VNC^® Enterprise Edition User Guide

Transferring files between client and host computers

You can exchange files with the host computer.

This section explains the VNC Enterprise Edition file transfer mechanism. You should use this mechanism to exchange files in all circumstances except when the host computer is running Windows and VNC Server is in Service Mode, in which case you can copy and paste files in the standard way for Windows. Follow the appropriate instructions for the platform of the host computer below.

Note: For more information on VNC Server in Service Mode, see Running multiple instances of VNC Server.

If transferring files fails for any reason, start with Troubleshooting file transfer.

Windows

To send client computer files to a host computer running Windows:

1. Click the Send Files To VNC Server VNC Viewer toolbar button. A standard file selection dialog opens.

2. Select one or more files, or an entire folder, to send to the host computer, and confirm the operation. The files are now ready to send.

3. For VNC Server in User Mode, right-click the VNC Server icon in the host computer’s Notification area (shaded black). The VNC Server shortcut menu opens. Carry on from step 4.

(Windows XP)

For VNC Server in Service Mode, paste the file(s) to a location on the host computer in the standard way, for example by pressing CTRL-V. You do not need to perform steps 4 and 5.

4. Select Fetch Files from VNC Viewers. The standard Windows browse folder dialog opens.

5. Choose a location on the host computer to transfer the file(s) to, and confirm the operation to proceed.

To fetch files from a host computer running Windows:

1. For VNC Server in User Mode, right-click the VNC Server icon in the host computer’s Notification area (shaded black). The VNC Server shortcut menu opens (see example above). Carry on from step 2.

For VNC Server in Service Mode, copy the file(s) in the standard way, for example by pressing CTRL-C, and then click the Fetch Files From VNC Server VNC Viewer toolbar button. A download location dialog opens. Carry on from step 4.

2. Select Send Files to VNC Viewers. The standard Windows open file dialog opens.

3. Select one or more files, or click the Use Entire Folder button. A download location dialog opens.

4. Choose a location on the client computer to transfer the file(s) to, and confirm the operation to proceed.

UNIX or Linux

To send client computer files to a host computer running UNIX or Linux:

1. Click the Send Files To VNC Server VNC Viewer toolbar button. A file selection dialog opens.

2. Select one or more files, or an entire folder, to send to the host computer, and confirm the operation. The Fetch Files dialog opens.

3. Choose a location on the host computer to transfer the file(s) to, and click the OK button.

To fetch files from a host computer running UNIX or Linux:

1. Click the VNC Server icon in the host computer’s Notification Area (which may be shaded black):

The VNC Server Status dialog opens. If no VNC Server icon is displayed, see Troubleshooting file transfer.

2. Click the Files button to open a menu, and select Send Files to VNC Viewers:

(Ubuntu 8.10 Linux)

The Share Files dialog opens.

3. Select a file, or an entire folder, and click the OK button. A download location dialog opens.

4. Choose a location on the client computer to transfer the file(s) to, and confirm the operation to proceed.

Mac OS X

To send client computer files to a host computer running Mac OS X:

1. Click the Send Files To VNC Server VNC Viewer toolbar button. A file selection dialog opens.

2. Select one or more files, or an entire folder, to send to the host computer, and confirm the operation. The Select directory to save fetched files dialog opens.

3. Choose a location on the host computer to transfer the file(s) to, and click the Save button.

To fetch files from a host computer running Mac OS X:

1. Click the VNC Server icon in the host computer’s Status bar (shaded black). The VNC Server short­cut menu opens:

(Mac OS X 10.5)

2. Select Send Files to VNC Viewers. The Select files or directory to share dialog opens.

3. Select one or more files, or an entire folder, and click the Share button. A download location dialog opens.

4. Choose a location on the client computer to transfer the file(s) to, and confirm the operation to proceed.

Disabling and enabling file transfer

You can disable file transfer while the current connection is in progress.

To do this, open the VNC Viewer Properties dialog and, on the Inputs tab, turn off Enable file transfer. For more information on this dialog, see Using the VNC Viewer Properties dialog. The Send Files To VNC Server VNC Viewer toolbar button is disabled.

You can enable file transfer again at any time.

Troubleshooting file transfer

If file transfer does not work, check the following:

1. VNC Viewer may have been configured to disable file transfer. To see how to enable it again, read Dis­abling and enabling file transfer.

2. VNC Server may have been configured to prevent file transfer. If this is the case and you do not have access to the host computer, you will need to consult your system administrator or a host computer user. If you do have access to the host computer, and sufficient privileges to configure VNC Server, you may be able to allow it again. For more information, see Preventing file transfer.

3. VNC Server may have been configured to prevent you transferring files. If this is the case and you do not have access to the host computer, you will need to consult your system administrator or a host computer user. If you do have access to the host computer, and sufficient privileges to configure VNC Server, you may be able to allow it again. Alternatively, you may be able to connect as a different host computer user and access this functionality. For more information, see Restricting functionality for particular connected users.

4. Under UNIX or Linux, for VNC Server in Virtual Mode, a program called vncconfig may not be running. If this is the case, no VNC Server icon is displayed in the Notification Area, and file transfer is dis­abled. To enable it again, type vncconfig in a Terminal window, and press the ENTER key.

Note that under some versions of UNIX, a VNC Server icon is never available. However, file transfer may still be enabled in this case.