ITS

Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services

QShare Decommissioning

Blackboard Xythos, the underlying application for the QShare service, has reached end of life. To prevent any security or operational risks presented by maintaining an unsupported application, IT Services has decommissioned the QShare service.

IT Services offers several tools that provide a similar functionality to QShare (i.e., the ability the store, share and distribute documents).

What do you need to do?

Choosing a solution depends on your needs. To help you get started, here are some general cases and potential solutions to consider. You can also view the full list of IT Services supported solutions directly: 

  1. Do you need to store individual working documents? Consider using OneDrive for Business.

  2. Do you need to collaborate on team or project-related documents? If so, how do you like to communicate? If you prefer a formal communication style, such as email, consider a SharePoint Online Team Site via an Outlook Group. If your communication style is more informal and you prefer chats and discussions, consider a SharePoint Online Team Site via Microsoft Teams or private Yammer group.

  3. Do you need to host a personal public web space? If so, if the content you're looking to host is related to research, publications or scholarly articles, check out the services offered by the Queen's University library, in case one of them would work for your needs. Otherwise, if the content is not actively maintained and you are interested in decommissioning your site, consider checking with the Queen's Web Archiving Service to see if your site is eligible. In the event that your content does not fit either of these cases, you may need to explore an external hosting solution.

  4. Do you need to host course-related content? If so, consider using onQ, or another Learning Management System (LMS) on campus.

  5. Do you need to store and share documents across your department or organizational unit? If so, is there a preference or business requirement for the content to be stored on-premise (Note: for guidance on records management, please contact Jordan Phoenix, Records Manager, Records Management and Privacy Office)? If the content only needs to be accessed by other Queen's users, consider storing your content on the Windows File Service. If there is a need to share documents with external users, consider moving these files to the Queen’s Wiki. If your content does not need to be stored on-premise, consider moving to a SharePoint Communication Site.

  6. Do you need to communicate and share files with with a broader audience? If so, is there a preference or business requirement for the content to be stored on-premise (Note: for guidance on records management, please contact Jordan Phoenix, Records Manager, Records Management and Privacy Office)? If so, consider using the Queen's Wiki. Otherwise, content can be added to a SharePoint Communication Site.

  7. If none of these cases fit your needs and you have questions about which solution is right for you, please contact IT Services. You can call the IT Support Centre at 613.533.6666, or submit an Online Help Form. We will work with you to help identify a solution that will meet your needs.

Diagram mapping possible qshare usage to potential IT services supported solution
*If you have questions about records management or would like guidance on whether to store documents on-premise, please contact Jordan Phoenix, Records Manager, Records Management and Privacy Office.

IT Services Supported Solutions

OneDrive for Business

Why should I choose OneDrive for Business?

OneDrive for Business allows users to securely create, edit, store and share documents. It is not intended for storing team or project-related documents but for individual working documents.

How do I get started with OneDrive for Business?

For help getting started with OneDrive for Business, visit the “Getting Started” section of the OneDrive for Business Service Page.

QShare to OneDrive for Business Feature Comparison
Feature QShare OneDrive for Business
Off-campus Access Yes  Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus In the Cloud, in Microsoft's Canadian data centers
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB 5 TB
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) No
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 15 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions In a personal QShare account: none. You are the owner of the account and cannot assign account ownership or account membership to other users. None. You are the owner of the account and cannot assign account ownership or account membership to other users.
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes, either via: 

  1. Granting individual users' permissions
  2. Granting a custom or LDAP group permissions
  3. Creating a ticket and granting permissions

Yes, either via: 

  1. Granting individual users' permissions
  2. Granting existing Microsoft 365 Groups permissions
  3. Granting access to anyone at Queen's with access to the link
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes, by creating a ticket and granting permissions

Yes, either by:

  1. Providing an anonymous link (can be time-limited and password protected*)
  2. Granting individual users' permission using an external email address 

*Password protecting anonymous links is a new feature that should be available to all users by August 2019
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and links can be set to allow users to: 

  1. View (i.e., read-only)
  2. Allow Editing (i.e., read, write, delete)

If a user has been granted View access, you can additionally block the ability for them to download.

