Creating a WebDAV Connection with Mac OS X

 

WebDAV is an abbreviation for Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning. It is a protocol designed to make the World Wide Web a readable and writeable medium. WebDAV provides the functionality to create, change and move documents on a remote server (like QShare) as if they were stored in a local directory on your personal computer.

If you are using WebDAV and a WebDAV-enabled application, you will be able to open, edit, and save files to your QShare, just like it was another hard drive in your computer. You can also drag and drop files, or cut and paste them, directly into your WebDAV-enabled Folder.

If you have the correct permissions to a directory, you will also be able to use WebDAV to connect to their directory.

Note: The following characters MAY cause errors, and should not be used in file names:

< > # % " { } | \ ^ [ ] `

 

Before you can use WebDAV you will need to configure it. Step-by-step instructions for configuring WebDAV are available below.

 

Before you begin...

 

To configure a WebDAV connection, you will need to know the Server Address of your QShare account. This will include the URL for QShare (https://qshare.queensu.ca) followed by the directory path to your files on the QShare server. If you are not sure of your QShare directory path, log on to QShare, and look under Bookmarks for the path to your Home directory.

Configure Your WebDAV Connection To QShare

 

• From the Finder menu bar
• Select Go
• From the Go sub-menu, select Connect to Server...
  
  

• The Connect to Server screen will open
• In the Server Address dialogue box, enter your QShare address.
  
  
  To configure WebDAV to access our helpdesk account we will enter: https://qshare.queensu.ca/Users01/helpdesk (note: this subdirectory will not be the same for every user. Go to the Before you begin.. section in this document to find out what your subdirectory is.)
• You can save this address in the Favorite Servers: dialogue box, by clicking the button. Once the server address is listed in the Favorite Servers section, you will be able to click on the address, and it will be entered into the Server Address: dialogue box for you.
• Click the Connect button at the bottom of the screen
• If you have access to other people's QShare directories or Group directorys, follow the same instructions to create multiple entries.

• The Connecting To Server screen will open while the connection is being made. Note: if you have a fast connection, you may not see this screen.

• The WebDAV File System Authentication screen will open
• In the Name dialogue box, enter your userID (NetID)
• In the Password dialogue box, enter your password.
• Note: You have the option of having the password saved to the Keychain. If you want to do this, check the box beside Remember this password in my keychain.
• Click the OK button at the bottom of the screen.

• If you entered an incorrect address to your QShare account, you will receive the following error message. Confirm you have a network connection and your QShare address is correct.

• If you enter the wrong userid/password, you will receive the following error message.

• Once you successfully connect to your QShare account with WebDAV, you will be able to see all your QShare directories and files. Note: the left hand navigation menu in the screen shot below. Here you see the different drives available to you from your Mac's hard drive including the Helpdesk QShare (currently highlighted). On the Right hand side of the screen are the directories and files of the selected drive.
• You are ready to work with your files. To copy new files to your QShare, you can "Drag and Drop" them into the selected folder.
• To open a QShare file, click on the directory to open it, then click on the file you wish to open.
• The appropriate software (MS Word for example) will be launched and the file opened.
• When you are finished working on the file, save your file. It will be replaced in your QShare.

• Note: The following characters MAY cause errors when using WebDAV, and should not be used in file names.
  < > # % " { } | \ ^ [ ] ` 


• Note: If you receive an error message indicating you cannot save a file due to a permisisons error this likely indicates that you do not have delete permissions on the file. Some applications, MS Word for example, save a temporary file, delete the original, and then rename the temporary file to the original name.

• When you are finished working with your QShare files, you need to log out of QShare by Ejecting the drive
• Return to left hand navigation menu and click the eject button

• If you have an open file, you will not be allowed to eject the disk.

Improving WebDAV performance on Mac OS X

The Finder gives you the option of how you want to display your files: Icon View, List View, Column View and Cover Flow. Icon, List, and Column view all have an option called Show Preview Icon. This will give you a preview of each file. This is ok for your local hard drive, but this option on a networked drives like QShare can cause slow access.

It is recommended that you do not use the Show Preview Icon option when using WebDAV to connect to QShare.

• From the Finder menu
  • click the Show View Options
  
• The View Modes screen will open.   
  • Your choices are Column view, Icon view, and Lists view and Cover Flow view
  • Click the view you prefer to view your files in and make the recommended changes
  
• On the View Column screen 
  • Uncheck the box beside Show icon preview
  
• On the View Icon screen 
  • uncheck the box beside Show item info
  • Uncheck the box beside Show icon preview
  • the the button Use as Defaults
  
• On the View List
  • uncheck the box beside Calculate all sizes
  • uncheck the box beside show icon preview
  • Click the button Use as Defaults
  

The QShare FAQ also contains information on problems you may encounter when using QShare.  

 

This is the end of the WebDAV Tutorial. If you would like to view the other QShare tutorials, you can choose from the list below.

Ready to give QShare a try? Log on to QShare now.