Setting Up WebDAV For WebCT

WebDAV (short for Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is one way of uploading files to your WebCT course site. With this method, users create a virtual folder on their computer that is linked to the WebCT course site. Files transferred to this folder will appear in the user's WebCT course site. Remember that a 'folder' is a way to organize files on a user's desktop or laptop; this also applies to the WebDAV server.

To learn how to use WebDAV, see this video tutorial and/or follow the instructions below.

Table of Contents:

• Getting your WebDAV Information
• About Uploading with WebDAV
• Windows: Creating a Network Connection
• Mac: Creating a Network Connection with Goliath

First, get your WebDAV information :

Login to WebCT.

Once you have logged in, you will see a row of buttons across the top of the screen. Click the button called WebDAV Info.

 

A list of your current courses will appear on the page. Find the course that you want to set up for WebDAV access. Under the course heading, highlight the link labeled "Course Files."

Once the text is highlighted, copy it. You will be pasting it in the next section.

About Uploading with WebDAV:

NOTE: If you are running Windows Vista, you may not be able to use WebDAV. With other versions of Windows (2000, XP) accessing Internet Connections may differ, but the process of creating the connection will be the same.The following screen shots were done on XP.

Macintosh users can utilize this same technology by downloading "Goliath" from http://www.webdav.org/ (over on the right select the link for "Goliath", then choose "Download").

Also, WebDAV does not work with SFTP clients such as Fugu, Filezilla, or SSH Secure Shell.

Create a Network Connection (Windows):

NOTE: If you are running Windows Vista, you may not be able to use WebDAV.

From the Desktop, click the icon for "My Network places" (may be called Network Connections or Internet Connections on other operating systems).

Select the link for "Add a network Place".

Proceed through the Network Place Wizard, clicking the "Next >" button to continue.

Select the link for "Choose another network location" and click "Next >".

For Internet or network address: paste the text you highlighted from the WebDAV Info page from WebCT.

Click "Next >" to continue.

Now you need to enter your WebCT user ID and password.

Then click "OK".

You may leave the name of the network place at the default OR name it the name of the course. This will remain available in Network Places to access at any time. Click "Next >".

Click "Finish".

To complete the process and open the portal or window to the course, log in with your WebCT username and password, click "OK".

Drag and Drop:

Minimize the Network Connection window to view the desktop or location of the files to be uploaded. Click on the folder or files to upload, hold mouse button down and drag into the white space of the window for your WebDAV or Internet connection.

Uploading has begun, please wait.

Once the uploading is finished, close all windows. You can download files using the reverse procedure.

Creating a Goliath Connection (Macintosh):

Macintosh users can utilize upload multiple files and folders as well by first downloading "Goliath" from http://www.webdav.org/ (over on the right select the link for "Goliath", then choose "Download").

Once fully installed open Goliath by double clicking on the icon.

For URL: paste the text you highlighted from the WebDAV Info page from WebCT.

Once done, enter your WebCT username, associated password and click "OK"

To upload, drag and drop folders/files into the opened window.

This tutorial was adapted by the UCSC Faculty Instructional Technology Center from one developed by the University of Hawaii, Distributed Learning & User Servers, and is used with their permission.