Access To Your U Drive Via The Web: (Student)

This document provides instructions for students at Northumbria University to access their U Drive files via a web browser from off campus. It explains that students can access read-only versions of their U Drive files through a web address corresponding to the last digit of their username. The document also describes how students can map their U Drive as a network drive or use file transfer software to edit and save changes to their U Drive files from other locations.

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Access To Your U Drive Via The Web: (Student)

Uploaded by

quadensatgai

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Access to your U Drive

via the Web (Student)

Quick access to the files on your U Drive is now possible via a web browser. This method is best suited
to off campus access or via the wireless network, and can be useful if you need to view a file, but do
not have the facility to log in to desktop ANYWHERE. We do not recommend this method for student
desktops on campus because all computers are set up for easy access to the U Drive.

1. How to access Read-Only Copies of Files

Connect to the internet, open a web browser
Enter the correct address format for your Northumbria username as per the list below
o Student access to the site is derived from the last digit of the username
e.g. choose from udrive0 to udrive9
o Replace /xyz with your Northumbria username

https://udrive0.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive1.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive2.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive3.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive4.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive5.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive6.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive7.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive8.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz
https://udrive9.northumbria.ac.uk/xyz

For example:
For q991234 the correct address would be

https://udrive4.northumbria.ac.uk/q991234
For w9912069 the correct address would be

https://udrive9.northumbria.ac.uk/w9912069
Be careful to type this correctly with the prefix as https://

Enter your Northumbria username and password.

The folders and files on your U Drive will appear listed in a basic format in alphabetical order.
Click on the links to navigate to your file.
Note: Items listed as <dir> are
folders. Other items listed with
numbers are your files
Your username and the folder you have navigated to will show at the top of the screen.

Just click a link to open a folder or file.

You will be prompted to decide what you want to do with the file
To view your file in read only format click Open
If you want to edit your file click Save and save to
your desktop
Caution:
In order to save an edited file back to your U
Drive you will need to map a drive or use
additional software to help make the connection.
See Section 2 for advice.

Note: For added security you will be asked to login with your Northumbria username and password a
number of times when opening and using files.

Point to Note: Image files i.e. PDFs, Jpegs, BMPs - Please be aware that image files are set to
open in the same browser window as the U Drive view. Once you have viewed or saved your file, you
should click the back button to return to the U Drive view. If you close with the X your U Drive session
will be closed. However, if you are a PC user you can right click on the image file listed and select
Open in a New Window to avoid this happening.

2. How to Access Files and Save your Changes

In order to save files back to your U Drive online, you will need to set up a connection. There are a
number of options open to you depending on the operating system and your personal preference.
PC users can map a drive to your U Drive
Mac users can connect to the server
Alternatively, you can install additional software that will transfer files over the internet
Please be aware that the speed of file transfer when using any of these methods can fluctuate
depending on general internet and network traffic.

Important Note on Working with Files: We recommend that you save a copy to your C Drive to
work on, and save this copy regularly. Then paste back to the U Drive when you have finished working.
If you work directly on a U Drive file, the integrity of your work is dependent upon the network
connection. If you lose connection for any reason you could lose any amendments that you have
made.

a) How to map a drive to a Network Location (Win 7, Vista)

Go to Start > (My) Computer
Right click in the white space to the right of the box that appears (beside your C Drive etc) and
select Add a Network Location
Click Next on the Add Network Location Wizard
Select the option Choose a custom network location and click Next
Enter the address with your own username in the correct format (see Section 1) and click
Next
If prompted to confirm security information, enter your username and password

Click Next on the What do you want to name this location screen
Check there is a tick in the box Open this network location when I click Finish to ensure your
U Drive opens immediately then click Finish
Your new network location will show under Computer, with a folder icon beside it.
You will be able to save a document to this Drive the next time you access your U Drive online.

b) How to map a drive via My Network Places (XP)

Open My Network Places
Click Add a network place. The Add Network Place Wizard starts
Click Next to continue
Click Choose another network location, and then click Next
In the Internet or network address box, type the address for your U Drive in the correct
format (see Section 1)
Click Next.
In the Type a name for this network place box, type the name that you want, and then click
Next.
Click Finish.
XP can encounter difficulties when using drive mappings. However, additional software such as Net
Drive can add this functionality.

c) How to Connect and Save files when using a Mac

From the Finder menu click Go
Select Connect to Server
Enter the address for your U Drive in the correct format (see Section 1)
Click Connect
When prompted enter your Northumbria username and password
You can now open and use files as normal and drag and drop easily.

d) Additional File Transfer Software

Windows 7 and Apple Mac computers appear to work well when mapping drives as above. However,
other operating systems may encounter problems. If you are unable to make a successful connection
you will need to install additional software that allows you to transfer files over the internet.

Note: IT Services do not provide this software. The following are either free or reasonably priced and
quite easy to use. To find the product that suits you best you can use a trial version before you
purchase:
For both Windows and Mac
For Windows only

Filezilla
Fetch
Net Drive
Winscp
Bitkinex

http://filezilla-project.org/
http://fetchsoftworks.com/
http://www.netdrive.net/download.html
http://winscp.net/eng/download.php
http://bitkinex.com

Most secure file transfer packages are slightly different, but the general information that you will need
to set up your connection is as follows: