Nextcloud

Nextcloud has superceded Bitrix24 as SNAFU Con's digital workspace platform. You can access it at nextcloud.snafucon.com.

Joining

1. Currently, in order to get a Nextcloud account, you'll need to ping @Sammich in Discord.
   1. IT is working on setting up BACON SSO, but that will not be a thing until the 2027 con year^[1].

How to Use

Tutorials

We haven't gotten around to making video tutorials for Nextcloud yet like we had for Bitrix. Sorry about that. The user manual is available online, and you should have a PDF copy available in the root of your personal folder.

If you need assistance beyond what the user manual can offer, @Elane in the Discord is pretty well versed with the software and may be willing to help you with it if you ask her nicely.

Do I need to download the Nextcloud Desktop client?

You don't strictly need the Nextcloud Desktop Client, but it's generally recommended if you'll be working with files regularly.

Like Dropbox or OneDrive, the desktop client creates a local folder on your computer and keeps it synchronized with the files you have access to on the Nextcloud server. This gives you fast local access to your files while automatically uploading changes and downloading updates made by others.

Beyond file synchronization, the desktop client primarily serves as a convenient wrapper around the Nextcloud web interface for most users.

If you'll be accessing and editing files frequently and want them available on your computer with automatic syncing, installing the Nextcloud Desktop Client is the best choice. If you only need occasional access to your files, using the web interface is usually sufficient, and you can skip the desktop client.

Files

Files is to Nextcloud what Drives were to Bitrix. You have your own personal folder in the Files applet, and there are team folders you gain access to through your group memberships.

Groups

Groups help organize files and collaboration by giving the appropriate users access to shared resources. Each Group can have its own shared folders and, depending on the enabled apps, can also use calendars, tasks, discussions, photo albums, and wikis.

In our environment, Groups are used primarily to organize shared files and manage access. Most of the additional collaboration features are used infrequently.

Administrator Reference

Managing User Accounts

User accounts are managed from the Accounts page.

To access it:

1. Click your profile picture in the upper-right corner of Nextcloud.
2. Select Accounts.

You can also go directly to https://nextcloud.snafucon.com/settings/users.

Creating a New User

1. Click New account in the upper-left corner of the Accounts page.
2. Enter the user's information.
3. If you provide an email address but leave the password blank, Nextcloud will send the user a welcome email with instructions to set their password.

Managing Groups

Department access is managed using Groups, not Teams. This allows group membership to eventually be managed automatically by BACON.

Groups are administered from the same Accounts page used to manage users.

Creating a Group

1. Open the Accounts page.
2. In the left sidebar, locate the Groups section.
3. Click the + button next to Groups.
4. Enter the new group's name.

Users can then be added to or removed from the group as needed.

Assigning Group Access to Team Folders

Once a Group has been created, grant it access to shared folders through the Team folders administration page.

1. Click your profile picture.
2. Select Administration settings.
3. Open Team folders near the bottom of the navigation menu.
4. Edit the appropriate Team Folder and assign permissions to the desired Group.