Is Online Storage what I’m looking for?

cstuber said 1 year, 1 month ago:

I’m in charge of a community project which requires sharing information with a select few. Not all of them are computer savvy, they would feel comfortable with a password protected website. I’m looking for an easy way to store documents to be viewed by the select few, perhaps comment on but not necessarily downloaded to their computers. And to have accomplished securely.

staceyh said 1 year, 1 month ago:

@cstuber It sounds like Online Storage would meet most of your needs. You can assign login information that would allow multiple users access the uploaded content. Online Storage lets you securely share files and folders by collaborating with other Online Storage users. Collaborating lets other users view or modify contents of your shared folders, based on permissions you assign.

~Stacey

cstuber said 1 year, 1 month ago:

Thanks Stacy but after reading other comments I’m not so sure this is what I’m looking for this purpose though it does sound like something I will use in the future. The other users as I stated are not very computer savvy so they are certainly not Online Storage account holders and therefore could not collaborate as easily.

staceyh said 1 year, 1 month ago:

@cstuber No problem, I’m glad some of the other posts on our forums could help you to decide. We don’t offer another product that would really accomplish what you’re asking, outside of building your own site to collaborate in that way. Online Storage does allow you to share content with non-Online Storage users, but that does not allow for the collaboration that you’d require.

You can setup a free 30 day trial of Online Storage if you want to test the service further.

http://support.godaddy.com/help/article/5921

~Stacey

cstuber said 1 year, 1 month ago:

Stacy, you were reading my mind but I’m not sure how to start this new site. I have three domain names with you guys, one is for a business and is in use but the other two are just sitting there. I thought about using one of those to do this but am not clear on where to start or how to provide the security so that only a few have access.

philip said 1 year, 1 month ago:

@cstuber,

The biggest issue you will run into is restricting the capability of those you grant access to download the files. In just about any format you use, making those files available to those you wish to “share” with also gives them the ability to download those files. This is true for a password-protected public folder from Online File Folder (which doesn’t allow your users to comment on the links), or for building your own web site (which requires the relevant technical knowledge on your part).

Perhaps the easiest way would be to create a public folder and password protect it to limit its access, email the public link and the password to those users you’d like to have access, and ask them to send you emails regarding their comments about the files? That way, once you are done soliciting the comments from those you wish to share with, you can remove the public link (which severs access).

Might this be a possible solution for you?

~ Philip

cstuber said 1 year, 1 month ago:

Thanks Phillip, actually it would be ok for them to download the documents or to just view them. But I would need to restrict who is viewing/downloading them. Now, if I could create a public folder in Online Storage that only certain people would have access to (view or download) then that would be my answer. But, from what I read, sharing the folder would require the user to either have an account with GoDaddy or they can only download via a link. I’d like them to have the option of just viewing and/or downloading.

mahermusic said 1 year, 1 month ago:

cstuber: You ARE in the right place. The GoDaddy support members are all good people, but most do not understand what it is that is needed in this specific situation. (I’m coming over from Apple’s iTools/.Mac/MobileMe trying to squeeze out of GoDaddy’s Online File Folder what I was able to do with MobileMe’s iDisk.

Set up Online File Folder. Name a folder “public” (without quotes) if it doesn’t exist. Place any number of other folders in there, if you wish, or just the files (pdf’s??) in there the way you want. Make the distribution area of it however you want. (I use folders within my “public” folder, each for a specific group of people to navigate to. It’s less cluttered than having 100 pdf’s listed for my clients to navigate through…)

Next, log into your OnlineFileFolder website (not your desktop file folder). Find your public folder, click on the black arrow icon to the extreme right, and choose to make a “public link”. It will give you a link that you need to copy (and paste in a minute) This is also where you’ll choose a password that people will need to type to get to your public folder. Do that now.

Next, you’ll need to decide if you want to link to this folder from a pre-made website, where you would create a text link that points to your public folder (paste your public link here), or even simpler… use one of your GoDaddy domains that you discussed above to “point” to your public folder. This isn’t the prettiest way to get it done (they type in the web address, then type in the password, then they get access to the files, or the different folders with files in my case…) and download what they want. There’s no emailing individual links to people, and they can’t upload anything into your public folder. Just give them the web address and password, and you’re good to go.

Lastly, download and use your Desktop File Folder. You can add files (as well as update and overwrite, if the same name) files directly from your desktop. If you ever want to DELETE files off the website, you do have to long onto your onlinefilefolder.com account and get rid of them that way.

Hope this helps!

mahermusic

cstuber said 1 year, 1 month ago:

Woohoo mahermusic, you nailed it! Thanks, you talked me into it!

jagger said 1 year ago:

@Mathermusic. Nice post thank you

JasonP said 1 year ago:

That was a great post, thanks for taking the time to get involved on the thread.

Jason