Connecting to a WebDAV space from your desktop

OVERVIEW

You can connect to your WebDAV space so that it looks like an attached disk on Windows or Macintosh machines. This is useful for dragging files between your desktop and the WebDAV space, and for checking out your folder and sub-folder structure.

 

DETAILS

Note that “editing files in place” and “deleting files by dragging directly to the Recycle or Trash” only work in Windows XP and Mac OS X. Others should drag the files to local desktop space first.

 

WINDOWS 7 & WINDOWS VISTA

  • Ensure that your Windows Vista installation is up-to-date, specifically, this update: Software Update for Web Folders (KB907306)
  • Select "Computer" from the Start menu
  • Click "Map Network Drive"
  • Click "Connect to a Web site that you can use to store documents and pictures"
  • Click Next
  • Click "Choose a custom network location"
  • Enter your WebDAV URL (e.g. https://webdav.sfu.ca/web/department-name) and click Next
  • Type in your username and password when asked
  • Give the connection a name (e.d. Global Health Governance WebDAV) and click Next
  • Click Finish.
  • The WebDAV connection will show up in under Network Locations in the Computer window.
  • if you have difficulties connecting to WebDAV using the built-in Windows WebDAV support, consider using a WebDAV client instead - see below

 

WINDOWS XP/2000:

  • Click on My Network Places (in “XP View” for XP users)
  • Click on Add Network Place
  • Click on Add Site
  • Type in your WebDAV URL
    (e.g. https://webdav.sfu.ca/web/department-name)
  • Type in your username and password when asked
  • if you have difficulties connecting to WebDAV using the built-in Windows WebDAV support, consider using a WebDAV client instead - see below

 

WINDOWS, ANY VERSION, USING A NON-MICROSOFT WEBDAV CLIENT

Some Windows-based computers are difficult to use with WebDAV due to the interaction of various patches that affect the built-in WebDAV support.

If you have difficulties such as repeated requests for login to WebDAV, even after successfully logging in, freezing transfer windows, or the inability to make a connection to a known-good WebDAV space, try a different client that doesn't rely on the built-in Windows WebDAV support.

Some suggestions are below. Though we don't make any particular guarantees or provide official support for these products, these have all been used on campus:

  • Dreamweaver and other web publishing packages typically have their own WebDAV support built in and are compatible with the SFU WebDAV server. If you are using such a package to design your pages, it is often simplest to use the "remote site" connection to update your site, which avoids the use of the OS WebDAV support altogether.
  • Free 3rd party clients such as BitKinex operate correctly, and are often faster than the built-in WebDAV support
  • Paid, commercial WebDAV-client implementations such as WebDrive have additional features that may be useful, such as the ability to mount a WebDAV space as a "drive letter" in Windows

 

MAC OS X (10.4 OR NEWER):

  • In the Finder select Go
  • Select Connect to Server
  • Type in your WebDAV URL
    (e.g. https://webdav.sfu.ca/web/department-nam)
  • Type in your username and password when asked
  • Your WebDAV space will show up on your desktop

 

MAC OS X (VERSIONS PRIOR TO 10.4):

  • In the Finder select Go
  • Select Connect to Server
  • Type in your WebDAV URL
    (e.g. http://webdav.sfu.ca/web/department-name - note that https will not work)
  • Type in your username and password when asked
  • Your WebDAV space will show up on your desktop

 

MAC OS 9 AND OLDER:

 

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