WebDAV How-To Access

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How to access a WebDAV server, specifically a site which is providing (read & write) access to its files & folders via WebDAV (note most or all of this applies to any WebDAV server, not just a WebDAV server on Dreamhost). This is done:

  • for read-only access, via any web browser, or
  • for read&write access, via a WebDAV client as described here

In all cases you will need the following info/settings/values/parameters for your connection:

  1. the WebDAV site URL (which should be to its root folder) as “http://host/WebdavRootFolder” (or “https:…” ), as “http://StashIt88.Dreamhosters.com/s”
    • (note the Dreamhost control panel (and probably underlying Apache) requires WebDAV to be set-up in a real sub folder of the root of a domain (not in the root of a domain) though there are workarounds)
  2. Your username & password there
    • If your desktop/Windows login is secure (including password-protected screen-saver), you can also click “Remember this password”:
      • saving you from having to enter username & password AND
      • (very important) making-practical very secure (long & unique) passwords (that you'd never possibly remember nor want to type).
  3. And often a name of this connection/shortcut, as something ideally telling exactly how & what it goes to and under which username, as “http_<UserName>@host_WebdavRootFolder” (or “https_...” iff using https) –everything but your password, with say “:” and “/” replaced with “_” so it’s an allowed name.

If you're unsure of any of these 3, ask the site’s webmaster or system administrator.

The remaining details of of how-to-access depends on what WebDAV client you're using:

Contents

via your computer’s built-in file explorer

First read the containing/parent section (WebDAV How-To Access at top) & do all steps there.

Your modern computer’s built-in file explorer probably includes the ability to access WebDAV sites; and for file-transfers and occasional editing of the online files, this may be sufficient.

via MS Windows (built-in file) Explorer

First read the containing/parent section (#via your computer’s built-in file explorer above) & do all steps there.

In your MS Windows Explorer, you “just” create a Web Folder (which is just a MS Windows shortcut) to your WebDAV site --once that's done, just click on this shortcut to open the WebDAV site in MS Windows Explorer (and then manipulate it almost like the files were local – including drag&drop).

The key problem is MS’s Web Folders have a lot of bugs:

  • Bugs in operation are sometimes show-stoppers. Most notably,
    • (And most upsetting of all,) modification-dates are NOT preserved but reset to the present time, meaning every copied-in folder & even file does NOT copy the mod date of its source (folder or file), but rather the copy has the mod-date reset to the present time. This makes it look like the copy was modified (and a different version) when it's not. And especially for files, much often depends on the mod-date being correct (as often backup, version management, search results putting the most recently updated stuff first, and more). So, unless WebDAV can't accomplish this, this bug in the client is sloppy and unacceptable for the many and/or larger uses where mod-date matters (unless possibly all files are originally created in the WebDAV, which many times they aren't, including moving existing content into WebDAV) and justifies accessing #via alternative (more powerful) WebDAV client software without this woe.
  • Bugs in setup are so many that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebDAV#Microsoft_Windows_clients spends most of its discussion complaining about them. However fortunately there seem to be tricky but quick fixes for seemingly all of them. Specifically,

Before using,

  1. Repeatedly do all updates at http://update.microsoft.com until all required & optional updates are installed.
  2. Install the latest Web Folders fix, which likely can be found via Google Search[Web-Folders Update site:Microsoft.com] and presently (2008.11.17) is MS Software Update for Web Folders: May 18, 2007 (KB907306).
    Some reasons why, and related Qs (for those who want to know):
    • Notable instructions http://MyDocsOnline.com/info_webfolders.html say install this "If you receive an ERROR" but I say install this regardless (1) because it's quick, (2) because it seems you can't know if it is installed (see next), and (3) because it (almost certainly) can't hurt if you do it BUT COULD hurt (reasonable chance of mysterious bugs later) if you don't.
    • How do I know if the Web Folders Update is installed? This would certainly be helpful to know if it was what caused the bugs to disappear; and to avoid installing it when already installed (especially as I recall it requires a reboot). But, even after looking into this considerably, it seems you just have to install the Update to be sure. At least for KB907306, even when "successfully installed", it incorrectly fails to appear in Control Panel->Programs and Features->Installed Updates (both in XP & Vista). When it is installed, the simple program Web_Folders_Update_check.bat (which checks the mod dates of the files the Update says it updates) reports certain status (which is also actually a bit more recent than what it says it does), but it also may report that status when it is not installed: the only way to check would be on virgin OS install.
    • Is the Web Folders Update installed as part of the usual http://update.microsoft.com? It certainly should be but it sounds like it's not (by other sites on this topic recommending you install it, asthe site just mentioned). And without a way to reliably see if it was/is installed (prior paragraph), then it's hard to tell.

