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NetLocker Online File Storage for Students

About Using NetLocker / Accessing NetLocker

NetLocker is the online file management system available to all HLS students. With NetLocker, you can upload, organize, access and share your files from any computer with an Internet connection.

The benefits of NetLocker include:

To access NetLocker, please visit https://netlocker.law.harvard.edu/.

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General Usage Policies

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NetLocker Online Tutorials

Click on the links below to watch how-to demos on the following topics. More demos to come!

Logging In
Uploading Files
Editing Files
Deleting Files
Copying Files
Moving Files
Sharing
Managing Contacts
Managing Groups
Using Web Dav for Windows

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Getting Started

Logging Into your NetLocker Account

To log into your NetLocker account, go to http://netlocker.law.harvard.edu. At the login screen , type in your username (what appears before @law.harvard.edu in your email address) and then type your email password. If you are unable to access your NetLocker account, please contact the Student Help Desk at 5.9576.

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Browser Compatibility Chart

As of version 4.2.33.7, NetLocker is compatible with the following browsers:

Browser Windows Macintosh Unix
MS Internet Explorer version 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0 (note that version 4.0 is NOT supported) n/a n/a
Safari (Mac OSX) n/a version 1.0-1.2 n/a
Mozilla (Mozilla Firebird is not supported, as it is still a beta product). version 1.4 or higher version 1.4 or higher version 1.4 or higher
Firefox version 0.9.2- 1.5.0.2 version 0.9.2-1.5.0.2 version 0.9.2- 1.5.0.2

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Navigating NetLocker

Your NetLocker account has been logically sectioned off to help you easily navigate throughout your account. Upon logging into your account, you will always first see your home directory's contents listed. From here, you can work directly with the files listed or navigate to other directories using a number of NetLocker navigation tools.

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Directory Contents

Your directory listing shows the contents of the current directory with information pertaining to each item. Each file or directory is listed on a separate row and contains the item's name, size, and date of last modification. For directories, the size represents the total size of all files within the directory, including subdirectories.

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Sorting

The order of your file and directory listing may be sorted according to name, size, or date of last modification. By clicking on the title of each of these columns, files and directories will automatically sort in ascending order, grouping directories separately from files.

To sort in descending order, click the column title again. The black "up" arrow indicates that the contents are sorted in ascending order while the black "down" arrow indicates descending order.

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The Action Icons

Each row also contains Action Icons. The Action Items in respective order are edit, information, lock, share, and delete. You can use the actions icons both to get a quick look at the item's lock and sharing status as well as to perform the action represented: lock an item, display an item's information, manage an item's access permission, delete that item, or (depending on the way your administrator has configured NetLocker) directly edit the item.

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The Current Directory Path and Refresh Directory Listing Link

The current directory path is located directly above the directory contents listing (e.g. username/directory). It can be used both for verifying the location of the current directory and for navigating to parent directories. You can also use the action icons directly to the right of the directory path to manage the current directory.

Within the same gray bar as the directory path and located flush to the right is the "Refresh Directory Listing" link. Use this link to refresh your current directory listing. Using this link properly refreshes your NetLocker directory listing and keeps you in the current directory path. If you add or delete information, it is recommend that you then click the refresh link to make sure you are seeing the most current and accurate information*.

*Do not use your browser's refresh button to redisplay the current directory listing. Depending on your browser, you may not see the results you wanted. For example, Internet Explorer automatically loads your home directory listing and ignores the original page from where you started.

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Size Information

The bottom gray bar of File and Directory Management features the "Choose All" link, the "Clear All" link, and the current directory's quota and size information. Choose All" and "Clear All" selects and deselects all of the directories and files in the current directory contents listing, respectively. The size information is:

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File Management

File Management includes basic file manipulation, e.g. editing, moving, and copying files, and sharing.

By checking the checkbox next to a particular file, you may choose from the top Navigation Toolbar to perform basic file management. Basic file management and the buttons associated with it are as follows:

Allows you to navigate up one directory from the currently selected directory.
Type the path or click on the browse button to move to another directory.
This button will only appear if using Internet Explorer. This will allow you to create a web folder that will appear in both NetLocker and your Network Places. This is a convenient tool to use if you want to move a large quantity of information. Information you drag into your web folder in Network Places will also appear in NetLocker.
Refreshes your current view.
Create a new folder (directory) for which you can store information in NetLocker.
Uploads files and folders from your hard drive.
Moves selected files from their current location to another location. One or more files may be moved at a time. (Requires delete permission on the file you wish to move and write permission on the directory to which you are moving.)
Copies selected files to another location, leaving the original in place. One or more files may be copied at a time. (Requires read permission on the file and write permission on the directory to which you are copying.)
Deletes selected files to trash. To permanently delete files, you must empty your trash. One or more files may be deleted at a time. (Requires delete permission on the file.)
Renames selected files. One or more files may be renamed at a time. (You must have read and delete permissions on the file in order to rename it)
Zips and downloads selected file. One or more files may be zipped into one zip file at a time. (Requires read permission on the file)
Emails the URL of the selected file. One or more files may be emailed at a time. (Requires read permission of the person you are sending the file to.)

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Uploading a New File to Your Account

You can add a new file to your account using the Upload button in the navigation toolbar.

  1. Navigate to the directory in which you wish to upload your file(s).
  2. Click on the "Upload" button in the navigation toolbar.
  3. Choose the file you wish to upload.

To upload ONE file, either type in the exact path or browse to find the file.

To upload multiple files, first change the "Change the number of files to upload" option to be the number of files you wish to upload. Choose up to 20 files. Next, either type in the exact path or browse to find the files you wish to upload.

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Uploading Multiple Files to Your Account using Internet Explorer

If you are using a Windows operating system and are also using Internet Explorer, you can use a utility called "Web Folders" to upload more than one file. Once your files are uploaded, you can access them either through NetLocker or through "My Network Places" on the desktop. To use the web folder feature...

  1. Click on Web Folder on the Navigation Toolbar. The web folder will open.
  2. Create a new folder by clicking on "File" to "New" and then choose "Folder".
  3. Copy and paste (or drag) your files into this new folder.
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Configuring your Computer to use Web Folders

Using Web Folders or WebDAV allows users to collaboratively edit and manage files or remote web servers.

Configuring WebDAV in Windows 2000

  1. In Windows 2000, right click on the "My Computer" icon and then left click on "Explore".
  2. Windows Explorer will open. Locate your Network Places in the left directory listing.
  3. Click on "My Network Places " in the left directory listing.
  4. Double click on "Add Network Place" in the right directory listing.
  5. Enter the location of the NetLocker directory to which you wish the folder to access.
  6. The address of that directory will be, "http://netlocker.law.harvard.edu/username (e.g. jharvard)".
  7. Click "Next" to continue. Provide your new Web folder with a name and then click "Finish".

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Configuring WebDAV in Windows XP

  1. In Windows XP, click on "Start" and then click on "My Network Places".
  2. Under Network Tasks, click Add Network Place.
  3. When prompted, "Where do you want to create this Network Place?", choose "Choose Another Network Location" and click on "Next".
  4. In the Add Network Place Wizard, follow the instructions to add a shortcut to a NetLocker directory. The address of that directory will be "http://netlocker.law.harvard.edu/username (e.g. jharvard)".
  5. When prompted for a user name and password, type in your NetLocker user name and password. Click "OK".
  6. Next, name your Network Place and select "Next". When you have successfully added the shortcut, select "Finish". An icon for your new shortcut will appear in the My Network Places directory.

