How to Use WebFiles

• Accessing WebFiles
• Default home directory settings
• Opening folders
• Creating folders
• Viewing and downloading files
• Uploading files
• Deleting files and folders
• Copying and pasting files and folders
• Cutting and pasting files and folders
• Setting folder permissions
• Managing groups
• Additional group lists
• Using shared spaces
• Understanding latest backup

Accessing WebFiles

To access WebFiles, do the following:

1. Visit https://webfiles.duke.edu.
   
2. Log in using your NetID and password. WebFiles displays the contents of your home directory.
   

Default home directory settings

By default, your home (root) directory is set with lookup permissions for Everyone (guest users). This means that all WebFiles users can see the names of your directories and files, but not the contents of the files. This default setting is necessary to provide the Personal Web space and DukeStream Personal streaming services from within your WebFiles home directory. If you have files that you wish to keep private, use the Private folder as described below.

The following directories are automatically created in your home directory when your account is established:

• Private - Only you have access to this directory. No other user can see the contents. Place any files you want to remain private here.
• public - All WebFiles users have read-only access to this directory, and can view the file contents.
  
• public_html - This directory is used to contain the files for your Personal Web space. All WebFiles users have read-only access to this directory, and can view the file contents.

Opening folders

To open a folder, do one of the following:

• Click the folder name. The folder contents are displayed.
• In the toolbar, click GoTo. In the Location box, type the desired folder path and click Go.

To return to a previous folder, do one of the following:

• Use your browser's Back button.
• In the toolbar, click Go Up.
  

To return to your root directory, click the Home tab. See the example below.

Creating folders

To create a new folder, do the following:

1. Navigate to the directory (folder) where you'd like to create the new folder.
   
2. Under Folder Properties, click Create a New Folder. The Create a New Folder window appears.
   
3. Type the desired folder name and click Create. The new folder is displayed.
   

Viewing and downloading files

To view a file, click the file name. Depending on the file type, one of the following occurs:

• WebFiles displays the file.
• The file downloads, and may open in the appropriate application.
  
• You'll be prompted to download the file or return to the parent directory.

To download a file, click the Download icon in the column to the right of the file name.

Uploading files

To upload a file, do the following:

1. Navigate to the desired directory (folder).
   
2. Under Folder Properties, click Upload File(s). The Upload Files to AFS window opens.
3. Click Browse to navigate to and select the desired file. 
4. (Optional) To upload more than one file, click Add Another File.
5. (Optional) To replace a file with a newer version of the same file, click to select the Overwrite files during upload checkbox.
   
6. Click Upload File(s). The file is uploaded.
   

Deleting files and folders

To delete a file or folder, do the following:

1. Navigate to the desired file or folder.
2. Click to select the file's or folder's checkbox.
3. Under Selected Items Properties, click Delete Selected Item(s).
4. At the prompt Are you sure you want to delete [filename], click OK.

Copying and pasting files and folders

To copy and paste a file or folder, do the following:

1. Navigate to the desired file or folder.
2. Click to select the file's or folder's checkbox.
3. Under Selected Items Properties, click Copy Selected Item(s). In the toolbar, a confirmation message appears.
4. Navigate to the desired directory (folder).
5. Under Folder Properties, click Paste to This Folder. In the toolbar, a confirmation message appears.

Cutting and pasting files and folders

To cut and paste a file or folder, do the following:

NOTE: If you cut a file or folder and your browser closes unexpectedly or your computer crashes before you paste it to a new directory, you will lose your data! While it may take a little longer to copy and paste the files and then manually delete the originals, it is a much safer practice.

1. Navigate to the desired file or folder.
2. Click to select the file's or folder's checkbox.
   
3. Under Selected Items Properties, click Cut Selected Item(s). In the toolbar, a confirmation message appears.
4. Navigate to the desired directory (folder).
5. Under Folder Properties, click Paste to This Folder. In the toolbar, a confirmation message appears.

Setting folder permissions

To set permissions on a folder, do the following:

1. Navigate to the desired folder.
2. Click to select the folder's checkbox.
3. Under Selected Items Properties, click Set Permissions for Folder. The Permissions Manager opens.
4. In the Add Group and/or Add User box(es), type the desired name. TIP: To find a user, click Find. Group names must be in the format NetID:groupname.
5. Under Change Settings, click the desired permission (none, read only, read-write, or dropbox).
6. (Optional) Click Advanced View to see addtional options.
7. Click Save Permissions.

If you need assistance with permissions, click Help.

Managing groups

To create a group, do the following:

1. Click the Manage Groups tab.
2. Under Manage Your Groups, click Create a New Group. The Create a New Group window appears.
3. Type a group name and click Create. The group is created and listed under Groups You Own. 
   

NOTE: You can have a total of 20 personal groups.

To add members to a group, do the following:

1. Click to select the group name.
2. In the window that appears, type the member's NetID. If you don't know the NetID, type the user's name and click Find.
3. Click Add.
   

To add additional members, repeat steps 1 and 2.

To remove a member from a group, click Remove to the left of the user's NetID.

Additional group lists

If you are a faculty member or student, the Shared Spaces tab will display a list of your courses. By default, students have "read-only" permissions, teaching assistants have "read-write" permissions, and faculty have full administrative control over the space.

If you are a member of another user's personal group, you will see that group under Other Users' Personal Groups To Which You Belong. You may contact the group's owner by selecting "email owner".

You may see a list of System Groups To Which You Belong. These groups are related to the management of OIT computing systems.

Using shared spaces

The Shared Spaces tab displays sections for your personal web space (which includes your DukeStream Personal streaming space), Project Shared Space, and Departmental and Organizational Web Spaces. These sections will only display if you have access to them. 

Publishing your personal Web site

• If it is displayed, click Create public_html to create the required directory. 
• To upload your Web content, click Upload to public_html.

Publishing streaming media

NOTE: Quicktime is the only format currently available for DukeStream Personal streaming.

• If it is displayed, click Create Streaming to create a DukeStream Personal directory within your personal home directory.
• To upload streaming media, click Upload to Streaming.  
  

Understanding latest backup

Use Latest Backup to recover files or folders. When you click the Latest Backup tab, the following message alert displays: Using this feature will permanently replace any existing files and folders with the same name. You should rename or copy any current files and folders which you intend to recover in order to avoid losing the newer versions. To clear the message, click OK.

To recover a file or folder, do the following:

NOTE: Recovering a folder recovers the entire contents of the folder. We recommend you recover individual files if possible. 

1. Click to select the file's or folder's check box.
2. Click Recover to the right of the file or folder. The file or folder will be restored to its original location in your home directory.