Then create the Web Folder (shortcut):

  1. Select-then-copy the root of the URL to your WebDAV site (see the top of this page)
  2. As explained in the subsections below, in Windows Explorer,
  3. When prompted, enter your username & password for the site
  4. Enter the name for this connection shortcut (see the top of this page)
  5. Click Next->Finish

Finally (& optionally) also create a (standard) Drive Letter for the Web Folder:

  • Do you need to do this? You may not need to as programs which CAN read & write files to a URL include:
    • Windows Explorer (possibly all you need to transfer files)
    • MS Office apps (I think 2003(XP) & later) (which, for some users, is all they need to edit files)
    • Most HTML/Web authoring software (as FrontPage, Dreamweaver, etc) --see #via your HTML & website editing/authoring software
    • Modern programming IDEs as MS Visual Studio & Eclipse.
    • And all other programs featuring WebDAV support
  • --But a drive letter IS required for all MS Windows & DOS programs which don't know how to read & write files to a URL, which includes seemingly most every other program, including older ones plus many/most programs only designed to run on MS Windows.
  • How to do this?
    1. Pick a drive letter which will be a standard way for naming this this folder (say the first character of the URL's domain name which isn't already mapped to a drive letter nor typically will be; for instance “S” for “StashIt88.Dreamhosts.com” iff “S” is available as-described).
    2. Do either of these:
      • #add via a Network Place/Location but instead:
        1. Pick “Map Network Drive”
          • and then NOT the secondary choice (“Connect to Web site...” nor “Sign up for online storage or connect to a network server” --even though you still are effectively doing these things in italics!) but instead
        2. enter the URL on that first panel (which also asks for the drive letter).
      • At the command prompt (cmd.exe), do the "net use" command. Type "net use /?" for help. For instance, possibly "net use <DriveLetter>: <URL>" - into the URL, you may also have to embed the username and possibly password, or specify via the "/USER:" option. --Insert more details & real examples here.
  • If I have a choice, should I use a drive letter or the URL? The URL -- because a drive letter, though shorter, doesn't show where they file/folder is stored AND can vary from computer to computer AND only works on MS Windows: so it isn't clear, isn't portable, and leads to links which easily break.

If you still have trouble, note it here in this paragraph (what trouble & error messages you're having). Then also see:

  1. http://MyDocsOnline.com/info_webfolders.html --this is not as complete but provides a video tutorial
  2. Google Search[Web-Folders OR (Windows WebDAV)], and to narrow your search, append " Vista" or " XP OR WinXP" as appropriate.

add via a Network Place/Location

Note THIS IS A SUB-STEP for accomplishing the parent/containing section on accessing #via MS Windows (built-in file) Explorer so see that first and return to there when done here.
And this is the default method, so should be tried first; it’s also the easiest method (when it works); note though it frequently has bugs, which should then be fixed where possible in order to use this method properly (and I’ve also included all the fixes & workarounds I’ve found)

