OneDrive Documentation and Setup Guide

To get started with OneDrive, you'll need to sign up for a Microsoft account if you haven't already. This account will give you access to OneDrive's 5GB of free storage.

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and access your files from any device with an internet connection. You can access your OneDrive files from the OneDrive website or through the OneDrive app on your device.

To set up OneDrive, you can download the OneDrive app from the Microsoft website or through the app store on your device. Once you've downloaded the app, follow the prompts to sign in with your Microsoft account.

OneDrive is automatically available in both versions of Windows, so you don't need to download it separately.

To set up OneDrive, click the icon in the System Tray or manually trigger it from the OneDrive exe file in the C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\ folder.

If you missed the initial setup process, you can still access OneDrive by signing in with your Microsoft account email address and password.

The default location for your local OneDrive folder is pointed out in the setup window, but you can change it if needed.

You can also set up your OneDrive account by signing up for free on the OneDrive website and following the prompts to create an email address and password.

Here are some basic steps to get started with OneDrive:

With OneDrive, you can store your files in a secure personal cloud storage space, known as the Personal Vault, which can be accessed from anywhere.

OneDrive offers a generous amount of free storage, with 5GB available to start. You can also get 1TB free if you subscribe to Microsoft 365.

OneDrive's cloud storage capabilities allow you to store up to 1 TB of data in the cloud. This means you can access your files from anywhere, at any time.

With OneDrive, you can share files with other users, including up to 10 GB maximum file size. This is especially useful for collaborating on large projects.

OneDrive makes it easy to manage documents and track changes. You can even create and edit Microsoft Office files in the cloud with Office Web Apps.

Here are some key features and benefits of using OneDrive:

By recommending OneDrive to friends, you can even earn extra storage space up to 15GB depending on the number of people you entice to use the service. This is a great way to get more storage space for free.

OneDrive's security features are designed to keep your data safe, with files stored in the cloud being encrypted to prevent man in the middle attacks.

Administrators can set privileges for external users, ensuring sensitive information isn't shared with the wrong people. This level of control is crucial for organizations that need to collaborate with external partners or provide customer information.

Document access can also be timed, restricting access once the period elapses. This adds an extra layer of security, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive documents.

When accessing Microsoft 365, you may get a message that says your OneDrive is almost ready.

This message simply indicates that your account has been enabled, but not yet activated. It usually disappears within a day, but could take longer.

You'll be prompted to enter a verification code on the Microsoft 365 login page.

You'll need to click the button to receive the code and then go back to your personal email account to retrieve it.

The verification code is sent to your email account for you to type in and open the document in your browser.

This is a necessary step to ensure your account is secure and verified.

Flexible Encrypted Security is a top priority for organizations using OneDrive. Administrators can set privileges that members of the organization can give external users, ensuring sensitive information isn't shared with the wrong people.

Document access can be timed, restricting access to the document once the period elapses. This is a great feature for sharing files with customers or collaborators who only need access for a limited time.

Files within the cloud storage are encrypted, preventing man in the middle attacks. This means users can be sure their data is safe, even when shared with others.

Microsoft continues to improve the safety of data stored or shared on OneDrive. This commitment to security is reassuring for organizations and individuals alike.

If you want to remove a PC from OneDrive, you'll need to ensure all your files are backed up first.

This is a good idea because it prevents any important files from getting lost when you unlink your account.

To do this, open OneDrive settings and click Account > Unlink this PC.

Once you click Unlink account, your PC will no longer sync with OneDrive.

To authorize the application, you'll need to use your Microsoft OneDrive account.

You can do this by simply running the application without any additional command switches.

Some companies may require you to explicitly add this app to the Microsoft MyApps portal, so be sure to check with your IT department if you're unsure.

To add an approved app to your apps, click on the ellipsis in the top-right corner and select "Request new apps."

You'll then be prompted to open a specific URL using your web browser, where you'll need to log in to your Microsoft Account and grant the application permission to access your files.

After granting permission to the application, you'll be redirected to a blank page, where you'll need to copy the URI and paste it into the application.

