ExpanDrive Help
Index

# Using ExpanDrive

ExpanDrive integrates SFTP and FTP right into the heart of Mac OS X. This allows you to remotely mount any SSH,SFTP or FTP server onto your desktop, including Linux shares, Unix shares, or OS X shares, and use them as if they were local disks.

- ### Connecting to a Server

  To create a connection to a server in ExpanDrive start by clicking the "+" button at the bottom of the Drive Manager.

  ExpanDrive currently lets you connect to 4 types of servers: SFTP, FTP, FTP/S, and Amazon S3 - start by selecting which using the Drive Type dropdown..

  Enter the address of your remote drive in the Server field, either by name (`server.yourdomain.com`) or by IP address (`192.168.1.1`). Enter your login information into the Username and Password fields. The next two fields are optional; Drive Name allows you to assign a custom name to the SSH connection, and Remote Path allows you to assign which directory your SSH connection opens to by default.

  Learn more about how to add and configure drives.

- ### The Status Menu

  ExpanDrive is operated from a menu bar icon. Unlike most applications, it does not appear in the dock.

- ### The Drive Manager

  The Drive Manager window appears automatically upon opening ExpanDrive. It displays saved and currently active ExpanDrive connections.

  Drives which are connected have a green button next to them.

  The currently selected drive is highlighted in blue. You can connect, eject, edit, and delete drives by right clicking on them, or by selecting them and clicking on the ‘Action’ button (which is shaped like a sprocket).

- ### Using ExpanDrive

  Once ExpanDrive has successfully connected, the target drive will appear as a red-tinted network disk, both on the desktop, and in the ExpanDrive Drive Manager window. You can open, edit, and save all files on the drive as if they were on a local disk, thus eliminating the the need to drag and drop files to and from a separate client.

  ExpanDrive volumes will also appear in the “Save As…” and “Open” windows of all applications, meaning you can seamlessly access and modify remote files from inside of any OS X application. Additionally, any volumes connected through ExpanDrive will appear in new Finder windows.

  ExpanDrive connections can be terminated by ejecting the network disk icon, or by clicking on the gear icon in the ExpanDrive manager window, and selecting “remove”. ExpanDrive saves a record of its SSHconnections, and recently disconnected volumes can be remounted by clicking on the ExpanDrive menu bar icon, and selecting “Recent”.

- ### Preferences

  ExpanDrive's preferences window allows you to customize your user experience.

  By selecting or deselecting check boxes, you can set ExpanDrive to open when you login, warn you before you disconnect, and automatically check for updates. Additionally, you can chose whether ExpanDrive windows open and close using an esthetically-pleasing fade, or the standard OS X effects.

  Learn more about preferences.