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Configuring WebDAV in Windows Vista

  1. Log onto Windows Vista using an account with Local Administrator privileges
  2. Click on Start
  3. Select the 'Computer' Shortcut
  4. Click on the 'Map network drive' link on the Menu Bar
  5. Click on the 'Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures' hyperlink in the 'Map Network Drive' Window
  6. Click the button labeled 'Next' on the Welcome to the 'Add Network Location Wizard' Window
  7. Select 'Choose a custom network location' and click the button labeled 'Next'
  8. In the Internet or network address field, type the following: 'https://netlocker.law.harvard.edu/<your username>' (without the quotes)
  9. Click the button labeled 'Next'
  10. When prompted, enter your Username and Password. If the information that you provide is incorrect then windows will prompt you to re-enter it.
  11. Type in a name for your new Shortcut and then click the button labeled 'Next'
  12. Click on the Button labeled 'Finish' to complete the creation of the shortcut. If the 'Open this network location when I click Finish' box is checked, windows should open a new window displaying the contents of your Web Folder.
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Using WebDAV with Windows

  1. Click on "Start" and then click on "My Network Places".
  2. An icon for your NetLocker Folder should appear in the My Network Places folder.
  3. Click on the NetLocker Web Folder in which you stored the document you wish to open. If you are logged into NetLocker, the list of files within that folder will appear. If you are not logged into NetLocker, enter your NetLocker user name and password when prompted.
  4. Finally, simply find your file and double-click to open it.

Creating a Desktop Shortcut to your Web Folder

After you have successfully connected to your new Web Folder you may want to create a shortcut on your desktop that will allow you to 'Drag & Drop' data into your Web Folder. To do this:

  1. Click on "Start" and then click on "My Network Places".
  2. Locate the shortcut to your Web Folder under the Network Location section; right click and select 'Copy'
  3. Right click anywhere on your desktop and select 'Paste' to copy the Web Folder shortcut to your desktop

Note:    If you did not tell Windows to remember your password (recommended) when you created your shortcut, you will be required to provide your username and password each time you log onto Windows. Each log in will persist until you log out of or restart Windows. After providing your username and password you will then be able to copy any data you want to your Netlocker account simply by dragging and dropping the files and folders that you want stored there on to your new Desktop Shortcut.

Note:    If another user logs into their personal Netlocker account using an Internet Browser from your desktop you will lose access to your Netlocker folder until that user logs out of their Netlocker Account.

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Uploading Files in Windows using WebDAV

It is possible to upload several files to NetLocker at one time using Windows. Because Web Folders share similar functionality to regular Windows directories, it is possible to upload several documents to NetLocker using the Windows Copy function.

  1. Navigate to the files you wish to upload to NetLocker. Highlight those files by clicking on them once and using the Ctrl key to highlight multiple files.
  2. Right click on the highlighted files and choose "Copy".
  3. Next, navigate to your NetLocker Web Folder under "My Network Places" (Windows 2000, WIndows XP, and Windows Vista). This should bring up your NetLocker Web Folder(s).
  4. Click on your NetLocker Web Folder in the left directory listing so that the contents of the folder appear in the right directory listing.
  5. Right click anywhere in the right directory listing or simply right click the NetLocker Web Folder in the left directory listing. Choose "Paste".
  6. If you are already logged into NetLocker, the files you copied will transfer to NetLocker. If you are not logged into NetLocker, enter your user name and password when prompted. Your files will then appear in your NetLocker Web Folder.

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Using WebDAV with Mac OS X and Goliath

  1. Get a free copy of Goliath from www.webdav.org/goliath. The most recent copy at is 1.0.1.
  2. Stuff-It Expander will open this file and put "Goliath1_0_1.dmg" on your desktop. Double-click on this and an icon of white hard drive will appear. Double click on the white hard drive icon.
  3. When you double click, a folder icon will appear. Move this entire folder into your applications folder.
  4. Now, within your applications folder and within the Goliath folder, there will be an icon called "Goliath 1.0.1". This will open the actual program.
  5. Double click "Goliath 1.0.1" and you should get a pop-up box labeled "New WebDAV Connection".
  6. The URL you should enter is: https://netlocker.law.harvard.edu.
  7. Your username and password are your regular NetLocker username and password.
  8. You may want to click on the "Advanced Settings" tab and check "disable encoding of Macintosh resources", to avoid the issue with "dot files" noted below.
  9. Activate the WebDAV connection. You should get a "file folder" representing your top-level home folder on NetLocker. You should now be able to navigate around NetLocker as if it were a folder on your desktop.
  10. To upload files to NetLocker using WebDAV, drag the files into the Goliath program. Note: Make sure you hover the file(s) over the actual folder name to ensure your file(s) are copied to the correct location. If you receive an error message, it most likely is due to the fact that Goliath does not know where to put your file(s).
  11. You can delete files to your local "trash" folder, but they are ALSO being put in the NetLocker trash, according to our testing. Be aware of this.
  12. If you have not disabled "encoding of Macintosh resources" in your WebDAV connection, you may get "dot files" when you upload to NetLocker. These are Macintosh resource files associated with your regular files; in effect, they are what tells Mac what kind of file its dealing with. You don't need to store these on NetLocker and should be able to delete them, but you may find it easier not to upload them at all.

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Editing a file that's already in your NetLocker account

Depending on how your browser is configured, you can choose one of the following three methods to edit a file that has already been uploaded to your NetLocker account...

Method 1: Click on the file and when prompted, save to your desktop. (If your browser is configured to use "QuickView Plus", the file may open in the browser and you will need to click on the program icon to save the file.)

Method 2: Click on the edit icon (the pencil), and then click on "Save As".

Method 3: Click on the download button located on the navigation toolbar. If you use the download button, make sure you check the box next to the file you want to download first.

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Sharing Files

NetLocker allows you to share specific files with other NetLocker users using its Sharing functionality. Sharing consists of granting other users permissions to view, edit, delete, and/or administer your files.

NetLocker allows you to share any file for which you have "Administer" permission which, by default, includes all the files you own. Other permission options are...


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To Share a File with Another NetLocker User or Group of Users

  1. Navigate to the file's Sharing page by clicking on the share icon (the hand) next to the file's name.
  2. The Sharing page displays the current permissions of the chosen file and also allows you to edit the current permissions. Click the "Add User/Group" button in the top toolbar.
  3. Choose a user or group with which you wish to share your file. The Find a User page displays both your personal contact list and also provides a means for you to search for a specific user or group.
  4. Either choose a user or user group from Your Contacts and click "Ok" or, search for a user by typing in the user's full name in the "Contains" box. Type in the appropriate string and click "Ok". If more than one user fits your search criteria, you will be prompted to choose the correct user. IMPORTANT: You must change the search box from "All Locations" to "HLS". Search will not work otherwise.
  5. Click "Apply Now" to effect the changes in permissions.
  6. Click "Back" in the upper right-hand corner to exit the Sharing screen.

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Accessing Shared Files

  1. Under "My Searches", click on "Search for Files".
  2. Type in all or part of the file you are looking for in the first search box. NOTE: Wildcards will not work!
  3. Type in the name of the person's directory you are searching. For example, if you want to search in John Harvard's directory and his username is jharvard, you would type "/jharvard" in the username box (do not type the quotes).
  4. Click "Search".
  5. All files that meet that criteria and that you have access to will appear.

Share a File with a non-NetLocker User

To share a file with a non-NetLocker user, you need to create a ticket. Tickets allow both non-NetLocker and NetLocker users access to your NetLocker directories. By using the NetLocker Ticket functionality, you may allow specific access to your directories, their subdirectories, and the files within them. A directory ticket can be thought of as a direct link to a directory. Once a user clicks on that link (sent to them by you), the directory's file and subdirectory listing displays just as you would see it in its regular directory listing screen.

It is also possible to password-protect a ticket. Once the user receives the ticket link via email, the recipient user will be required to enter that password before being granted access to the directory. This is an added security measure that is separate from the permissions defined on the ticket. Note that you may grant a ticket read/write access permission but if the ticket has been password protected and the user receiving the ticket link is unable to enter the password, that user will not be able to read or write to that directory.

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To create a ticket

After following this set of instructions, the system will automatically create a group corresponding to this ticket and will automatically add that group/ticket to the directory's permissions table.

  1. Navigate to the directory for which you wish to create a ticket.
  2. Click on the Info icon for the respective directory (the "I" icon next to the folder or file name).
  3. Click on the "Tickets" link.
  4. Click on the "Create Ticket" button in the top toolbar.
  5. Define the permissions you wish to grant on this ticket. The permissions granted here will be applied to all existing and new files and subdirectories within this directory.
  6. You may limit the ticket's duration or lifetime. Once that lifetime passes (from the time of creation), the ticket will no longer be valid and users will not be able to access the directory through the corresponding ticketed link. ITS highly recommends limiting the ticket's duration time.
  7. Click "Ok" to create your ticket. You are then shown the URL that can be used to share this directory through the ticket to other users. You may choose the "Email Link" button to send this link to other users now or, you may use this link at a later date.
  8. Click "Back" to return to the main directory info screen.

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To Create a Ticket for a User Group that is Password-Protected

This set of instructions describes how to manually add the group associated with a ticket to the permissions table.

  1. Click on the "Contacts and Groups" link under Utilities which shows your existing contacts and groups.
  2. Click the "Create Group" button from the top toolbar.
  3. Type the name you wish to give this group into the "New Group Name" text box.
  4. Next, password-enable your group. Check off the "Password Enable this Group" checkbox and enter and confirm the password. Click "Ok".
  5. Once you've added the group (and optionally any NetLocker members you wish to be part of this group), click "Back".
  6. Navigate to the directory's sharing page by clicking on the directory's Share icon (the hand icon located next to the file or folder name).
  7. Click on the "Add User/Group" button from the top toolbar.
  8. Scroll down the "Choose from Your Contacts" drop-down list until you find the group you just created in the steps above. Select that group and click on "Ok".
  9. Adjust the permissions accordingly. Note that any user to which you provide the ticket link and correct password will be able to perform the access rights granted here. Click the "Apply Now" button.
  10. To then send this password-protected link, choose the "Tickets" button from the top toolbar of the directory's Sharing page (the hand icon next to the file or folder).

From the Manage Tickets page, find the ticket created for the group created in the steps above. You may either copy and paste the "Password Enabled Link" or choose the email icon and then select the "Email Link" button for the link under "Use this link to require others to provide the password you have designated for this group before allowing access to this directory".

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Email the Directory Ticket

If you have created a ticket in the above manner, you may send ANY user (NetLocker or non-NetLocker) this email. Once the user receives the email, that user must enter the correct password before being granted access to the directory's listing (if applicable).

If the user enters the correct password, the directory listing will be displayed. If the user enters the correct password and is logged in as a NetLocker user, that user will remain logged in and their directory listing will automatically refresh with the ticketed directory listing.

If the wrong password is entered, a message will display on this screen informing the user of the incorrect password. This screen will remain in the browser window until the user enters the correct password. There is no limit on the number of incorrect attempts.

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Creating Bookmarks

Bookmarks are shortcuts to a specific directory.

  1. Click on "Add bookmark" under My Bookmarks to create a shortcut to a directory
  2. Type in the exact path for the directory or browse for the intended directory.
  3. If you choose to type in the path, you must include the top-level directory within this path and the path must be exact. If you do not know the exact directory name, find it using the "Browse" button.
  4. After choosing the directory to bookmark, click on "Ok".
  5. Once back in the Add Bookmark window, click "Ok".

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Locking Files and Folders

Locking files and directories prevents other users from editing or saving changes to a particular file for a particular period of time. NetLocker enables you to control who is able to write to any item (file or directory) at any specific time. A lock stays locked until you release it.

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Types of Locks: Simple and Recursive

Simple and recursive locks differ according to whether they apply only to a single file or to a single directory versus applying to a directory and all of its contents. Simple locks are applied to one file or one directory, whereas a recursive lock applies to a directory and all of its contents, including both files and subdirectories.

For instance, if you are working on several files within a particular directory, you may wish to lock the whole directory for a time to prevent anyone else's writing to any document in that directory. Such a situation requires a recursive lock. It is important to note that you can only place a recursive lock on a directory which has no current locks on its contents. If you attempt to create a recursive lock on a directory which has some locked content, you will receive an error.

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Creating a lock on a file

There are two ways to create a lock on a file:

  1. You can create a lock by simply clicking on the "Lock" icon which appears on the far right of each file's row.
  2. Or navigate to the file's Info page by clicking on the file's Info icon and click on the Locks link.