  1. Open “My Network Places” (in XP) aka “Network Location” (in Vista). How?
    • in XP, say click Start->Settings->Network Connections(double-click)->(left hand menus) Other Places->My Network Places
    • In Vista, say click Start(Windows icon)->Computer
  2. Then start the “Add Network (Place|Location) Wizard”. How?
    • in XP, do either:
      • (left menus) click “Add a Network Place”
      • in the menu bar click Tools->“Map Network Drive...”->“Sign up for online storage or connect to a network server”
    • in Vista, do either:
      • on “Computer” or on the blank area of the details pane, right-click “Add Network Location”
      • on the menu bar click “Map Network Drive” (or on “Network” right-click “Map Network Drive”) then
        “Connect to Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures”
  3. click Next->“Choose (another|a custom) network location”.
  4. Then in “Internet or network address” paste the URL (or, if that fails, extension(s) of it as described next)

Does Explorer realize your URL is NOT a UNC (what you want)? You can tell by which popup you get, with the subtle differences in bold-italics here:

  • If yes, you’ll get a bigger popup saying “Connect to host/WebdavRootFolder \ The server host/WebdavRootFolder at …. requires a username and password. ….” – go ahead enter them (see the top of this page for their values)
  • If no, you’ll get a medium-sized popup saying “Connect to host/WebdavRootFolder \ Connecting to host/WebdavRootFolder …” –cancel out

Even when you enter the path & all credentials correctly (and even get the correct non-UNC), you may still end up
getting the popup[Add Network Place Wizard \ The folder you entered does not appear to be valid. Please choose another. \ OK]. In that case,

  1. Be sure to insure you’ve applied all the patches & updates (see the containing/parent section (above)) then retry.
  2. If bugs continue (I CaydenMC haven't seen more in Vista after updates done, but in XP bugs continue even with KB907306 (you'll get the bad popup)), then note these bugs that in this paragraph if not already noted, then try to fix it with the workarounds suggested here (and note in the workaround's paragraph if it works). The workarounds are simply editing the URL slightly so stupid & buggy “Add Network (Place|Location) Wizard” will clue in that this URL is NOT a UNC path. How? There are a few ways which MAY cause it to clue in:
    1. Try all the workarounds suggested by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebDAV#Microsoft_Windows as
      1. inserting the port # (which, if missing, defaults to 80, as “http://host:80/WebdavRootFolder”) (this worked for me CaydenMC) or
      2. inserting the username.
    2. On the end of the URL, try adding “/#” (without the quotes, so your entire path should read like “http://host/WebdavRootFolder/#”) --suggested by http://svn.haxx.se/users/archive-2004-10/0866.shtml and this seemingly worked for suggester Wwvine but DIDN'T work for me CaydenMC (for me, it DID cause the URL to be seen NOT as a UNC BUT then login (with the correct credentials) still failed with the popup “The folder you entered does not appear to be valid.”).
    3. If no workaround works, then note that in this paragraph, then try this next thing #add via a Web Folder:
  3. Return (to what you were doing just before this sub-step)

add via a Web Folder

Note THIS IS A SUB-STEP for accomplishing the parent/containing section on accessing #via MS Windows (built-in file) Explorer so see that first and return to there when done here.
All the prior #add via a Network Place/Location does here is add a Web Folder, so directly adding it is seemingly the most reliable method, as the higher level method(s) (as “Adding [more generally] a Network Place”) often have bugs. However a problem is the “Web Folders” link might not be displayed by Explorer. So here’s a trick to get to it with seeming reliability:

  1. As before, open “My Network Places” (in XP) aka “Network Location” (in Vista)
  2. click My Web Sites on MSN and then cancel any Live ID prompts
  3. Then in the left menu,
    • In XP, click Web Folders –this gives you a listing of all your Web Folders. Then in the blank area of the details pane, (right-click)New->Web Folder.
    • In Vista, (right-click)Web Folders->New->Web Folder
  4. Then in “the location to add:” paste the URL from above then click Next.
    • If this fails, I have no other solutions currently. But to help us find them, do note in this paragraph what didn't work & the error messages you got.
  5. Return (to what you were doing just before this sub-step)

add via having Windows map to drive letter

Based on the “NET USE Z:” example given in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebDAV#Microsoft_Windows this should be possible (in at least some versions of MS Windows):

To create a drive letter, #via_alternative_.28more_powerful.29_WebDAV_client_software should work.

via Mac OS X’s built-in file explorer

First read the containing/parent section (#via your computer’s built-in file explorer above) & do all steps there.