There is no owner/administrator equivalent for sharing documents with users. However, if you've provided a user with direct edit access to a document, by default, they will be able to share the document with any other users. 
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes No, however you can receive a notification whenever OneDrive detects lots of files having been deleted at once, when others reply to your comments and when a link in a sharing email that you've sent was clicked.
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts A sync client is available which can be used to upload files to your OneDrive document library directly from your Windows File Explorer
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes No
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

SharePoint Online Team Site via Microsoft 365 Outlook Groups

Why should I choose an Outlook Group?

If you primarily communicate with other members of your team, project, study, etc., in a more formal, structured way but need a shared space to store and collaborate on common documents, creating an Microsoft 365 Group in Outlook is a good option.

All Outlook Groups come equipped with the following shared resources:

  • SharePoint Team Site - A central repository for information, links and content relating to your group
  • SharePoint Document Library: The group Files section will most closely resemble QShare functionality. This is where you can upload and edit documents. Individual folders and documents can be shared with other users at Queen’s or external users.
  • Calendar: Meetings and appointments can be booked in the group calendar
  • OneNote Notebook: The group Notebook can be used to store quick reference information and meeting notes
  • Email: Group members, other Queen’s users and external users can send emails to the group. All email communications sent to the group are stored in the group’s Conversation feed. Group members can also receive a copy of all emails sent to the group in their individual inbox.

How do I get started with an Outlook Group?

Review the Groups Service Page and the Group Usage Guidelines. Note that groups must have at least two owners and should never be created for individual use. Groups can be created via self-service.

QShare to Outlook Group Feature Comparison
Feature QShare Microsoft 365 Groups
Off-campus Access Yes Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus In the Cloud, in Microsoft's Canadian data centers
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB 10 GB
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) Yes
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 15 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

Yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Owners (Admin)
  2. Members (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Guests (External Users) (Add, Edit, Delete)
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

Yes
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

Yes
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and links can be set to allow users to: 

  1. View (i.e., read-only)
  2. Allow Editing (i.e., read, write, delete)

If a user has been granted View access, you can additionally block the ability for them to download.

There is no owner/administrator equivalent for sharing documents with users. However, if you've provided a user with direct edit access to a document, by default, they will be able to share the document with any other users. 
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts

Outlook group resources can be accessed from the Outlook client.

A sync client is also available which can be used to upload files to your group document library directly from your Windows File Explorer
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes No
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

SharePoint Online Team Site via Microsoft Teams

Why should I choose a Microsoft Team?

The advantage of creating a Microsoft Team is that is provides you with a real-time chat feature for all members of the team.

All Teams include:

  • SharePoint Team Site - A central repository for information, links and content relating to your group
  • SharePoint Document Library: The team Files section will most closely resemble QShare functionality. This is where you can upload and edit documents. Individual folders and documents can be shared with other users at Queen’s or external users.
  • OneNote Notebook: The team Notebook can be used to store quick reference information and meeting notes
  • Conversations: In contrast to the communication channel in an Outlook Group, Teams Conversations provide a real-time chat feature for quickly and informally communicating with all group members.

An Outlook Group can always be upgraded to an Microsoft Team, so if you require this functionality, you could begin by creating an Outlook Group and upgrading it to Teams. A Team cannot be converted into an Outlook Group.

How do I get started with a Microsoft Team?

Review the Teams Service Page and the Groups Service Page, as well as the Group Usage Guidelines. Note that a Team must have at least two owners and should never be created for individual use. A Team can be created via self-service.

QShare to Microsoft Teams Feature Comparison
Feature QShare Microsoft Teams
Off-campus Access Yes Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus

In the Cloud. Teams chat is in the North American data centers

SharePoint storage (i.e., document library) is in Canadian data centers
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB 10 GB
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) Yes
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 15 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Owners (Admin)
  2. Members (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Guests (External Users) (Add, Edit, Delete)
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

Yes
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

Yes
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and links can be set to allow users to: 

  1. View (i.e., read-only)
  2. Allow Editing (i.e., read, write, delete)

If a user has been granted View access, you can additionally block the ability for them to download.