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Creating a lock on a directory

There are two ways to create a lock on a directory:

  1. You can create a lock by simply clicking on the "Lock" icon which appears on the far right of each directory's row. Note that locking the directory in this manner creates a recursive lock. A recursive lock can only be placed on a directory with all unlocked content.
  2. To lock the current directory and every item within it (a recursive lock), click on the "Lock Directory and Everything in it" button in the top toolbar. You can only place this type of lock on a directory with all unlocked content. To simply lock the directory so that no other user can upload files to it but other users may edit current files within the directory (a simple lock), click on the "Lock Resource" button in the top toolbar.

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Lock Icon Definitions

There are several types of lock icons which can be displayed. Each lock icon defines the type of lock that is or is not on the specific file or directory.

If you see no icon, you do not have the correct permissions to know if the file is locked, i.e. you only have permission to "read" or view the item in question.

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Trash

When you choose to delete files, the files are not immediately deleted, but are instead moved into your Trash (similar to both the Windows and Mac operating systems). In case you delete a file by accident, you can move or copy files out of your trash to restore them.

Files in your Trash count against your total home directory quota. Therefore, if you need to free up some space in your account, emptying the trash should help.

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Permanently Deleting Files Within Your Trash

  1. Click the "Empty Trash" icon located in Utilities. You will be prompted to confirm the action.
  2. Confirm that you wish to empty trash by clicking "Yes" or click "No" if you do not wish to empty trash at this time.

    Note:  Files that have been permanently deleted by 'emptying the trash' cannot be recovered.

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Restoring a deleted file

  1. Click the "trash" directory located in your home directory listing.
  2. Displayed is the list of files you have previously deleted. Find the file, files, or directory you wish to restore. Check the checkbox to the direct left of the item to be restored.
  3. Click the "Move" button from the Navigation Toolbar.
  4. Enter the destination directory to where you wish to restore your file, files, or directory. Removing "/trash" from the default destination path restores the item to your home directory.
  5. Click "Ok" to restore your data.

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Creating Users and User Groups

Your Contacts are the users you wish to allow access to your files and directories. You can add a Contact and then grant them access to your files or directories on an individual basis.

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Add a new Contact

  1. Click on the "Contacts and Groups" link under Utilities. Clicking on "Contacts and Groups" opens your existing contacts.
  2. Click the "Add New Contact" button from the top toolbar.
  3. Search for a user by typing the user's name and then click "Ok".
  4. You will then be prompted to choose the correct user(s). Check each user you would like to add as a Contact. Click "Add Contact".
  5. Click "Back" to close your Contacts and return to the File and Directory Management Screen.

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Add a User Group

  1. Click on the "Contacts and Groups" link under Utilities which shows your existing contacts and groups.
  2. Click the "Create Group" button from the top toolbar.
  3. Type the name you wish to give this group into the "New Group Name" text box.
  4. You may also password-enable your group. Password-enabling is particularly useful when sharing directories with non-NetLocker users through tickets.
  5. Click "Ok".
  6. Once you are taken back to the Contact Group's properties page, click on the "Add New Members" button in the top toolbar.
  7. Either find the users you wish to add to this group using Find Users or if available, choose users from your current list of Contacts (your Operating System's multi-select functionality will work).
  8. When you are finished, click the "Ok" button. Click on the "Add New Members" button as many times as you need to add additional users to your group. Once complete, click the "Back" link at the top-right of the page.
  9. Click "Done" to close your Contacts.

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Searches: Basic Search

Basic Search allows you to search for a file by specifying an exact file name match (Equals) or conduct a looser search (Contains) to help you find those files for which you do not know the names.

Performing a Basic Search

  1. Click on "Search for files..." under My Searches.
  2. Enter the directory or directory path in which you wish to search. Should you not know the exact path, you may also Browse to the directory from which you wish to search.
  3. Enter the word or partial word in the name of the file you wish to find. Be sure to choose "Contains" if not entering the exact name of the file.
  4. Click "Find".

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