You can also use the default application settings during synchronisation processes with Microsoft OneDrive by issuing a specific option to the client.

In SharePoint, there are two main types of accounts: User Accounts and Service Accounts.

User Accounts are used by people to access SharePoint sites, and they can be further divided into two sub-types: Active Directory Accounts and SharePoint Accounts.

Active Directory Accounts are linked to a user's Windows login credentials, and they're the most common type of account used in SharePoint.

Service Accounts, on the other hand, are used by applications and services to access SharePoint sites, and they're typically used for automated tasks and workflows.

SharePoint Accounts, also known as SharePoint-specific accounts, are used to access SharePoint sites, but they're not linked to a user's Windows login credentials.

In SharePoint, permissions are granted to accounts, not to individual users, which means that if a user's account is deleted, they'll lose access to the site, even if they still have a valid Windows login.

OIT-managed systems and applications have strict security and permission controls in place to protect sensitive data.

These controls include multi-factor authentication, which requires users to provide two or more verification factors to access a system or application.

OIT-managed systems also have role-based access controls, which limit access to data and resources based on a user's job function or role within the organization.

Users can only access data and resources that are necessary for their job, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.

OIT-managed systems and applications are regularly audited and monitored for security vulnerabilities and compliance with organizational policies.

This monitoring helps identify and address potential security risks before they become major issues.

Microsoft OneDrive has strict naming conventions to ensure smooth synchronization. These restrictions are not up for debate, and adherence is mandatory to avoid sync disruptions.

Invalid characters, such as the dot (.), colon (:), and vertical bar (|), are not allowed in file and folder names. If you try to use these characters, synchronization will skip the item.

Here's a quick reference guide to invalid characters and their replacements:

It's also worth noting that Microsoft OneDrive doesn't follow POSIX standards, which means it doesn't allow files and folders with identical names but different capitalization. This can lead to synchronization issues if you're using a Unix environment. To avoid this, it's a good idea to rename any conflicting local files or folders before syncing.

You can set up a OneDrive Shared Document Library to store internal and external collaborative files. This is useful for units that need to share files with contacts or sources outside of UCI.

To sync your OneDrive files, you can use the default download location ~/OneDrive, or specify a different location using the 'sync_dir' config option.

Syncing files from your Microsoft OneDrive account can be done by running a sync command. This will synchronize files from your OneDrive account to your local directory.

If you prefer to use your local files as the source of truth, you can use a sync command with the --local option. This will synchronize files from your local directory to your OneDrive account.

To synchronize OneDrive Personal Shared Folders, you can add them to your OneDrive online by right-clicking on the folder and selecting "Add to my OneDrive".

You can also synchronize SharePoint / Office 365 Shared Libraries by adding them to your OneDrive online or configuring a separate application instance to only synchronize that specific library.

To create a shareable link, you can use a command that generates a read-only link. This link can be shared with other users for accessing a specific file.

If you need to make the shareable link a read-write link, you can use a command with the --write option. The order of the file path and option flag is crucial.

Here are some key benefits of using OneDrive for syncing and sharing:

To configure OneDrive, you can change the default configuration by downloading a copy of the config file into your application configuration directory. This directory can be either ~/.config/onedrive or /etc/onedrive. The default application values provide a reasonable operational default, and additional configuration is entirely optional.

OneDrive offers several configuration options, including 'check_nosync', 'skip_dir', and 'sync_list'. The 'sync_list' file allows you to explicitly state which directories or files should be included in the synchronisation. By default, any item not listed in the 'sync_list' file is excluded.

You can also use the 'sync_list' file to enable selective synchronisation, which allows you to sync only specific files and directories. To do this, create a file named sync_list in your application configuration directory, and list the directories and files you want to sync. Each line of the 'sync_list' file represents a relative path from your sync_dir.

Here are the three methods to skip directories from syncing:

To set up a Personal Vault, you'll need a subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, otherwise you can only store three files.

You can access the Personal Vault by right-clicking the OneDrive System Tray icon and selecting View online.

