Step 2. Prepare & download files from SFU Vault

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OVERVIEW

This article describes how to download files from SFU Vault (desktop) and prepare for migration. See other options:

Prepare & download files from SFU Vault - Web Browser

There are 3 steps to preparing your Vault file for migration via the SFU Vault app:

Save all your files locally
Locate your SFU folder
Stop the syncing on the SFU Vault App

Part 1: Save all your files locally

Step 1. By default, SFU Vault will not automatically download all your files locally to save space on your hard drive.

To ensure all your files are downloaded and saved locally, select “...” > "Availability" > "Make always available locally" to begin the download process.

Setting SFU Vault to make your files available locally

Step 2. Once the files are downloaded locally, you will see green checkmarks when you open your SFU Vault folder.

Files that have been downloaded verses those that haven't

I have shared files. Should I download them?

To ensure access to your shared files, we recommend downloading all your shared files.

Depending on your situation, the owner of the shared files may mention that you won’t be required to migrate the file and will re-share the file post-migration. In that case, you may choose not to download the shared files

If you own shared files, you will need to download your files and share them to users again once you have migrated the files.

Step 3. Go to "Activity" > "Not Synced" tab to check for any unsynced items. Your files may be unsynced if the file name contains any special characters, such as " * : < > ? / \ |

To resolve this error:

Go to SFU Vault (https://vault.sfu.ca) on your web browser.
Rename the files to remove special characters.
Re-sync the files on the SFU Vault desktop app or download the files manually from SFU Vault on your browser.

Part 2: Locate your SFU Vault folder

Step 1. Right-click on SFU Vault icon from the taskbar and select "Open folder sfuvault". If you have used SFU Vault prior to the 2021 update, it may appear as "sfuvault2".

Opening your SFU Vault folder from the Vault icon in the Taskbar

Step 2. Make a note of where is the folder located. This is important so you know where to find your files after pausing the sync in the next part.

Make note of the location of your SFU Vault folder

Your file path on Window OS may look something like: "C:\Users\computingID\sfuvault2".

Part 3: Stop the syncing on the SFU Vault App

After confirming that all your files have been synced, it is recommended to stop the syncing function on SFU Vault desktop app before proceeding with the migration.

Step 1. Log out of the SFU Vault desktop app by right-click on "SFU Vault icon" on the taskbar > Select "Log out".

Step 2. At this point, your files will no longer sync to your SFU Vault account. You can choose to:

Uninstall the dekstop app if you are using an individual-use device, or
Quit the app if you are using a university-managed device.

Step 3. You are now ready to migrate the files to your choice of location:

OneDrive is recommended for individual storage, or
Microsoft Teams is recommended for collaborative groups; only available to staff and faculty.

Step 3. Update Files to New Location

Unsure which solution to choose? For recommendations on how to select the migration solution that matches your needs, go back to Step 1: Review possible migration options to review the options available.

Note: We recommend keeping your existing files on SFU Vault and even after completing the migration process. It is recommended to have files in SFU Vault as additional backup for the migration.

Step 2. Prepare & download files from SFU Vault - Desktop App