Accessing a Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) server allows you to transfer files to and from a remote server. The WebDAV protocol lets remote users connect to a server to modify, edit, delete or create files.

Generally, the server address should be in the form of http://domainName/path/ or http://IPaddress/path/. Since this article is a follow up to my previous article Your own Mac Cloud (WebDAV) Service we have two choices to access our WebDAV server:

• within our private (internal) network using the servers IP Address such as => http://10.0.1.111/webdav/ – note the addition of ‘/webdav/’, which is the alias we defined in our setup for the folder path /Library/WebServer/WebDAV. The Server Address is your local IP address, which can be found in System Preferences under Network by clicking on your active Internet connection in the source menu.
• from the outside, assuming you have configured your router/firewall to allow it. if you have more then on Mac/Pc on your network you will also require port forwarding to be setup. You can use the server’s external IP Address instead of the internal, or if you have a domain name use it instead of the IP Address, such as => http://mydomain.com/webdav/. To find your server’s external IP address use this link.

Now that you know how what URL to use to access your WebDAV server, we can go ahead with the details for using it with your iPad apps.

Access from iWork Apps

To save a document from any of the iWork apps to the WebDAV server, you have two option:

• from within the Documents view pane, touch the Edit button, top-right corner, select the document and touch the Action icon, top-left corner, now touch the Copy To WebDAV icon. If this is the first time to access the server, you’ll be asked to enter the WebDAV address, username and password before touching the Sign In button. The last step is to select the file format, that’s it.
• from within the Document itself, touch the Tool icon, top-right corner, touch the Tool icon, top-left corner, now select Share and Print menu item followed by selecting the Copy To WebDAV menu item. Again, if this is the first time to access the server, you’ll be asked to sig-in by entering the WebDAV address, username and password. The last step is to select one of the three the file format.

To open a document stored on the server, from within the Documents view pane touch the + button, now touch the Copy from WebDAV icon. If this is the first time to access the server, you’ll be asked to enter the WebDAV address, username and password before touching the Sign In button. All that is left is to the file you want to open.

Access from Apps with build-in WebDAV protocol

Many iOS apps include their own import/export (open/save) options using the WebDAV protocol. The steps are similar to those outlined above for the iWork apps. The setup is again the same; just enter the URL, Name and Password when setting up the WebDAV profile.

Access WebDAV from a iOS File Manager

Some apps don’t offer WebDAV server connectivity, however documents can be opened in those apps via a separate File Manager utility app, such as iFiles or WebDAV Navigator. The first step is to link the utility app to the WebDAV server, which is again the same; just enter the URL, Name and Password when setting up the WebDAV profile. To open a document with an app that does not have its own WebDAV interface, but can open documents of that file type, use the Open In or Open With action option.

To save the changed or new document from these apps may not be possible, unless the offer the Open In or Open With action option mention above, which in that case allows you to open the document in the file manager app before saving it on the server. yes, it is a more complex process, but better one then none.

Access WebDAV from a Mac via the Finder

Important Never try to access the directory that is being shared via WebDAV directly on the server. If you do, you may alter the file permissions and render the files inaccessible via WebDAV.

The correct way is to use the Finder to mount the shared WebDAV folder. Launch the Finder, and choose the Go menu. From there select Connect to Server… and enter the URL of the WebDAV server. You will then be prompted with the User ID and Password that was set up on the Mac running WebDAV.

That’s it, enjoy your own Cloud storage.