Private Folders

(relevant to Readers, Writers, Publishers, Caretakers, Administrators)

'View your private folder' link on options page

This link opens your private folder in Windows explorer. You may need to set your private folder up on your computer in order to make the link work properly. If this is not possible then you can use the alternative option, 'Private folder web interface'.

'Private folder web interface' link on options page

This allows you to use a simple web interface to manage your private folder. It is not as flexible as being to access the folder directly through Windows explorer, but it does provide a useful alternative if the computer you are using is unable to do so. You are able to create and delete folders, and upload, download, rename and delete files.

Location of your private folder

The location of your private folder is:
http://folders.webstore-ed.net/organisation/user name/
where organisation is replaced by the short for of your organisation's name (the form used in URLs) and user name is replaced by your user name. The 'http://' at the start of the location is important and must not be missed out.

If you are logged on, you can click here to check the location of your private folder, if one is set up for you.

If you have been using a different location for your private folder, beginning with http://www.webstore-ed.net/~private/ or http://www.webstore-ed.org.uk/~private/ this will continue to work, but you may also need to set up the new location if you want the 'View your private folder' link on the options page to continue working.

Setting up your private folder on your computer

Windows 98

  1. Double-click on 'My Computer'.
  2. Double-click on 'Web Folders'. If the 'Web Folders' icon does not appear in 'My Computer', please read Installing the Windows Web Folders Component, below.
  3. Double-click on 'Add Web Folder'.
  4. In the 'Add Web Folder' window type the location of your private folder and click next.
  5. When requested enter your user name and Password for Webstore and click OK
  6. When the user name and password have been authenticated, you may type in a more memorable name for your private folder, or just click Finish.
  7. Your new Webstore private folder will now be set up inside 'Web Folders'.

Windows 2000

  1. Double-click on 'My Network Places'.
  2. Double Click on 'Add Network Place'.
  3. In the 'Add Network Place Wizard' window type the location of your private folder and click next.
  4. When requested enter your user name and Password for Webstore and click OK
  5. When the user name and password have been authenticated, you may type in a more memorable name for your private folder, or just click Finish.
  6. Your new Webstore private folder will now be set up inside 'My Network Places'.

Using your private folder

You can copy files to and from your private folder by dragging and dropping with Windows Explorer.

Some applications (currently only Microsoft Office 2000) also support saving and opening files directly to and from private folders.

To save files:

  1. Select 'Save As' from the 'File' menu.
  2. The 'Save As' dialog box appears. Click on the 'Web Folders' (Window 98) or 'My Network Places' (Windows 2000) button, in the bottom-left, or select 'Web Folders' or 'My Network Places' from the 'Save in:' drop-down list.
  3. Double-click on your Webstore private folder
  4. Choose a file name, if necessary, and click 'Save'

To open files:

  1. Select 'Open' from the 'File' menu or select 'Open Office Document' from the Windows Start menu.
  2. Go to your Webstore private folder, in the same way as for the 'Save As' dialog box.
  3. Double-click the file you wish to open.

NB: You may be asked for your Webstore User name and Password several time during these procedures. You should not tell Windows to save your password if anyone else has access to the computer, as that would allow them to access your private folder.

Installing the Windows Web Folders Component

On Windows 98 computers, Webstore uses the Web Folders component for Private Folders. This component is installed as standard on Windows 98 SE, but earlier versions of Windows 98 do not include it; it must be installed as part of Internet Explorer 5 or above:

  1. Open the Control Panel
  2. Double-click 'Add/Remove Programs'
  3. Select 'Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (or 5.5) and Internet Tools' and click 'Add/Remove'
  4. Select 'Add a component' and click OK.
  5. Find 'Web Folders' under 'Web Authoring Components', and tick the box next to it.
  6. Click Next

See also: