Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the sharing possibilities available in SURFdrive. Are there any questions regarding SURFdrive who aren't listed below, please visit our support page for help.


If a user name cannot be found within SURFdrive, SURFdrive offers the option of sharing with other ownCloud instances. After the given name appears (federated). However, this only works if there really is such an ownCloud instance. If you enter a name / EPPN of someone who just doesn't have a SURFdrive account, this federated option gives the following error: "Sharing (folder) failed could not find (user) - maybe server is currently unreachable." This option is mainly there to make sharing with foreign research institutions easier. Many sister institutions of SURF also offer Owncloud-based services. This way you can share with them.

Do you want to share a file with someone? You can search by user in the SURFdrive search function. Sometimes you can't find a user account. The following may be going on:

  1. You search by first or last name. That does not always give results. Ask for the user's correct email address and then search for it.
  2. Sometimes the search only returns a "federated" account. See: I see (federated) appear behind an email address, what does that mean? If the user account is registered with SURFdrive, you do not search for the 'federated' user account. Look for the 'User' account. This account also shows the user's full name. Don't see this option? Then look at point 3 below.

  3. The user has never logged in to SURFdrive; the account is therefore not yet registered in the SURFdrive database. First have the person you are looking for log in to SURFdrive, and shortly afterwards they can be found in the search function. You will then see the 'User' account (just like in the image above).


Can't find the one you're looking for? Then ask for the user name with which the person is registered on SURFdrive. You can easily find them at the Personal settings tab.

In the web browser, in Shared by you, view all the files and folders that you share. In Shared you can see who you share files or folders with, and with what permissions. Whether people share data with third parties is not visible.

In Shared via a link, you will only see files and folders that you share with external parties. You do not see to which e-mail address you sent the link, or whether it will be distributed further.


Tip

Simply uncheck and re-check the link box. This way you generate a new link and make the old one unusable.

In your web browser, under Shared with you, you will find all files and folders that have been shared with you. To the right of the file name you can see who is the owner of the file or folder.

You can give users you share with delete rights. Please note: if this deletes files or folders, they will also disappear from the files on your SURFdrive. However, you can restore these files or folders in the SURFdrive web environment under Deleted files.

Lost files or folders can be restored for up to 30 days in the SURFdrive web environment via Deleted files. The person who deleted your file or folder can also restore it via Deleted files. See for more info our privacy policy.









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