Drag and Drop Files in WebCT 4.1 for Windows 2000

One of the most exciting new features of Campus Edition WebCT 4.1 is the ability to drag and drop files from your desktop or disk directly into your WebCT course.  WebDAV allows you to use a remote web server as though it were a local file server. This means you have local access to several WebCT course file folders and can use your computer's file manager to upload and download multiple course files.

WebDAV now supports local access to both the WebCT Manage Files folder and the WebCT Course Backup folder. In order for this feature, called Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol (WebDAV), to work you need to have either Windows 2000 or Windows XP on your computer and you also must do an initial setup. Here are the instructions for Windows 2000 users.

Setting up WebDAV on Windows 2000
Instructions and Screenshots
Step 1

From your myWebCT, click the WebDAV info link.

graphic depicting the WebDAV button on the WebCT toolbar
Step 2

The WebDAV Info page appears.
Step 3

From your WebDAV info page, select the URL for the course and folder you want local access to: Course Files or Course Backups and copy the URL. (Tip: The URL will begin with http://) To copy this URL, drag across it with your cursor until it is highlighted and then go to the menu bar and choose Edit - Copy.
image of Getting Started Tutorial
Step 4

From your Windows desktop, double-click My Network Places. The My Network Places folder opens. Note: Additional information on using My Network Places is available through your Microsoft Windows online help.
graphic of the My Network Places icon on the desktop
Step 5

From your My Network Places folder, double-click the Add Network Place icon.
graphic of the Add Network Place icon
Step 6

The Welcome to the Add Network Place Wizard appears.
Step 7

In the "Type the location of the Network Place" text box, paste your WebCT folder URL by right clicking and choosing Paste (or CTRL-V). Click Next to continue.
image of Add Network Places Wizard
Step 8

The Enter Network Password screen appears. Enter your WebCT designer User Name and Password just as you would on the WebCT login screen. Important: If you are sharing a local computer you should deselect the Save this password in your password list check box.

image of screen to Enter Network Password
Step 9

Click OK. The Completing the Add Network Place Wizard screen appears.  (If your password is not valid please see your WebCT administrator. )
Step 10

In the Network Place text box, enter a descriptive name.
graphic of the prompt for a folder name
Step 11

To complete your WebDAV setup, click Finish. A Microsoft Web Folder appears containing your WebCT course files and folders. 

Note:  Sometimes you are required to login twice, but this is only when you go through this initial setup. Additional information on Microsoft Web Folders is available through your Windows online help.

You can now view, manage, move, copy, save, and rename the files and folders on your WebCT server just as you would perform the same actions in file manager. However, when you view the WebCT course contents in your Web folder, you see a list of files and folders and their associated Internet addresses or URLs.

Access to WebCT files After WebDAV Setup

To use this feature after the initial setup, simply double-click on your My Network Places folder, double-click on the icon for your WebCT course, type in your username and password and a window opens with all your WebCT files. You can now drag any files from your My Documents folder or from a disk directly over the WebCT course window and they will automatically copy into your course. You may also download files the same way by dragging a file from your WebCT course folder directly onto your desktop.

(Steps written by Microsoft - included in the Knowledge Base Article KB0000000001050. Screen shots by Linda Beith.)

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