Understanding the system

What can the system do?
You can use e-Files to store any of your personal files on the internet so that you can retrieve them from anywhere in the world. You can organize your files into folders and copy and move them around just like you can on an ordinary PC. All you need to do this is a computer connected to the internet. This means that you can edit and save your documents at any Internet Cafe, or keep work files on the hosting system so you don't have to carry floppy disks or a laptop between work and home.

Files and Folders
What are Files and Folders? Files are nearly anything that is stored on a computer. These can be documents, programs, images and much more. Folders are "containers" that files are stored in. Folders are just a way of giving a name to a space containing files. This can be useful for helping you to organize where you store your images, programs or documents.

The File System Page

After you log in, you will see the main user page. The main page looks like this:

The information on the top left hand side lets you know how much storage space you have. Your "Disk Space used" is the total storage space you have users in bytes. The percentage shows how much of your total storage space you have used in ALL of your folders.. The "Current Folder Size" is the number of bytes used in the currently selected working folder.

The buttons on the right hand side of the toolbar at the top are for logging out, displaying this help page and other common functions.

You should always log out when you are finished with e-Files, especially if you are using a pulic computer. Failure to do so could allow another person to use the browsers' Back button to get to your e-Files.

The list on the left hand side of the screen shows folders within the working folder To select a folder, click on the name of the folder. When a folder is selected, it becomes blue and 2 buttons will appear below the list, these are common folder functions and will be described below.

The list on the right hand side of the screen shows files within the working folder. To select a file, click opn the name of the file. when a file is selected it becomes blue and 6 buttons appear below the list. These are common file commands and will be described below.

The e-Files Toolbar

Refreshing the working folder
Refreshing means getting a new up to date list of files from the working folder. This is mainly useful if you and a family member are both logged in and adding/removing files. Refreshing the folder shows changes that have been made.

Uploading a File
Uploading a file means to transfer a file from the computer you are using and storing it on the E-Files. Once this is done, you can access your files from any computer in the world connected to the internet using your username and password. To upload a file, click the button marked "Send Files" located at the top of the main page. A new small window will appear. Now you can either press the 'Browse' button and use the new window to select your file, or you can type the FULL path and file name of your file on the local computer. An example of a full path name might be:
C:\My Documents\web pages\FirstPage.htm
After you have selected a file, press the button marked 'Upload'.

You can send any type of file to the E-Files. There are only two restrictions for file uploads: The first is that all files you send MUST be LESS than 25 MB in size. The other is that you can not exceed your disk Quota. If the file you are currently trying to send is too big, the e-Files will abort the upload immediately.

A list of approximate upload and download times is listed here for your reference.

Uploading a file from the WWW
You can fetch a file from the WWW directly into your E-Files. Click the "Send File" button at the top of the window. Simply type (or copy/paste) the full URL into the text area. This means you must include "HTTP://" or "FTP://" at the front of the URL. E-Files can fetch files via HTTP or anonymous FTP.

Because the fetching process can sometimes take a long time, E-Files doesn't make you wait for the transfer to finish. Instead, it transfers you back to the main screen. You can then continue to work with E-Files normally.

Downloading a File
Downloading means copying files from E-Files onto the computer you are currently using. Just click on the name of the file you wish to download to select it, and click on it again when it turns blue. Your computer will then open a window asking what name the file should be saved as. Simply type a name and press "OK".

Editing your user profile
You can change any of your personal details at any time. Simply click the "Account Manager " button at the top of the page and edit any details you wish to change. Use this page to change your password, too.

Finding files and folders
If you want to find a particular file or folder, click the "Find" button at the top of the screen. An area to type the name of the file will appear at the bottom of the screen, just type the name of the file here and click "Okay". The search is not case sensitive and will find all files and folders containing the characters you type.

Working with Folders

Creating a new Folder
If you wish to create a new Folder, click on the "Create Folder" button at the top of the main page. An area to type the folder name will appear at the bottom of the screen, simple type the name of the new folder and click "Okay". The new folder will be created within the current Working Folder. You will see the new Folder appear immediately in the Folder listing in the current Working Folder.

