1.4 Getting Started

1.4.1 Understanding Synchronization

When Synchronization Occurs

Synchronization from the Filr desktop application to the Filr server occurs immediately after the file is saved and closed; synchronization from the Filr server to the Filr desktop application occurs at an interval designated by your Filr administrator. The default is every 15 minutes. If the server becomes unavailable, the desktop client attempts to contact the server every minute until a connection is re-established.

You can manually synchronize files if you do not want to wait for the scheduled synchronization. For more information, see Manually Synchronizing Files.

Which Folders Are Synchronized

Filr synchronizes files to your workstation when the files are located in the following locations in Filr:

My Files: Files that are located in your My Files area on the Filr site are synchronized to your workstation by default. When you add files to the My Files folder from your workstation (C:\Users\userid\Filr\My Files), the files are automatically synchronized to Filr at the next synchronization.

Shared with Me: Files that are located in your Shared with Me area on the Filr site are synchronized to your workstation by default. You can edit files in your Shared with Me area and the edits are synchronized to Filr. However, you cannot add files to the root of the Shared with Me folder from the Filr desktop application on your workstation (/Users/userid/Filr/Shared with Me). If you do, the files are not synchronized to Filr. You can add files to folders that have been shared with you, if you have Contributor rights to the folder.

Net Folders: Files that are located in Net Folders are not synchronized to your workstation by default. You can configure Net Folders to be synchronized, as described in Configuring Folders to Synchronize.

Net Folders are folders and files on your corporate file system. Corporate files can be files on your home directory, files on a mapped drive, or files on a remote server. Filr gives you seamless access to these files, regardless of their location. The corporate files that you have access to are defined by your Filr administrator.

Files located at the root of the /Users/userid/Filr folder cannot be synchronized. Instead, add files to one of the appropriate subfolders (My Files or Net Folders). You cannot add files to the Shared with Me folder.

What Actions Are Supported

When you perform any of the following actions on folders and documents within the Filr folder on your file system, the action is synchronized between your computer’s file system and the Filr server at the next synchronization:

  • Create documents and folders

  • Share documents and folders

  • Comment on documents

  • Modify documents

  • Move documents

  • Rename documents and folders

  • Delete documents and folders

    Documents and folders that you delete from the Filr desktop application are also deleted on the server, as long as you have rights to delete it. However, this is not always true when deleting documents from the Shared with Me area.

    If you delete a document or folder from the Shared with Me area and that document or folder has been directly shared with you, it is no longer synchronized to the Filr desktop application and the documents and folders remain on the server.

    If you delete a document or folder that is a subfolder of a folder that was shared with you, or if the document is located in a folder that was shared with you, the document or folder is deleted if you have sufficient rights to delete it.

1.4.2 Downloading and Installing the Filr Desktop Application

  1. On your workstation, access the Filr web application from a browser.

    For information about how to start Novell Filr from a browser, see Accessing Novell Filr from a Web Browser in the Novell Filr 1.1 Web Application User Guide.

  2. Click your linked name in the upper-right corner of the page, then click Download Filr Desktop App.

  3. Click the NovellFilr-version.pkg file to download it.

  4. After the download finishes, open the NovellFilr-version.pkg file.

  5. Click Continue.

  6. Select the language to view the license agreement, click Continue, then click Agree.

  7. Change the installation location for the Filr desktop application, or simply click Continue to accept the default location.

  8. Click Install.

  9. After the installation finishes, click Close.

  10. Start Filr by running it manually from Launch Pad or from /Applications/Novell Filr, then continue with Configuring the Filr Desktop Application for the First Time.

1.4.3 Configuring the Filr Desktop Application for the First Time

After you have downloaded and installed the Filr desktop application for the first time, as described in Downloading and Installing the Filr Desktop Application, you are prompted to configure it. This process includes entering account information, choosing which folders to synchronize, and choosing where to store information on your computer’s file system.

  1. Click Start to begin setting up the Filr desktop application.

  2. In the Account Information section, specify the following information:

    Server URL: Specify the URL for the Filr site where you want to synchronize files to your computer. For example, https://Filr.mycompany.com:8443.

    Username: Specify the Filr user name that you use to log in to the Filr site.

    Password: Specify the Filr password that you use to log in to the Filr site.

    Remember password: Select this option to have the Filr desktop application remember your password. (This option can be disabled by your Filr administrator.)

  3. Click Next.

  4. In the Synchronized Folders section, notice that files in your My Files and Shared with Me folders are synchronized by default.

  5. (Optional) If you want to synchronize specific Net Folders or files that have been shared with the public:

    1. Click Add in the Synchronized Folders section, then click the Net Folders or Public tab.

    2. Navigate to and click the Download icon next to the Net Folders or folders that have been shared with the public that you want to synchronize, then click OK.

  6. (Optional) If you want to stop synchronizing files in your My Files or Shared with Me areas:

    1. Click Add in the Synchronized Folders section, then click the My Files or Shared with Me tab.

    2. Click the Synchronized icon at the column heading to stop synchronizing all files and folders in the My Files or Shared with Me areas. You can then click the Download icon next to specific folders that you want to synchronize.

      The Synchronized icon indicates that files are being synchronized.

      The Download icon is displayed to indicate that files in your My Files or Shared with Me areas are no longer being synchronized.

    3. Click OK.

  7. Click Next.

  8. In the General Settings section, specify the following information:

    Filr Folder: Click Browse if you want to change the installation location for the Filr desktop application; or simply keep the default location.

    Start Novell Filr at login: Keep this option selected to have the Filr desktop application start when you turn on your workstation.

  9. Click Next to review your selections, then click Finish.

    The Filr desktop application is now running, and the Filr icon is visible in the menu bar.