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OpenCloud✯

ownCloud has been replaced by OpenCloud

The service owncloud.isima.fr has been replaced by OpenCloud (cloud.isima.fr): your files and shares have been migrated, and your old public links will be automatically redirected. Consult the new documentation: OpenCloud and the OpenCloud synchronization client (new client to install instead of the ownCloud client). After the switch, ownCloud will remain accessible in read-only mode. Your shared directory is not affected: it remains accessible via homeweb.isima.fr.

OpenCloud is an online file hosting and sharing solution with a collaboration platform that integrates the OnlyOffice office suite.

An ownCloud server instance was created and allows ISIMA/LIMOS users to:

You can access your ownCloud directory

ownCloud web interface✯

After logging in, ownCloud is presented in 2 panes.

In the first pane you will find:

  • The files you have in your ownCloud space
  • The files that others have shared with you

!owncloud_web1

In the second pane, you will find:

  • The list of folders marked as favorites
  • folders/files that have been shared with you
  • folders/files that you share with people who have an ownCloud account
  • folders/files that you share with an external link
  • tagged files/folders
  • access to external storage (personal drive / ~/shared)
  • the trash bin
  • some settings

Shared directory✯

Since early 2024, the shared directory is no longer automatically accessible from ownCloud. You must follow this procedure to restore it.

Go to the ownCloud settings:

!owncloud_settings

Then in the Storage section of the left pane. You will then add an SFTP storage. Then enter the following information:

  • Folder name: shared
  • Authentication: Username and password
  • Host: shared
  • Root: /home/local.isima.fr/<UCA login>
  • Username: <UCA login>
  • Password: <UCA password>

!owncloud_ext_stor_filled

You should see a green dot appear to the left of the line.

Return to your files by clicking the button owncloud_burger

Now, in the list of files, you should find the shared directory. The data in this directory is not on the ownCloud service; it is a link to your ~/shared directory or Personal Network Drive (P:)

!owncloud_web2

You can also access your shared directory by clicking External Storage in the left banner:

!owncloud_ext_stor_1

Limited functionality on files and directories stored in shared

You cannot share them with others You cannot use the integrated OnlyOffice online office suite

Since the shared directory is simply an entry point for your personal space (or dirs), any addition, modification, or deletion of files or directories in your personal space (or dirs) by any means other than ownCloud will be reflected in this directory.

Conversely, any deletion/modification from ownCloud will be reflected in your personal space (or dirs)

Adding/deleting files or directories✯

Above your files, you will see a + (see the first screenshot in this documentation), which allows you to create a directory or an office-type file.

To delete a file or directory, you have three small dots on the right of each file/directory that open the available options for the selected item. You will find the option to delete this item, of course.

!owncloud_web3

Downloading documents✯

To download documents:

!owncloud_download_file

Selecting multiple documents✯

If you want to perform an operation (deletion or download) on multiple documents at once, click on the icons of these files:

!owncloud_multi_select

Sharing in ownCloud✯

Receiving a share✯

When someone shares a document with you, you are notified by email and another notification appears in the ownCloud interface (notifications are found under the bell icon at the top of the interface).

The document does not appear directly in your files; you must approve it via the notification first.

!owncloud_sharing_approve

The share then appears at the base of your ownCloud tree; you are free to move this document within your files as you wish.

Find shares made with you at any time!

The list of shares made with you is located in the Shared with you tab in the right pane"

Sharing files/directories internally✯

You can share files or directories with any ISIMA or LIMOS member by clicking on the share icon owncloud_share_button

Then enter the first name and last name, email address, or username of the person you want to share the document with and validate.

You can share with individuals or with groups of people found in groups. For example, you have student classes (zz1, prepinp1, m2_siad...), as well as teaching, administrative, and research populations (enseignants_isima, chercheurs_limos, administratifs_isima...).

You can then choose which actions you allow on your share and an expiration date for the share. You do not need to click "Notify by email"; people you share with automatically receive an email notification. This button is useful for resending a notification

!owncloud_sharing_internal

Once finished, the file/directory is marked as shared, and a new click on the share icon allows you to return to the share configuration.

The person(s) receiving the share are notified of the new share by email and in the ownCloud interface.

You can allow people you share with to edit files.

TODO: Sharing with custom groups✯

You can also share files or directories with people outside our services by creating a public link. You can protect your share with a password.

Click on the share icon owncloud_share_button, then on Public links and finally on the Create public link button. A window opens allowing you to choose a name for your share and the type of share you want to create.

You can:

  • Allow people in the share to only view and download the share content
  • Allow people in the share to view, download, add, and edit the share content
  • Allow people in the share to view, download, add, edit, and delete the share content
  • Create a file drop (Upload only) Very useful for collecting documents from one or more people
  • Protect with a password (Quite useful with a public link)
  • Set an expiration date
  • Leave a note for recipients by email

You can also create multiple links to give different rights to these shares depending on the recipients.

!owncloud_sharing_external_1

You can then manage your share with the 4 icons next to it:

!owncloud_sharing_external_2

  • The first icon allows you to copy the HTTP access link to your share to the clipboard. You just need to paste (CTRL+V) the address to share it with your recipients.
  • The second allows you to reconfigure the share (see above)
  • The third allows you to share directly on social networks (Twitter, Facebook, Diaspora, and by email)
  • The last allows you to delete the share

Share privacy

Be careful: anyone with the public link can access your share according to the permissions you have granted. It is recommended to use a password that you will share with your correspondent to secure your share

Creating a file drop✯

ownCloud offers you the possibility to create a public file drop. If you need to collect documents from several collaborators or students, you can do so thanks to file drops.

