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Introduction to Dropbox
Introduction to Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage services that enable you to store your files online “in the cloud.” You can store your files online for easy access from anywhere — your home computer, your work computer, or your mobile device. Your files are stored on Dropbox’s servers and can be synchronized, or automatically kept up-to-date, on all of your devices. The basic Dropbox service is free, and allows you to store up to 2GB of files, but you can upgrade for a fee to get more storage space and additional features.
Important Information
Important Information
Accidentally filling up your Dropbox folder
Accidentally filling up your Dropbox folder
Only use the Dropbox folder you will create by following the direction below for your class files. Frequently what can happen is you can later download something totally unrelated from the Internet (i.e. a game, etc.), and when you do a Save, Windows will automatically put it in your Dropbox folder (if that was the last place your saved a file), unless you navigate somewhere else. Only use the Dropbox folder for class work.
The storage limit on Dropbox is 2,000MB. The class files are only 20MB, so there is plenty of room for your class projects that will be stored in Dropbox as well.
How to Access your Dropbox folder
How to Access your Dropbox folder
There are two ways to access your Dropbox files.
The first is the web interface, through your browser. This is a quick way of seeing what is in your Dropbox, but this method will not work in this class because you will need to be editing the class files in a special text editor.
The second method is using File Explorer. When you install Dropbox following the instructions below, you are installing an application, a program, on your PC. That program will create a folder called Dropbox on your hard drive in your User folder. You will be accessing the files used in class using the File Explorer program. Open up File Explorer, and on the left-hand side of File Explorer you can scroll down to below your username, and you will see the Dropbox folder. Open the folder, and all your class files will be in a subdirectory called Class, that you will have created following the instructions below.
Next, setup up your Text Editor
Next, setup up your Text Editor
All of the website assignments you will be working on will be done through a text editor. A text editor is designed to edit the textual information, and all websites files are text files. We highly recommend installing and using Sublime as your text editor. You will open the class text files that will be in your Class subdirectory, that's in Dropbox, into the Sublime text editor.
Watch out for where your text editor is saving your class assignments
Watch out for where your text editor is saving your class assignments
It is very important that when you are using your text editor to edit a class text file, that you are careful as to where you then save those text files. What typically happens is you open up a class text file in your text editor, but when you then go to save it, it saves it somewhere else. This is normal behavior, and you need to be aware of it. Follow these steps when saving your work:
Whenever you are going to save what you have done, will click on the File pull-down menu.
Instead of clicking on Save, select Save As. A Save As window will appear showing the folders and files on your PC.
From there you will navigate to the same Dropbox folder that the class text file you have been working on is stored, and save it there.
What commonly happens is that the files you have edited, and then saved, end up being stored someplace else on your computer. When that happens the website files will not function correctly. So it's very important to make sure when the Save As window appears, that you navigate back into the folder that the class text files came from, and save them there .
How I will be grading your work
How I will be grading your work
To check on the progress you have made, I will be accessing those same files in your Class subdirectory in Dropbox. I will only be able to "see" the files you have placed in the Class subdirectory in Dropbox. If they are stored anywhere else, I can't access them, and I can't grade them. Taking a picture with your phone of your work doesn't qualify as having completed the assignments. You need to be editing the class text files in their correct place in Dropbox.
For information on how to install Dropbox go to: Installing the Dropbox app on your computer .
Dropbox Installation Instructions
Dropbox Installation Instructions
The files that accompany the class text will be installed in either your Dropbox or in Google Drive. If Dropbox is being used, you will need to install it on both the PC you will be using in class and the PC you will be using at home. You will frequently work on the class exercise files in Dropbox in class, and then continue to work on them at home. Any changes you make to the exercise files while in class will get updated at your home, and vise versa. To install Dropbox, follow these directions:
To download Dropbox, click on this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/downloading
If that link is not working, these two links are also available"
Windows 10: https://www.dropbox.com/install
Once you click on that link, the following will appear on your screen.
3. Next, you will be prompted to save the Dropbox install file to someplace on your PC. I recommend putting in in the Downloads folder.
4. On the bottom of your web browser you will see the Dropbox installer file. Click on it.
Dropbox will show its progress installing itself.
5. When the Dropbox installation is completed, Dropbox will ask you to configure its settings. Click on Next.
6. When the Choose how to sync your files screen opens, select Make files local. This is very important, as it will put the files for your class directly on your hard drive so that you can work with them.
7. As shown below, select Continue with Basic.
8. In the next setup screen you will see, Dropbox is asking if you want to keep you PC backed up.
WARNING: YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS.
WARNING: YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS.
Instead, click the Not now link (green arrow).
Instead, click the Not now link (green arrow).
9. Dropbox will ask you to confirm that you don't want to back up your PC. Click the Continue to Dropbox button.
10. Dropbox will now open file explorer, and you will see the Dropbox folder. You will work out of this folder on all your class files.
11. On your desktop, locate the Dropbox icon, and right-click on it. Select Pin to Taskbar. This will put Dropbox on your taskbar so you can easily find it,
12. Go to your Dropbox folder, and select Create Folder.
13. Type in the name of the folder as Class.
14. Right-Click on the folder you just created and select Share...
15. In the To: field type helpdesk@gbcseagles.org and then click on Share.
17. That is it. The files you will need to complete the exercises in the class text will be placed in your Class folder.
Logging into Dropbox
Logging into Dropbox
If you ever need to sign into Dropbox, you will see the prompt below.
If you are already logged into your school email in Chrome, click Sign in with Google. It may prompt you to select an email account. Select your @gbcseagles.org account.
If you are not already logged into your school email account, type in your school email address and the password you gave Dropbox.
If you select Sign in with Google, you will get this prompt to confirm that you want to use your Google account to sing in.
Google then confirms the email you want to use. Select Allow.
And that's it. You will now be logged into Dropbox.
Uninstalling Dropbox
Uninstalling Dropbox
If you need to uninstall Dropbox, click on this link.
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