There is no owner/administrator equivalent for sharing documents with users. However, if you've provided a user with direct edit access to a document, by default, they will be able to share the document with any other users. 
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts

Yes, a Teams desktop client is available

A sync client is also available which can be used to upload files to your Team document library directly from your Windows File Explorer
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes No
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

SharePoint Online Team Site via Microsoft Yammer Groups

Why should I choose a Microsoft Yammer Group?

Microsoft Yammer is a private social network that allows you to connect to others at Queen’s University. Every Yammer group comes equipped with:

  • SharePoint Team Site - A central repository for information, links and content relating to your group
  • SharePoint Document Library: The group’s document library will most closely resemble QShare functionality. This is where you can upload and edit documents. Individual folders and documents can be shared with other users at Queen’s or external users.
  • OneNote Notebook: The group Notebook can be used to store quick reference information and meeting notes
  • Yammer feed: The yammer feed allows group members to communicate using a Facebook-like group page. It allows you to add, like, share and reply to discussion posts, create groups polls, send praise and add group announcements.

How do I get started with a Microsoft Yammer Group?

To learn more about getting started with a Yammer group, visit the Yammer service page.

QShare to Microsoft Yammer Feature Comparison
Feature QShare Microsoft Yammer
Off-campus Access Yes Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus

In the Cloud, in Microsoft's US data centers
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB 10 GB
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) Yes
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 15 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Admins (add/remove users and assign/reassign other admins)
  2. Members (post to yammer feed, upload and access files and other shared resources

Groups can be either created as: 

  1. Public Access: Anyone at Queen's can view posts and documents
  2. Private Access: Only group members can view posts and documents
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

Yes
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

Yes
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

In a public group, anyone can see the posts and files that have been uploaded to the group. Anyone can join the group as a member, which grants them full access to shared resources

In a private group, only members and admins can see the posts and files in the group. Users must request to the join the group

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and links can be set to allow users to: 

  1. View (i.e., read-only)
  2. Allow Editing (i.e., read, write, delete)

If a user has been granted View access, you can additionally block the ability for them to download.

There is no owner/administrator equivalent for sharing documents with users. However, if you've provided a user with direct edit access to a document, by default, they will be able to share the document with any other users. 
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts

Yes, a Yammer desktop client is available. 

A sync client is also available which can be used to upload files to your group document library directly from your Windows File Explorer
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes Yes
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

SharePoint Online Communication Sites

Why should I choose a SharePoint Online Communication Site?

A SharePoint Online Communication site is designed to allow a small group of users to manage content, while many users can view it. Communication sites are intended for broadcasting information to a larger audience or for departmental/organizational unit storage and sharing. They can be configured for external sharing.

All Communication Sites include:

  • SharePoint Document Library: The site’s Files section will most closely resemble QShare functionality. This is where you can upload and edit documents. Individual folders and documents can be shared with other users at Queen’s or external users. By default, site owners and members can add, edit and delete all documents, and viewers will be able to view all documents. However, access to specific folders and documents can be restricted to specific members or viewers.
  • SharePoint Pages: Pages in SharePoint allow you to create and publish content for your site. Owners and members can modify these pages, while viewers will only be able to see the published versions. Pages allow you to include formatted text, links, images, embedded content (such as videos) and much more.

How do I get started with a SharePoint Online Communication Site?

To learn more about getting started with a SharePoint Online Communication site, visit the SharePoint Online service page.

QShare to SharePoint Online Communication Site Feature Comparison
Feature QShare SharePoint Communication Site
Off-campus Access Yes Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus

In the Cloud, in Microsoft's Canadian data centers
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB 10 GB
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) Yes
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 15 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Owners (Admin)
  2. Members (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Visitors (Read-only)
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

Yes
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

Yes
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

By default members and visitors can access the full site document library; however access can be restricted to specific folders and documents. 

If a user requires access to a folder or document but should not be added as an owner, member or visitor to the site: 

  • Individual users, groups and links can be set to allow users to: 
    1. View (read-only)
    2. Allow Editing (i.e., read, write, delete)
  • If a user has been granted View access, you can additionally block the ability for them to download
  • There is no owner/administrator equivalent for sharing documents with users. However, if you've provided a user with direct edit access to a document, by default, the will be able to share the document with any other users
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts

A desktop client is not available, however a sync client is available which can be used to upload files to your site document library directly from your Windows File Explorer
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes No
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

Queen's Wiki Space

Why should I choose a Queen's Wiki Space?

