To access your files, click Files in the menu at the top of every page.

The main page of the files section is where you will handle most of what you can do with your files. The screen can be split up into multiple chunks to simplify everything that is available to you.

The first chunk is simply the header showing you whose files you are browsing (their username), as well as which folder you are currently seeing a listing for. To the right side, there is also a link that leads back to this guide.

The second chunk is the toolbox on the left hand side of the screen. This toolbox contains three tools which you will use to upload files from your computer, create new text files, and create new folders. Each of these three actions will be covered later in this guide. For now, here is what the toolbox will look like when you first start using the files section. You can open and close each tool individually by clicking it's header ('Upload Files', 'New Text Files', 'New Folders').

Each time you do something that modifies your files, the toolbox will temporarily be replaced by a status box. The status box will indicate what happened with the changes you attempted to make. Be sure to read everything that shows up in the status box, so you can see when your changes failed and what you need to do to fix it. An example of the status screen is shown below. In this case, 2 files were uploaded successfully, while the third ('barret.poa') failed to upload because a file with the same name already exists in the folder specificed to receive the uploaded files. Simply click the 'Continue' button at the bottom of the status box to clear the messages. The toolbox will reappear.

The last chunk of the screen is the file listing. This section of the screen is where changes to existing files and folders takes place. Within this section you can rename, move, and delete files and folders. Files can be editted and downloaded, primary folders can have their listing permissions modified, and you can obtain linking information for linking to your files. All these actions are covered later on in this guide. For now, here's a sample snapshot:

There are three tools in the toolbox. The first allows you to upload files from your computer into your files section. Select the folder into which you want to upload the files (more on creating folders later on; for now, just upload to '/'). Then, click the 'Browse...' button and select the file on your computer you want to upload. If you want to upload more than one file at a time, click the 'Add another upload field' link to add more file upload fields. When you have selected all the files you want to upload, click the 'Upload Files' button and be patient while the files are transferred.

The second tool in the toolbox allows you to create new files without uploading content to place in the file. This is handy for typing in text into a blank file (note taking, webpage creation, etc.). Enter the name of the file you want to create. If you want to create more than one file at a time, click the 'Add another file field' link to add more file creation fields. When you have entered the names of all the files you want to create, click the 'Create Files' button.

The final tool in the toolbox allows you to create new folders for organizing your files. Enter the name of the folder you want to create. If you want to create more than one folder at a time, click the 'Add another folder field' link to add more folder creation fields. When you have entered the names of all the folders you want to create, click the 'Create Folders' button.

Folders can be nested within one another to a depth of 6 folders. This means you can create folder navigation such as /school/english/homework/may2006, in order to organize your files much more neatly than shoving them all into one folder. So how do you navigate between folders? Within the file listing for any folder, you click the name of the folder you want to open. The file listing will then change to reflect the contents of the folder you just opened. Whenever you see '.. (Parent Folder)' listed as the first folder entry, it means that the folder you are viewing is contained within another folder; clicking the link will open up the parent folder (which is the folder above the one you are currently viewing).

Each file you upload is technically available for downloading or viewing by anyone on the internet. However, the listings of files you upload are by default private, meaning that in order to view the contents of your files, users would need to know the name of the folder and the filename you gave the file in order to view them. So while the files are technically available to anyone to view, it is difficult for someone to guess their way in.

If you wish for the listings of your files to be available for others to view, you may change a folder's permissions to permit a group of people to do so. You can set the folder listing to be viewing by only you (Private), anybody (Public), Nexopia users only (Members), or those on your friends list (Friends Only). Permissions can only be set on the topmost folders, which means that only folders created in the main '/' folder can be permissioned. Giving permission to view that folder's contents results in all subfolders being readable as well.

If you have made a topmost folder non-private (public, members only, or friends only permissions), you can provide others with the internet address that will allow them to view the file listing for that folder. Clicking the linking information icon for a folder will give you the address to use, as well as a Nexopia profile/forum friendly link tag. Providing the link to others if the folder is marked private will not grant others access: folder listings are permissioned.

For files, regardless as to whether or not the folder listing is private, you may provide the link to anybody and they will be able to access the individual file for which you provide the link. Remember, folder permissions only protect the folder listings, not access to the files themselves (so long as you know the internet address, which is what the linking information provides). For files, you will be given the direct internet address, a profile/forum friendly link, as well as a profile/forum friendly image tag for posting images you store in your files.

To view a file in your browser window, simply click the filename in the folder listing and it will open in a new window. This is handy for text files, for example. To download the file to your computer, click the download icon.

Deleting
Files and folders may be deleted individually or together. To delete one file or folder, click the delete icon next to the file or folder you want to delete. To delete multiple files/folders together, check the appropriate boxes and the click the 'Delete' button at the bottom of the page. You will be asked to confirm deletion. Note: once an item is deleted, it cannot be recovered; be sure you want to delete!

Renaming
You are able to rename a file or folder if need be. Simply click the rename icon next to the file/folder you want to rename. You will be prompted to enter a new filename. That's all there is to it!

Moving
It is possible to move files and folders from one folder to another. Check off the boxes next to the items you wish to move. Then, at the bottom of the screen, there is a dropdown box next to the 'Move' button. From the dropdown box, select the folder you want to move the files to. Once selected, click the 'Move' button and all checked items will be moved.

You have the ability to manually edit the text of any file in your files section. Of course it does not make sense to edit the text of images, zip files, audio files, etc.; nonetheless you are not restricted from doing so, even though it will corrupt the file. Generally speaking, you will only use the text editor to edit simple text documents. To begin, simply click the edit icon next to the file you wish to edit. A new page will load, with the existing contents of the file loaded within the text box. Change the content however you wish. If you want to save your progress partway but are not done editing, you can click the 'Save and Continue Editing' button. The file will be saved and the new text will be presented again for further editing. When you are done editing and wish to save, simply click the 'Save and Close' button. If, after having made changes to the file, you decide you do not want to keep the changes you have just made, click the 'Discard Changes' button. You will be prompted to confirm your decision to throw away all changes.