To do this, simply create a directory and share it publicly. You can then check the Upload only (File Drop) option.

Similarly, you can require a password to upload files and you can also set an expiration date for the drop.

!owncloud_sharing_external_filedrop

Displaying hidden files✯

To display hidden files in the browser, click Settings at the bottom left of the window.

Then check the box "Show hidden files":

!owncloud_hidden_files

File versions✯

When you modify a file in ownCloud, a version of the file is kept each time you make changes to it.

To view, download, or restore a previous version of a file, click on the right side of the file to display the sidebar, then click Versions. By clicking on the small downward arrow, you download the file version to your workstation; by clicking on the time, you open the document in OnlyOffice or download it; and by clicking on the rotating arrow, you restore the file in place of the current one.

!owncloud_file_versions

OnlyOffice✯

The OnlyOffice solution was implemented in conjunction with the ownCloud service. It allows you to view and edit office documents directly online. You can collaborate on a document by sharing it with one or more people; you will then be able to edit the document simultaneously with multiple people.

Here is the list of file types supported by OnlyOffice:

!owncloud_onlyoffice_filetype

You can chat with people connected to the document by clicking the button owncloud_onlyoffice_chat located to the left of the document.

  • Using OnlyOffice
  • OnlyOffice in multi-user mode

ownCloud Client✯

Windows / Mac✯

Client installation✯

Installing and configuring the ownCloud client involves several steps.

  • Download the client here and select Windows or Mac
  • Launch the installation, leaving the default settings (remember to check the "Integration with Windows Explorer" box)
  • Launch ownCloud
  • Synchronize the client with your account by clicking on Log in to your ownCloud
  • Enter the URL https://owncloud.isima.fr or https://owncloud.limos.fr in the field and click Next
  • Enter your UCA credentials (if you are already logged in via the web, this is automatic)
  • Choose whether you want to synchronize all your files in your local ownCloud directory or only certain directories

Here is the procedure in images:

Installation assistant ownCloud client
!owncloud_win_setup_1 !owncloud_win_setup_2
!owncloud_win_setup_3 !owncloud_win_setup_4
!owncloud_win_setup_5 !owncloud_win_setup_6
!owncloud_win_setup_7 !owncloud_win_setup_8
!owncloud_win_setup_9

You will then see a new ownCloud directory appear in c:\users\<your_uca_login>\ containing the directories and files you have chosen to synchronize.

Using the client✯

In the ownCloud synchronization directory, a small icon is added to each file to indicate its synchronization status (synchronized, sync error, shared...)

!owncloud_win_usage_1

You can create and manage your shares in the same way as via the web interface (if you remembered to check the "Integration with Windows Explorer" box during installation)

!owncloud_win_usage_2

Click on Share with ownCloud; you can then:

  • share a file directly with internal users -> click on share options
  • create a public share and retrieve the link (accessible to all)
  • manage share permissions
  • create an access password
  • set an expiration date

!owncloud_win_usage_3

ownCloud Linux Client✯

Client installation✯

Caution: do not install the ownCloud client in AppImage format that can be found on the website

Use the package manager instead

Open a terminal and type the following commands:

wget -qO - https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/isv:ownCloud:desktop:daily:2.6/Ubuntu_20.04/Release.key | sudo apt-key add -
echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/isv:/ownCloud:/desktop:/daily:/2.6/Ubuntu_20.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/isv:ownCloud:desktop:daily:2.6.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install owncloud-client

It is possible to integrate the ownCloud client with your file explorer (if supported); this allows you to have an ownCloud action menu in your context menu (right-click). You can thus manage shares directly from your explorer, and a small status logo lets you know if your files/directories are correctly synchronized with the server.

The package to install depends on the desktop environment you are using:

  • Standard Ubuntu (Gnome Shell): sudo apt install owncloud-client-nautilus
  • Kubuntu (KDE Plasma): sudo apt install owncloud-client-dolphin
  • Ubuntu MATE (MATE): sudo apt install owncloud-client-caja
  • Ubuntu Budgie (Budgie): sudo apt install owncloud-client-nautilus
  • Ubuntu Cinnamon (Cinnamon): sudo apt install owncloud-client-nemo
  • Linux Mint (Cinnamon): sudo apt install owncloud-client-nemo

The easiest way to know which file explorer you are using is to type its name in a terminal and see if the application is installed:

nautilus
dolphin
nemo
caja

Depending on which ones are installed, you can choose which of the above commands to use.

Using the client✯

A directory named ownCloud is then automatically mounted in your home directory ($HOME/ownCloud, ~/ownCloud). A small icon is added to each file to indicate its synchronization status (synchronized, sync error, shared...)

!owncloud_linux_usage_1

You can create and manage your shares in the same way as via the web interface (if you have installed the owncloud-client-<nautilus|dolphin|nemo|caja> package, see above)

Hover over ownCloud, then click Share

!owncloud_linux_usage_2

A window opens, and you can then:

  • share a file directly with internal users -> click on share options
  • create a public share and retrieve the link (accessible to all)
  • manage share permissions
  • create an access password
  • set an expiration date

owncloud_linux_usage_3 owncloud_linux_usage_4