Using Web File Explorer to Transfer Files too Big to Send via E-mail

Files are most often exchanged between Outreach partners via e-mail. However, there are often times where a file or files may be too big to send using this method. In the past, anonymous FTP was used. However, this was removed due to inherent security problems with anonymous FTP. To address this, OIS has set up a product called Web File Explorer to address this need. This guide is split into five sections: Introduction, Creating a Directory, Adding a File, Downloading a File, and Deleting a File or Folder. If you have any additional questions or require additional assistance using Web File Explorer, please direct them to ois@exchange.vt.edu.

Introduction
For those in outreach with access to N:, you can still add and remove files and directories to the filetransfers folder just like you normally have.

Logging In
To access Outreach’s file transfer system, open a web browser and go to http://filetransfers.outreach.vt.edu/. You will be presented the following screen:

Enter in “outreachguest” as the Login and “Cm322yy8” as the password. Click “Login” and you will receive a screen that looks like this:

Navigating and Downloading Files
Each numbered task below corresponds to a number on the picture showing you where to click to perform the action.

1. To open a folder, click on its name.
2. To go up one folder level, click the up one level button
3. To return to the main download folder, click the home button.
4. Files that can be downloaded have a blue arrow next to them. To download a file, click the arrow. You will be asked where to save the file. Confirm and the file will begin to download.
5. To delete a file or folder, click the red “X” by the file or folder’s name. You will be asked to confirm whether or not to delete the item. Click “Stop” to cancel the delete or “Continue?” to confirm deletion of the files.

Uploading a File
If you wish to create a new folder for the file you wish to upload, click the “Create Folder” link (#1 in the picture below). Type in the name of your new folder and click the “Create Folder” button. The folder will now appear in the list of folders. Click the folder name to change into that directory.

Once you are in the folder where you wish to place the file, you are ready to upload. Click the “Upload File” link to begin the upload process (#1 in the picture below).

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You should now see a screen like the one below. Click the “Browse…” button next to one of the file blanks. You will get a dialog box that will allow you to select the file you want to upload. Note that you can select up to three files to upload at the same time. Once you have selected the file(s), click the “Upload” button. Your files will begin to transfer.

When the transfer is complete, you will receive the following message:
Upload result: Form was accepted.
Request total bytes:xx
Files was saved to /yy folder.
Note that xx will tell you the total size of the file(s) you uploaded and yy will tell you the folder where it was uploaded.