Sign in to OneDrive, then double-click the Personal Vault folder under My Files, and authenticate access via your security key or authenticator app.

To customize the Personal Vault settings, open OneDrive Settings, then click Account and click the Personal Vault drop-down menu.

Choose the duration during which time the vault will remain open after you've unlocked it - 20 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 4 hours.

To unlock the vault, click the OneDrive System Tray icon, select the Gear icon, and then choose Unlock Personal Vault, and approve the two-factor authentication request.

You can also manually lock the vault by clicking the OneDrive System Tray icon and selecting the Lock Personal Vault button.

If you change your Microsoft OneDrive account password, the client will no longer be authorized to sync, generating an error upon next application run.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps: stop the system service if running, run the command onedrive --reauth, and include --confdir if applicable.

This will clean up the previous authorization and prompt you to re-authorize the client as per initial configuration.

Restart the client if running as a system service, or perform the standalone sync operation again.

You can change the local storage settings for OneDrive by enabling the Files On-Demand feature, which allows you to store files online only while keeping a local copy on your PC.

To do this, go to the Sync and backup category in Windows 11 22H2 and click the drop-down link for Advanced settings. Turn on the switch next to Files On-Demand, if it is not already turned on.

Alternatively, you can right-click a folder or file stored only in the cloud and select Always keep on this device to permanently keep the file on your PC.

If you prefer to store files locally, you can right-click on a folder or file stored locally and select Free up space to remove the file from your PC and store it online only.

It's worth noting that enabling Files On-Demand will save space on your drive, but you'll need to be online to access your files.

Here are some ways to customize your local storage settings:

OneDrive offers a decent amount of free storage, 5GB to be exact, which is perfect for storing documents and syncing devices. If you're looking for more space, you can subscribe to Microsoft 365 and get 1TB of free storage.

Microsoft reserves the right to change its default storage offering, but as of now, career employees get 100 GB to 1 TB of storage in OneDrive. Students, on the other hand, get a fixed 20 GB of storage in OneDrive.

OneDrive's storage capacity is quite generous, especially for career employees who can store up to 1 TB of data in the cloud.

Individual users have their own storage area, which is automatically synchronized with their Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. This is a standard feature for OIT-managed users, and it doesn't cost anything extra.

You can store up to 1 TB of data in the cloud, which is plenty of space for most users. The maximum file size is 10 GB, so you can upload large files without any issues.

OneDrive Individual is a great way to keep your files organized and accessible from anywhere. You can share files with other Wright State Microsoft 365 users, and even create and edit Microsoft Office files in the cloud using Office Web Apps.

Here are some key features of OneDrive Individual:

Local File and Folder Naming Guidelines are crucial for seamless synchronisation with Microsoft OneDrive. To ensure this, it's essential to follow the prescribed naming conventions for your files and folders within the sync directory.

These guidelines are designed to prevent potential sync failures by aligning with Microsoft Windows Naming Conventions, coupled with specific OneDrive restrictions. Failure to comply will result in synchronisation being bypassed for the offending files or folders.

To avoid this, make sure to rename local items that don't meet the guidelines to establish sync compatibility. This will get your files and folders synchronising smoothly with OneDrive.

Enabling the Activity Log is a straightforward process that can be done in two ways. You can use the --enable-logging flag.

To enable logging, you can add enable_logging = "true" to your 'config' file. This will allow all actions to be logged to a separate log file.

The log files will be written to /var/log/onedrive/ and will be in the format of %username%.onedrive.log. This makes it easy to sort user activity logs.

You'll need to ensure the log directory exists and that your user has the necessary permissions to write to it. If you receive an error message, you'll need to diagnose why your system can't write to the specified file location.

This can often be achieved by creating the /var/log/onedrive/ directory.

To share a document, you'll need to select a link setting, which determines how the document can be accessed by others.

For View Only access, uncheck the Allow editing option in the Other settings section.

You can share the document with external users by typing their email addresses in the Share dialog box.

A message can be included with the invitation, but it's optional.

Clicking Share will automatically send an email invitation to the specified users.

You can share documents with users on various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.