The Queen’s Wiki is an online collaboration tool that allows users to create, share and publish content to the web. Wiki space permissions are very granular and provide significant flexibility and control over who has access to the space and what they can see and do in it. Wiki spaces can be used to reach a broad audience of users, or for smaller scale collaboration. Spaces can be shared with individual Queen’s users, custom-built groups and LDAP groups. External user accounts can be requested for sharing with non-Queen’s users. Depending on the purpose and content of the space, requests can also be made to IT Services to make the space available to anonymous users (i.e., publicly accessible).

How do I get started with a Queen's Wiki Space?

Visit the Queen’s Wiki service page to find out more about how to get started with the Queen’s Wiki.

QShare to Queen's Wiki Feature Comparison
Feature QShare Wiki Space
Off-campus Access Yes  Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus On Campus
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB N/A
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) N/A
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 25 MB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No Yes
Document Versioning Yes Yes, a new revision for a wiki page is created every time the page is saved. However, there is no document versioning for file attachments.
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users internal to Queen's, external user accounts and groups can be granted any or all of the following access to the space:

  1. View (read-only access to the space)
  2. Delete own [content]
  3. Add Pages
  4. Delete Pages
  5. Add Blog
  6. Delete Blog
  7. Add Attachments
  8. Delete Attachments
  9. Add/Delete Restrictions
  10. Delete Mail
  11. Export Space
  12. Administer Space
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

 Yes, however there are no folders in the Wiki, only file attachments
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

 Yes, however there are no folders in the Wiki, only file attachments
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

In order for a user to access any space content they must at least have View permissions to the space. By default, this will give them read-only access to all space content, including file attachments.

Page restrictions can be applied to prevent specific users with access to the space from accessing individual pages. These restrictions are inherited, which means any children of the restricted page will also be restricted.

File attachments are added at the page level. This means, that if a user is restricted from accessing a page, they will also be restricted from accessing and viewing file attachments on that page.

To add or delete attachments, the user must have the "add attachment" and "delete attachment" permissions to the space.
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts No
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes Yes
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

Windows File Service

Why should I choose Queen's Windows File Service?

Windows File Service can be used if you require secure storage of records and documents on campus that are not collaborative. Departmental group spaces can be set up to allow shared access to documents for Queen’s faculty and staff. Windows Files Service must be accessed on campus or through the VPN. It is not accessible to students or non-Queen’s users.

How do I get started with Queen's Windows File Service?

To learn more about the Windows Files Service, visit the Windows File Service page.

QShare to Windows File Service Feature Comparison
Feature QShare Windows File Service
Off-campus Access Yes  No, however it can be accessed through the VPN
Data Storage Location On Campus On Campus
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB A department is allotted a total space of 25 GB per FTE
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) Yes (for fee, $0.40/GB/year)
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 16 TB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes No
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No No
Document Versioning Yes No, however a daily version of the file is saved at 2am. Versions are kept for 30 days
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

In a group file share, members of the group are granted access to the data that is saved in group's space. Departments can decide on the structure and permissions of their folders.
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

Yes, however it is not accessible to students
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

 No
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

Access to a particular folder or file can be granted by assigning the appropriate permissions to a Queen's faculty or staff member
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes No
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts Windows and Macs can access the file share through their respective file explorers. Automated mapped drives are available for Windows systems joined to the campus Active Directory.
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes Yes
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

onQ

Why should I choose onQ?

All course-related content should be stored within the Learning Management System (LMS). If you are hosting course-related content on QShare, you may wish to consider creating a course in onQ. Note: The Smith School of Business and the Faculty of Health Sciences also offer LMSs which are not supported by IT Services but that may be relevant for your content.To learn more about the LMS offered by Smith School of Business, contact smithsupport@queensu.ca. To learn more about the LMS offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, contact healthsci.support@queensu.ca.

How do I get started with onQ?