Then see:

  1. http://MyDocsOnline.com/info_webfolders.html --(I haven't verified these instructions but their probably okay)
  2. And more current instructions can be found via Google Search[WebDAV Mac OR OS-X]

via Linux’s built-in file explorer

First read the containing/parent section (#via your computer’s built-in file explorer above) & do all steps there.

Then… (any remaining details TBA).

via your HTML & website editing/authoring software

First read the containing/parent section (WebDAV How-To Access at top) & do all steps there.

With such software (as Dreamweaver, FrontPage, & Expression Web), it's often possible to conveniently browse & edit WebDAV storage, most especially if it's used for hosting a website (MS FrontPage Extensions plus MS SharePoint ARE WebDAV storage!).

via FrontPage & Expression Web

First read the containing/parent section (#via your HTML & website editing/authoring software above) & do all steps there.

TBA

via Dreamweaver

First read the containing/parent section (#via your HTML & website editing/authoring software above) & do all steps there.

To set up a WebDAV connection:

  1. In the URL text box, enter the URL of the WebDAV root folder (see top of page)
  2. Enter your user name and password (see top of page)
  3. Click Test to test your connection settings.
  4. Click the Save checkbox if you want Dreamweaver to remember your password each time you start a new session.

Notes:

  1. Select the Refresh Remote File List Automatically option if you want the Remote pane of the Files panel to update automatically when you add and delete files. For increased speed when copying files to the remote site, do not select this option.
  2. To manually refresh the Files panel at any time, click the Refresh button in the toolbar.
  3. Select the Maintain Synchronization Information checkbox if you want Dreamweaver to automatically synchronize your local and remote files. (This option is selected by default.) For more information, see Synchronizing the files on your local and remote sites.
  4. Select the Automatically Upload Files to Server on Save checkbox if you want Dreamweaver to upload your file to your remote site when you save the file.
  5. Select the Enable File Check In and Check Out checkbox if you want to activate the Check In/Out system. For more information, see Checking in and checking out files.

via alternative (more powerful) WebDAV client software

First read the containing/parent section (WebDAV How-To Access at top) & do all steps there.

An alternative (power powerful) WebDAV client (software program) is only needed when the above methods aren't good enough, why it is listed last here (for HOW-TO access WebDAV). It is needed when any of these situations occur:

  • You generally want or need your online files to have as good as performance (and capabilities) as your offline files, including:
    • You need local caching since can't or don't want to wait for big files to download and/or save
    • You need local offline caching so you can work on files even when not connected (notably to the Internet)
  • You need local caching for users to keep the server from being overloaded.
  • You want to take advantage of versioning (notably Delta-V), custom permissions, or other fancy features which your WebDAV server may offer only thru a more advanced client (though it's also possible to realize these thru an ordinary web-page GUI).

For instance, this could easily happen if you attempt to store ALL your daily files in WebDAV.

Advanced but inexpensive clients include:

  1. IT Hit's MapDrive
  2. South River's WebDrive
  3. and WebDAV hoster www.DavDrive.com lists 4 "Open Source" clients

- recommendations are TBA.

What's WebDAV and how to set up a server on Dreamhost (enable it on a domain)

This isn’t covered here. Instead see WebDAV at Dreamhost. You might also compare it with FTP at Dreamhost. But this page covers client access.

Also belonging on WebDAV at Dreamhost: Dreamhost implements its own Apache policies when enabling WebDAV on:

  • a sub-directory/folder inside your domain
  • the root directory of the the fully hosted domain
Retrieved from "http://wiki.dreamhost.com/WebDAV_How-To_Access"
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