How to Send Huge Computer Files and Images Instantly without Using Email

Posted 1:40 PM, August 30, 2007, by jaruiz

Did you ever need to send files that are too big to send via email--like 50MB big? Does someone in another state need to get these files ASAP? Here's a cool way to solve this problem.

First, ask Radiology IT to create a folder within the AFS WWW directory for your function or section. Provide them the SUNet IDs of those members who need read/write access to the folder. You could label your folder with the name of your section (e.g., "neuro") or your Principal Investigator (e.g., "plevritis" if your P.I. is Dr. Sylvia Plevritis). For this article, we'll use "plevritis" as an example folder name.

You will need the latest version of Stanford Desktop Tools (SDT), which you can download by accessing http://ess.stanford.edu. Select the Windows or Macintosh download link, depending on the type of computer you have. Next, select "Stanford Desktop Tools" (SDT) and download the software. If you need help installing SDT, contact one of your friendly Radiology IT people. Ask them to set it to "load" and "obtain credentials" at startup.

Next, decide which files and folders you want to upload to your newly-created WWW folder on AFS. Here's how to upload files to this folder:

How to upload from WINDOWS using Stanford Desktop Tools (SDT)
In the lower right-hand tray, right-click on the SDT controller icon and select "Mount AFS Volume." If you do not have a credential for login, you will be prompted to provide one. Login with your SUNet ID and password as you would for Stanford email.

Click on the "Mount Volume Belonging to . . . My Home" tab and select "Department."

In the box to the right of "Department," type in "radiology" (lowercase). Click "Mount." You can then close or hide this window.

When the radiology AFS directory folder appears, scroll down to find and open the WWW folder. Open the "plevritis" folder. Copy (drag-and-drop) the files/folders that you want to make available for viewing/downloading via the WWW folder. WARNING: NO PATIENT DATA (HIPAA Identifiers) ARE ALLOWED IN THE WWW FOLDER!

SDT will remember where you've been and show the directories as menu options the next time you right-click the red SDT controller icon.

How to upload from MAC OS 10.4.x using Stanford Desktop Tools (SDT)
Right-click on the SDT controller icon in your dock. Select "Mount AFS Volume." You will be prompted to login with your SUNet ID and password.

Click on "Home" and select "Department." In the box to the right, type in "radiology" (lower case) and click the "Mount" button.

The radiology AFS directory will appear; find and double click on the WWW folder. Open the "plevritis" folder. Copy (drag-and-drop) the files/folders that you want to make available for viewing/downloading via the WWW folder. WARNING: NO PATIENT DATA (HIPAA Identifiers) ARE ALLOWED IN THE WWW FOLDER!

SDT will remember the last few places you have mounted and show them in the menu the next time you right-click on the red SDT controller icon in your dock. Thus, you won't have to go through all of the above steps each time.

How to share
Now that you have placed your files in your WWW folder, others can download them from any web browser by entering the following URL:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/radiology/plevritis

Cool time-saving options
For Windows: Hold the Shift and Ctrl keys and drag the desired folder icon to your desktop. It will create a shortcut to that folder for your quick access later. Notice the curved arrow on the folder icon indicating that it is a shortcut. Once you are authenticated in Kerberos, just double-click on the shortcut to quickly return to your AFS folder.

For Mac: Simultaneously hold the Apple key and the Option (Alt) key and drag the desired folder icon to your desktop. Once you are authenticated in Kerberos and the small afs icon appears on your desktop, you can double-click on the alias you made to quickly return to your AFS folder. Notice the curved arrow on the folder icon indicating that it is an alias.

Housekeeping
Once you are sure that your collaborators have downloaded the desired files (after a day or so), delete your folders from the "plevritis" folder. While it is highly unlikely that uninvited users could guess the URL above, ANY web user has download access to this directory. Be careful!

The AFS folders are not intended for long-term storage. Use them for short-term collaboration, then archive your files onto your local hard disk/CD/DVD and delete them from the AFS folder that you used. If snoopy users try to "go up" a directory level from the WWW folder, they will be redirected, and they will not be able to see other folders within the WWW folder.

Call 5-4928 if you do not have Stanford Desktop Tools (SDT) or do not have Mac OS 10.4.x.

Happy file sharing!