In order to use files created on the hosting service on your own computer (e.g. AVETMISS files, exported report files, etc.), you need to download the files to your local computer in order to use them. The process of doing this varies depending on whether you are using a Windows based computer, or a Mac computer running Mac OS X. See the relevant section below and follow the directions to download files to your computer.
Downloading files to a Windows PC
We recommend using the "copy and paste" method to copy files from our hosting servers to your local PC. Save the files you wish to export either on the hosting desktop or your 'Reports' folder which is accessible through the shortcut on the Desktop. You may wish to create a folder in this folder for your exported files.
Files that are saved to the desktop on the hosting service are not persistent and will be deleted when you log out of the hosting service. Ensure you have transferred your files prior to logging out if you save them here.
Once you have your file(s) exported that you wish to copy to your local computer, follow these steps:
- Minimise VETrak so you can see the hosting desktop. If you saved the file(s) to the desktop, select them here or double click the 'Reports' shortcut to open the Reports folder and locate the file(s).
- Once you have the file(s) selected, click them and then press 'Ctrl + C' to copy them.
- Minimise the hosting environment so you can see your own computer and navigate to the folder on your computer that you wish to copy the files to.
- Either press 'Ctrl + V', or right click and select 'Paste' to paste the files into this location. Depending on the size of the files and speed of your Internet connection, this may take a little while.
Downloading files to a Mac
First time setup
Before you can copy files to your Mac, you will need to setup Folder Redirection to share a folder on your Mac with your hosting session. This process only needs to be completed once on each Mac and will allow you to save files into a designated folder on your Mac. Follow these steps to enable Folder Redirection and share a folder:
- Launch the 'Microsoft Remote Desktop' app, but do not login. If you are already logged in, log out so you can see the main screen.
- Edit the entry you use to connect to VETtrak hosting (usually called 'VETtrak') by clicking once and then selecting to 'Edit':
- Click the 'Folders' tab and ensure that 'Redirect folders' is ticked here:
- Click the '+' button and navigate to the desired shared folder on your Mac. You may wish to create a folder in your home folder or 'Documents' folder specifically for this. Select the folder on your Mac to share with your hosting session, then click 'OK'.
If you select a folder located on your network (e.g. located on a server and not stored on your Mac), this folder must be accessed prior to starting the Microsoft Remote Desktop app in order to "mount" it. If this is not completed, your shared folder may fail to show up when you log into hosting.
Now you're ready to follow the steps in the next section in order to copy files to your Mac.
Downloading files to your Mac
If you have completed the setup listed above in First time setup, use the below process to copy files into the shared folder you have setup.
- Minimise VETrak so you can see the hosting desktop. If you saved the file(s) to the desktop, select them here or double click the 'Reports' shortcut to open the Reports folder and locate the file(s).
- Once you have the file(s) selected, click them and then press 'Ctrl + C' to copy them.
- On the left hand side, under 'This PC', locate the drive that represents the folder you have shared on your Mac. This will be called 'Mac VETtrak folder' if you followed the example above.
- Press 'Ctrl + V' to paste the file(s) into this folder.
Once you have done this, the file(s) will be available to use on your Mac.