My Docs Online FAQ » Mac OS X

Web Folder / WebDAV setup instructions

Richard — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:50:37 +0000

Setting up a Web Folder (or webfolder) in Windows varies by Windows Version. These articles describe the steps involved for each version of Widows. The Mac OS X WebDAV instructions are the same for all versions of OS X. iPad and Android instructions are for preferred WebDAV apps.

Windows 7

Windows Vista (also includes WIndows Server 2003)

Windows XP (also includes Windows Server 2000)

Mac OS X

iPad, iPhone, iOS

Android

Using the Desktop App on a Mac, how to download to external devices

Richard — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:16:46 +0000

When using the Desktop App on a Mac, if you select folders or files to download, and want the destination to be a USB-connected or networked drive:

In the Select Destination Folder Dialog
Switch to Macintosh HD
Open Volumes

USB drives and devices as well as network locations will be shown

Using a My Docs Online WebDAV server to synchronize OmniFocus with your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

Richard — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:50:04 +0000

OmniFocus provides professional grade task management software for Mac users. With the introduction of the new iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch versions of OmniFocus it is now possible to synchronize your OmniFocus tasks through either MobileMe or through the use of a WebDAV server. If you have an existing My Docs Online account you can use it to process your synchronizations.

Complete instructions can be found in the My Docs Online blog.

Use Web Folders / WebDAV to collaborate, edit, and manage your files in the internet “cloud”

Richard — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:26:39 +0000

Web Folders is the Microsoft term for an internet connectivity method called WebDAV, though you will see it called simply a “Network Location” in Vista and Windows 7, or a “Network Place” in Windows XP.

WebDAV stands for “Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning”. It allows users to collaboratively edit and manage files on remote web servers from Windows PCs and Macs. WebDAV is the term used in Mac OS X.

In the case of My Docs Online the “remote web server” is your My Docs Online account folders and files, which can also be accessed via our other interfaces (through our web site at www.mydocsonline.com, and via tools like our Transporter).

Why use Web Folders? Two main reasons:

First, it’s an easy way to store, retrieve, and share files “in the internet cloud” while seeing the remote files and folders on your PC pretty much as if they were on your PC’s harddrive.

Second, Office applications (notably Word and Excel) can use File Locking via Web Folders to make sure two people don’t edit the same document at the same time.

If you and a colleague, for instance, both try to open and edit the same spreadsheet at roughly the same time, the first one to open the file can do so, and the second one will get a warning that another user has the file open for update, and all the second user will be able to get is a “Read-Only” copy of the file (until the first user closes it).

What about security?

In the case of My Docs Online, access to an account via Web Folders is secured using a Login ID and password. Also, security-conscious users set up their web folder to automatically use SSL encryption.

How do I get started?

Choose your operating system from the list below for specific setup instructions:

Mac OS X connection to a WebDAV server

Richard — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:29:23 +0000

From “Go” on the Finder Menu Select Connect to Server… or Press Command-K.
For “Server Address” use: http://webfolders2.mydocsonline.com (or https://webfolders2.mydocsonline.com if you have SSL set ON).
Use your My Docs Online Login ID and Password when prompted for “WebDAV File System Authentication” name and password.
Learn more at Apple’s WebDAV page.

A common problem with OS X WebDAV is Error 36.

I get error code 36 using Mac OS X WebDAV

Richard — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:53:10 +0000

WebDAV using the Finder’s “Connect to Server” under Mac OS X often encounters transfer errors, usually error 36.

The way the Mac WebDAV support works it quickly claims to have transferred the file, then when it says “closing file” is when the actual transfer takes place, and when the error code 36 might occur.

In addition the error reported is often false, and if left alone the transfer will complete fine. The problem is you have no way of knowing if the transfer is still proceeding.

There are two WebDAV clients for the Mac that do work well. One costs money but is a very good product, the other is free, works well, but it is no longer being supported.

The commercial product is Transmit, a very popular ftp client you may already be using for ftp that also does WebDAV very well:

http://www.panic.com/transmit/

The free product is Goliath:

http://www.webdav.org/goliath/

If you are mainly moving files into and out of your My Docs Online account you can also use the MDO Transporter.