior.

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Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) and earlier

Using WebDAV to upload and access files in Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) and earlier requires a third-party client called Goliath.

Note: Goliath has some known performance issues, and may not work 100% of the time. Because of this, only limited support is available if you experience problems.

You can download a free copy of Goliath from:

http://www.webdav.org/goliath/installs/Goliath1_0_1.dmg.gz

Once you have downloaded the file, double-click it to decompress it. Then double-click the resulting .dmg file. A disk image named Goliath 1.0.1 should now be available. Then:

  1. Drag and drop the Goliath folder contained within the disk image to your hard disk.

  2. Open the Goliath application.

  3. In the "Server Address:" field, enter the URL that points to the destination Resources tool.

    Contact your site administrator for the URL's format; it will likely include the siteID for your site.

    Note: For instructions on finding your siteID, see Determining your site's siteID.

The first time you attempt to connect, you may be prompted to accept a certificate for the site. Click OK if prompted.

You may now drag and drop folders between your computer and the sites to which you just connected.

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