For help getting started with onQ, visit the onQ support site. If you have questions, you can also contact Selina Idlas at the Centre for Teaching and Learning or submit a ticket with the IT Service Centre by calling x36666 or submitting an IT Services Help Form.

QShare to onQ Feature Comparison
Feature QShare onQ
Off-campus Access Yes 

Yes
Data Storage Location On Campus In the cloud, in Brightspace's Toronto data center
Base (Free) Storage Allocation 200 MB N/A
Additional Storage Available? Yes (for fee) N/A
Maximum Files Upload Size for a Single File 2 GB 1 GB
Web-based Anytime, Anywhere Access? Yes Yes
Concurrent Editing of Files by Multiple Users No No
Document Versioning Yes No
Recoverable Data Yes Yes
Account Permissions

In a group QShare account: yes, users can be added as: 

  1. Full Access (Admin)
  2. Contributors (Add, Edit, Delete)
  3. Viewers (Read-only)

Yes, users can be granted a variety of roles in a course. Some common roles include: 

  1. Primary Instructor
  2. Instructor
  3. Developer
  4. Grader
  5. Student

For a full list and description of onQ roles, visit the Roles and Permissions page on the onQ Support Site.
Sharing Folders and Documents with Other Users at Queen's

Yes

 No
Sharing Folders and Documents with External Users

Yes

 No
Folder and Document Permissions

When sharing folders and documents, individual users, groups and tickets can be assigned: 

  1. Viewer (i.e., read-only)
  2. Contributor (i.e., read, write, delete)

Individual users and groups can also be assigned Full access (i.e., read, write, delete administer)

Permissions can also be defined at the advanced level. An individual user can specifically be assigned the ability to: 

  1. Read
  2. Write
  3. Delete
  4. Administer (this gives them the same level of permissions as the owner; they will not be able to modify individual access to groups)

Folders (or modules) and individual pages/documents can be created as drafts. Certain roles (such as Students) will not have access to view draft content. It will only become visible to them once the content is published. 

Otherwise, there are no permissions available to restrict specific users from viewing certain content.
Subscriptions/Notifications Yes Yes
Desktop Client Available? A desktop client, Xythos Drive Client, is available for group accounts. It is not available for personal accounts No
Bookmarks and Favourites Yes No
Search Capabilities Yes Yes

Other Services

The following services are not supported by Queen's IT Services but may be relevant in certain cases, if you are currently using QShare as a personal public web space. It is important to note that IT Services no longer supports personal public web spaces. If none of the services below meet your needs, you will need to consider identifying an external hosting solution.

Web Archiving at Queen's

If you have been using QShare to host publicly accessible content which is no longer actively maintained and you are interested in decommissioning your personal public web space, you may wish to contact the Queen's University Archives to determine if the content is eligible for their Web Archiving service. to find out more, visit the Web Archiving at Queen's page, or contact archives@queensu.ca

Queen's University Library

If you have been using QShare to host publicly accessible content such as scholarly articles, research or other publication-type information, the Queen's University Library offers several services that may be relevant.

QSpace

QSpace is Queen's institutional repository for open access to peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, technical reports, graduate theses and dissertations and other works produced by Queen's faculty and students. To learn more, visit the QSpace page on the Queen's University Library website.

Research Data Management

The Library provides Research Data Management services. To learn more, visit the Research Data Management page on the Queen's University Library website. 

Pressbooks

Pressbooks is Queen's open textbook publishing platform. It's available to faculty to create textbooks, course materials, and monographs as interactive online books that can be easily exported and distributed as ebook, PDF, and print-on-demand formats. To learn more, visit the Getting started with OERs page on the Queen's University Library website.

Virtual Exhibits

The library hosts virtual exhibits created by library staff, faculty and students to highlight resources and invite our community to engage with collections that are created by or are the subject of Queen's research. To learn more, visit the Virtual Exhibits page on the Queen's University Library website.

Queen's Journal Hosting Service

Supported by the Library, Queen's Journal Hosting Service provides an immediate and efficient publication facility for Queen's faculty and students who wish to publish an online journal, series or proceedings publication. To learn more, visit the Journal Hosting Service page on the Queen's University Library website.