Removing a Folder
You can remove a Folder from the system if you do not want it any more. You must first delete ALL of the Files AND Folders from within the Folder you wish to remove. Select the folder you wish to remove on the left hand side and click "Delete Folder" The Remove icon looks like this: Delete

Renaming a Folder
To change the name of a folder, click the "Rename folder" button at the top of the page. Simply type the new name into the form.

Working with Files

Deleting Files
What happens when you don't want a file any more? When you've selected the file you want to delete, simple click the "Delete" button below the file list.. The Delete icon looks like this: Delete The computer will ask you if you are sure you want to delete the file, so then click the Yes button. Please make sure you really do want to delete the file, because you can not get it back after this!

Renaming a File
If you want to change the name of a file, click the name of the file you wish to rename, once it is selected, click "Rename File". The Rename icon looks like this: Rename The computer will let you enter text at the bottom of the screen. You then just type the new name and press the button marked 'Okay'.

Viewing a File
If you want to display the contents of a file, select a file and click the simply click the "View File" icon. The View icon looks like this: View If the browser you are using recognizes the file type, it will display the file within the browser. If the browser is confused, it will ask you to save your file on the computer you are using and view your file with some other program.

Moving a File
You can use this option to move files from one Folder to another. The move icon will appear when you select the file you wish to move. When you click on the Move icon, the computer brings you to a window that allows you to select the folder you want to move the file to. The Move icon looks like this: Move All you need to do to move a file is to select the desired Destination Folder and click the "Move File" button at the bottom of the window.

Copying a File
The Copy option will place a copy of the file you have selected into another Folder. The copy icon will appear when you select the file you wish to copy. Once you have clicked on the Copy icon, you will be taken to a list of folders. The Copy icon looks like this: Copy Use this new window to select the folder where the copy is to be placed. Once you have selected a folder, simply click the "Copy file" button at the bottom of the window.

Sharing Files
Files can be easily shared with others by simply creating an account for the person and then upload the files you want to share. With each user having their own account you can control what each person can see.

The Account Manager

This page shows all the usernames associated with your e-Files account, and lets you manage them. There are two types of users; Those with master access and those without master access. Those with master access can use any part of the system including the account manager. The usernames without master access do not have access to account manager and you are able to control what parts of the storage space they can access by specifying what folders they can read and write to.

The e-Files Toolbar

History and Statistics
The "History and Statistics" icon will take you to a page that shows how many files you have, your disk usage information, and events that have happened to your e-Files(uploads, downloads, views, etc).

Black List
The "Black List" will take you to a page which shows you IP addresses which are banned from your e-Files.

Managing Users

Adding a User
To add a user, click the "New User" link towards the top of the page.

Deleting a User
To delete a user, secect the user you wish to delete and click the "Delete Login" icon, which looks like this:

Editing a User
To Edit a user, select the user you wish to edit and click the "Edit Login" icon, which looks like this:

The e-Mail System

Here you can exchange files and messages with other e-Files users, as well as anyone around the world who has e-mail access! The mail screen shows you your new and old messages, as well as how many you have, and how much disk space is being used.

The e-Mail Toolbar

Inbox
The "Inbox" icon will take you to the main e-mail screen where you can view your messages.

Options
The "Options" icon will take you to a screen where you can configure the mail program, including user information and preferences.

Sending E-mail
The "Compose" icon on the toolbar will take you to a screen where you can write a new e-mail to send to anyone!

Working with the Inbox

Reading an E-mail
To read an e-mail, click it in the list. Once it turns blue, you can click on it again and it will open up.

Deleting an unwanted E-mail
To delete an unuwanted E-Mail, Select it by clicking on the checkbox on the left had side of the list. Then find the drop-down on the bottom right of the screen. Bring the menu down to the folder called "Trash", and click the "Move To" button. This also works if you have multiple messages selected.

Revieving Attachments (messages with paperclips)
e-Files allows you to recieve e-Mail attachments. Theses attached files will be saved to your "/Received Files/Email Attachments/" folder.