Uploading and sharing files

File/Folder View

The file viewer is the central element of the Cloudstore interface.

The current path is displayed at the top left (1) - it allows you to navigate the folder structure and display the current contents of the respective folder.

Creating and Loading Files

New objects can be created in different ways. A click on "New" (2) opens a menu to create text files, create folders or upload files from other websites directly into Cloudstore via link.

Files can be uploaded via the arrow button (3) and the displayed dialog of the browser. Furthermore, you can drag and drop files from the desktop or file management program and drag them into the Cloudstore window. This works only with files, not folders. Folders should be created beforehand in Cloudstore, files can then be copied into them. A more comfortable way is using the Desktop App.This allows folders and subfolders to be transferred directly into the Cloudstore.

Move your mouse over the arrow and the available storage space will be displayed.

Sharing Files or Folders (Including Password-protected)

Another important function of Cloudstore is sharing files or folders with others. Folders are offered to the (other) users in the form of a zip file for download. You can share files / folders with individual TUD members or external users, but also protect them with a password to make them available to a specific group of people.

To share files, move the mouse pointer onto the destination line of the file. A menu appears in which "Share" (4) can be selected. An additional menu will open, in which the approval can be set up step by step.

Sharing with TUD members:
The first available field can be used to enter the first and/or last name or mail address of a TUD member to share the file with. If you do not know their first name, please enter a "*" as a placeholder, e.g. "* Smith". Cloudstore will display a list of possible candidates, from which the right person can be selected by clicking on their name. If a person appears several times in the list, you can display the corresponding ZIH login when you move your cursor over the name. With common names such as "Thomas Müller", it is easiest to search for the person’s TUD e-mail address, since it is unique.
The person can see the shared file(s) in the folder "shared" or in the browser under the menu "shared with you".

Notify by e-mail: Cloudstore will send an e-mail about the file share to the selected person. In the settings (click on your name in the upper right), you can specify whether the e-mails use formal ("Sie") or informal ("Du") pronouns.
Setting access rights: You can select whether the person themself is allowed to edit the file, create a new version, update it, delete it and share it with other people. With the "x" on the right next to the name, the file share can be undone completely. In this way, any number of people can be granted access to a file or folder.
Share with non-TUD members: If the intended recipient is not a member of TU Dresden, the release can be made via a link ("Share link"). The link can be sent by email via Cloudstore or a mail program to the intended recipient.
Password protection: Allows setting an access path for the file or folder concerned.
Expiration date: In some cases, a time restriction of the release is useful – to that end, you can set an expiration date.

File Sizes

Cloudstore allows uploading files up to 30 GB. The time limit for uploading a file is 10 hours.

However, the browser or operating system also sets limits. Thus, e.g. 32Bit operating systems do not manage files larger than 2 GB. This limitation also applies to the use of Internet Explorer in versions 6 to 8. Versions 9 and 10 allow only uploads of files of max. 4 GB.

Permitting uploads by external person

A special case is the uploading of files by external persons (non-members of the TU Dresden). Since external users do not have a ZIH login, the exchange / upload takes place via a folder of a TUD user. This TUD user is thus also legally responsible for the data of the external (see also Terms of use cloudstore).

To create an upload share, create a new folder. When you select "Share" -> "Share Link" for this folder (see Sharing Files or Folders), another "Allow Public Upload" option appears.

This feature should not be used without password protection and the password should not be communicated in the same way as the link (e.g., mail for the link, phone for the password). If the other user clicks on the link, they will first be asked for the password:

Afterwards, they will see information about who created the release. Data can be uploaded using the "arrow" button.

Conflicts during simultaneous processing of files

Cloudstore is not intended for editing files at the same time - please use the ZIH service Sharepoint instead.

Two clients (e.g., laptop and PC or two different users in a shared directory) synchronize files over Cloudstore. Then the users change the same file at the same time on their local system.

The first client then synchronizes their modified file with the Cloudstore server. If the second client wants to sync now, they will notice that the file on the server is no longer the original file that had been synchronized before the change. Therefore, they create a so-called conflict file on the server: 'file_name_conflict-date'. Only the other client will be able to see this file. The user is responsible for resolving the conflict (e.g., inserting the changes of the second to the first version of the file).

Delete and restore files

The deletion of files is done via the "x" at the right edge of the file list. The deleted files are first moved to the trash, which can be accessed via the button "Deleted Files" (bottom left). This opens a menu in which deleted files and folders can be restored.

Files are stored in the trash that holds up to half of the user’s quota for a maximum of 30 days and will be permanently deleted if one of the limits is exceeded.

Connect cloudstore via webdav

Using WebDAV (a standard for providing files on the Internet), you can also integrate your CloudStore folder directly into your computer. The WebDAV address can be found in the Cloudstore web at the bottom of the Files menu in the left menu (by clicking on the gear).

Windows 8 or 10

In Windows Explorer, select "Connect network drive" and enter the WebDAV address. Your Cloudstore folder will be visible after you enter your user name and password.

Windows 7

Unfortunately, Windows 7 cannot run WebDAV. Please use another WebDAV program.

One possibility is Cyberduck. Please download it from https://cyberduck.io/?l=en and install it. After the start, click on "New connection", enter the WebDAV address for server as well as username and password. Then you can drag and drop files back and forth between Cloudstore and your computer.

Using Linux

KDE: in Dolphin, enter the address "webdavs: WebDAV address" (without https at the beginning). Now you will be asked for your ZIH username and password and you are ready to go.

Gnome: select "Connect to server" in Nautilus, enter "davs: WebDAV address". Now you will be asked for your ZIH username and password and you are ready to go.

Using MacOS

In the Finder, click on “Connect to Server”. Enter the WebDAV address at "Server Address". Now you will be asked for your ZIH username and password and you are ready to go.