Files Module - User Manual

Introduction

The Drives module allows you to connect to cloud storage services and manage your band's files in one unified interface. You can connect to Dropbox or WebDAV-compatible services (such as Nextcloud or OwnCloud) and browse, upload, download, and organize files just like in a regular file manager.

Guided Tour

On every main screen (Files list, Manage connections, Add connection, Browse, Create file, Edit connection/file, and shared links) you can start a guided tour from the Help icon in the header. The tour highlights the most important elements on the page. Use it to get familiar with the module or to show others how it works.

Getting Started

Accessing Files

1. Select a band from the band selector (if you have access to multiple bands)
2. Click "Drives" in the main menu
3. You'll see a list of all file connections for the selected band

Permissions

Your access to files depends on your user level and permissions:

• View - You can see files and browse connections
• Edit - You can upload files and create folders
• Manage Connections - You can add, edit, and configure connections
• Delete Connections - You can remove connections (if granted)
• Delete - You can delete files and folders (if granted)

Managing Connections

Adding a Connection

1. Click the "Add Connection" button on the files page
2. Select a provider:
   • Dropbox - Connect to your Dropbox account (OAuth)
   • WebDAV - Connect to WebDAV-compatible services (Nextcloud, OwnCloud, or any WebDAV server)
   • Nextcloud / OwnCloud - Same as WebDAV; use the WebDAV URL of your instance
3. Follow the provider-specific setup instructions

OAuth Providers (Dropbox)

1. Click "Connect" next to the provider name
2. You'll be redirected to the provider's login page
3. Sign in and authorize the application
4. You'll be redirected back to complete the connection setup
5. Enter a name for the connection (e.g., "Band Dropbox")
6. Optionally specify a base path to restrict access to a specific folder
7. Click "Save Connection"

WebDAV Providers

1. Enter the connection details:
   • Base URL - Your WebDAV server URL (e.g., https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav)
   • Username - Your WebDAV username
   • Password - Your WebDAV password
2. Enter a name for the connection
3. Click "Save Connection"

Editing a Connection

1. Go to the Files page
2. Click "Manage" to see all connections
3. Click "Edit" next to the connection you want to modify
4. Update the connection name or settings
5. For OAuth providers, you can reconnect if your tokens have expired
6. Click "Save Changes"

Deleting a Connection

1. Go to the Files page
2. Click "Manage" to see all connections
3. Click "Delete" next to the connection you want to remove
4. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleting a connection will also delete all associated shares and cache. This action cannot be undone.

Browsing Files

Opening a Connection

1. Click on a connection name from the Files page
2. You'll see the contents of the connection's root folder

Navigating Folders

• Click on a folder name to open it
• Use the breadcrumb navigation at the top to go back to parent folders
• Click the back button to return to the connections list

Viewing Files

• Click on a file name to download it
• Some file types (images, PDFs, text files) can be viewed directly in the browser
• File sizes and modification dates are displayed

File Operations

Uploading Files

1. Navigate to the folder where you want to upload
2. Click the "Upload" button
3. Select one or more files from your computer
4. Wait for the upload to complete
5. The files will appear in the current folder

Creating Folders

1. Navigate to the location where you want to create a folder
2. Click the "New Folder" button
3. Enter a folder name
4. Click "Create Folder"

Creating Text Files

1. Navigate to the location where you want to create the file
2. Click the "New File" button
3. Enter a filename (with extension, e.g., notes.txt or readme.md)
4. Enter the file content
5. Click "Create File"

Editing Files

1. Click on a text file (.txt, .md, .html, .htm, .rtf)
2. Click "Edit" in the file viewer
3. Make your changes
4. Click "Save Changes"

Downloading Files

1. Click on a file name
2. The file will be downloaded to your computer

Moving Files and Folders

1. Click the "Move" button next to a file or folder
2. Navigate to the destination folder
3. Click "Move Here"

Copying Files and Folders

1. Click the "Copy" button next to a file or folder
2. Navigate to the destination folder
3. Click "Copy Here"

Deleting Files and Folders

1. Click the "Delete" button next to a file or folder
2. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleted items cannot be recovered. Make sure you want to delete before confirming.

Sharing Files and Folders

Creating a Share

1. Click the "Share" button next to a file or folder
2. Configure the share settings:
   • Password (optional) - Protect the share with a password
   • Expiration Date (optional) - Set when the share should expire
   • Allow Upload (folders only) - Allow others to upload files to the shared folder
3. Click "Create Share"
4. Copy the share link and send it to others

Accessing a Shared Item

1. Open the share link you received
2. If the share is password-protected, enter the password
3. You can view or download the shared file/folder
4. For shared folders with upload enabled, you can upload files

Managing Shares

1. Go to the Files page
2. Click "Manage" to see all connections
3. Click "Shares" next to a connection to see all shares
4. You can edit or delete shares from this list

Tips and Best Practices

Connection Names

Use descriptive names for your connections to easily identify them:

• "Band Dropbox"
• "Personal Dropbox"
• "Band Nextcloud Server"

Base Paths

For Dropbox, you can restrict access to a specific folder by setting a base path. This is useful if you want to share only a portion of your Dropbox.

File Organization

Organize your files in folders to keep everything tidy:

• Create folders by project or date
• Use descriptive folder names
• Keep related files together

Sharing Security

• Always use passwords for sensitive shares
• Set expiration dates for temporary shares
• Only enable upload for folders when necessary

Troubleshooting

Connection not working?

• Check if the connection is active (toggle in Manage page)
• Try reconnecting Dropbox if tokens have expired
• Verify WebDAV credentials are correct

Files not appearing?

• Try clicking "Sync" to refresh the connection
• Clear your browser cache
• Check if you have the correct permissions

Upload failed?

• Check file size limits
• Verify you have write permissions
• Ensure you have enough storage space in your cloud account

Supported File Types

Viewable Files

The following file types can be viewed directly in the browser:

• Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG
• Documents: PDF
• Audio: MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, AAC, FLAC
• Video: MP4, MPEG, MOV, AVI, WebM
• Text: TXT, MD

Editable Files

The following file types can be edited directly in the browser:

• Text: TXT, MD
• HTML: HTML, HTM
• Rich Text: RTF

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I connect multiple accounts of the same provider?
A: Yes, you can create multiple connections with different names (e.g., "Personal Dropbox" and "Band Dropbox").

Q: What happens if I disconnect a cloud account?
A: The connection will be removed, but your files remain in your cloud account. You can reconnect later.

Q: Are my files stored on the nGage.band server?
A: No, files remain in your cloud storage. The module only provides a unified interface to access them.

Q: Can I share files with people who don't have nGage.band accounts?
A: Yes, file sharing creates public links that anyone with the link can access (if not password-protected).

Q: How long are shared links valid?
A: Shared links are valid until you delete them or set an expiration date. Expired shares are automatically rejected.

Q: Can I recover deleted files?
A: Deleted files go to your cloud provider's trash/recycle bin. Check your cloud provider's interface to restore them.