Storage

What can I store in Storage, and where does it live?

Storage keeps manuscripts, covers, PDFs, EPUBs, and other files, up to 200 MB each. Put them in folders you can rename or delete. Uploads go straight to private storage, not through the app servers. A download link only works while you are signed in. Copies you watermark in File Watermarker show up here on their own.

Can I use my own storage instead of the Toolbox's built-in storage?

Yes. We are currently integrated with Google Drive and Dropbox. To connect your own account, go to Settings → File Storage, click Connect next to Dropbox or Google Drive, and sign in. New uploads then go to that account, and they count against your quota there. Files already in built-in storage stay where they are.

I connected both Dropbox and Google Drive — which one gets new uploads?

Choose the destination under New uploads go to in Settings → File Storage. Connecting a second provider asks you to choose immediately. Until you do, uploads use the one you connected first. You can change the default later. Past uploads are not moved. On a shared account, everyone follows the owner's default.

What happens to my files if I disconnect Dropbox or Google Drive?

Nothing is deleted from Dropbox or Google Drive. Author's Toolbox still lists files that were uploaded there, but it needs the connection to open or download them. Connect the same account again to get them back. New uploads go to built-in storage, or to your other connected provider, as soon as you disconnect.

Getting started with Storage

Storage keeps your manuscripts, PDFs, EPUBs, covers and any other book files in one place, so you can use them in other tools without hunting for the right version. Set up Storage in a few steps 1. Decide where your files should live. By default they go to built-in storage. If you'd rather keep them in your own Dropbox or Google Drive, connect it under File Storage in Settings before you upload, so nothing has to be uploaded twice. 2. Click Storage in the left sidebar. 3. Click New Folder and create a folder for each book or project, for example "Manuscripts" or "Cover Art". 4. Click Upload Files, choose one or more files, pick a folder, and click Upload. 5. Your files appear in the list, newest first. Around the page - The cards at the top show your Total Files, number of Folders, files Added This Week, and your Last Upload. - Folders shows a card for each folder with its file count. Click a folder to show only its files, and click it again to show everything. - Search files and folders… searches file names and folder names. - The dropdown next to the search lets you show All Files, only Unfiled files, or a single folder. You can also filter by pen name. - Each file row has buttons to Download, Move to folder and Delete. Watermarked ARC files Watermarked copies you create in File Watermarker or ARC Tracker are listed separately under Watermarked ARC Files, with the reader's name and email. They always stay in built-in storage, even if you've connected Dropbox or Google Drive, and they expire 30 days after they were made. Using your files in other tools Files in Storage can be linked to a book in Book Library (with Choose from Storage in the book's Manuscript field) and used by tools such as File Watermarker and ARC Tracker.

How do I upload files to Storage?

You can upload any kind of file to Storage, up to 200 MB per file. Upload files 1. Go to Storage in the left sidebar. 2. If you want the files in a particular folder, click that folder first. It will be picked for you in the next step. 3. Click Upload Files. 4. Choose one or more files from your computer, or from any location your file picker can reach. 5. In the Upload window, check the list of files and pick a folder, or leave it on No folder. 6. Click Upload. A progress bar shows each file as it uploads. When it's done, a message confirms how many files were uploaded. Drag and drop You can also drag a file onto the app and drop it on Storage. The same upload window opens so you can choose a folder. Where uploaded files go - If you haven't connected Dropbox or Google Drive, files go to built-in storage. They're encrypted, never public, and only you and the collaborators you choose can open them. - If you've connected Dropbox or Google Drive in Settings, new uploads go to that account instead. - If you've connected both, new uploads go to whichever you picked under New uploads go to in Settings. Until you pick one, you'll see a reminder with a Choose in Settings link. Files you've already uploaded aren't moved when you change where new uploads go. Good to know - Files over 200 MB are left out, with a message naming the file. Other files you picked still upload. - If one file fails, the others still upload. The failed file shows Error with the reason underneath.

How do I organize files into folders?

Folders keep your files grouped by book or project. A file can be in one folder, or left Unfiled. Create a folder 1. Go to Storage and click New Folder. 2. Enter a Folder name. 3. If you use pen names, you can also choose a Pen name for the folder. 4. Click Create Folder. Move a file to a folder 1. Find the file in the list. 2. Click the Move to folder icon on its row. 3. Choose a folder, or Unfiled to take it out of its folder. Rename a folder 1. Hover over the folder's card in Folders. 2. Click the pencil icon (Rename folder). 3. Type the new name and press Enter. Press Escape to cancel. Every file in the folder moves to the new name with it. Delete a folder 1. Hover over the folder's card and click the trash icon (Delete folder). 2. If the folder is empty, confirm to delete it. 3. If it has files in it, choose: - Keep Files to remove the folder and move its files to Unfiled, or - Delete Files Too to remove the folder and its files. Right after deleting, you can undo it from the message at the bottom of the screen. File a folder under a pen name If you write under more than one pen name, you can give each folder a pen name. Files in that folder then show up when you filter Storage (and other tools) by that pen name. 1. Hover over the folder's card and click the feather icon (Set pen name). 2. Choose the pen name, or No pen name. 3. Click Save. A file that isn't in a folder with a pen name takes the pen name of the book it's linked to in Book Library, if any. Folders in Book Library Book Library uses the same folders. In a book's Details tab, the Folder field lets you choose one of your Storage folders, or create a new one with + New Folder….

How do I download or delete a file in Storage?

Download a file 1. Go to Storage in the left sidebar. 2. Find the file. Use Search files and folders… or click a folder to narrow the list. 3. Click the Download icon on the file's row. The file downloads with its original name. This works the same whether the file is in built-in storage, Dropbox or Google Drive, as long as that Dropbox or Google Drive account is still connected. Download a watermarked ARC copy 1. Scroll down to Watermarked ARC Files. 2. Click the Download icon on the row. Watermarked copies expire 30 days after they were generated. An expired copy shows Expired instead of a download button. To get a new one, send a new copy from ARC Tracker. Delete a file 1. Click the trash icon (Delete) on the file's row. 2. Confirm by clicking Delete. A message appears at the bottom of the screen. Click undo in that message if you deleted the wrong file. If the file is linked to a book in Book Library, open the book afterwards and link a different manuscript if you need one. Delete several files at once To clear out a whole folder, delete the folder and choose Delete Files Too. See "How do I organize files into folders?" for details.

Why won't my file upload or download?

Here's what to do about the most common Storage problems. "File too large: … exceeds the 200 MB limit." Each file can be up to 200 MB. Compress the file or split it into smaller files and upload again. "Not enough space in your Dropbox" or "Google Drive" Uploads go to your own Dropbox or Google Drive account when one is connected, so they use that account's space. The message tells you how much space is free. Free up space in that account, or disconnect it in Settings to upload to built-in storage instead. "Couldn't access your connected storage…" The app can't reach your connected Dropbox or Google Drive. Try these in order: 1. If you're asked to Enter Your Master Recovery Key, enter it. Your storage connection is locked on this browser until you do. 2. Go to File Storage in Settings, click Disconnect, then Connect again and sign in. 3. If you'd rather not use your own account, disconnect it to go back to built-in storage. "Your storage connection needs to be renewed." Your Dropbox or Google Drive sign-in has expired. Reconnect it under File Storage in Settings. "Couldn't create the Author's Toolbox folder in your Google Drive…" Google Drive didn't give the app permission to save files. Disconnect and reconnect Google Drive in Settings, and allow file access when Google asks. "File not found" The file can't be found in your Dropbox or Google Drive. It may have been moved or deleted there. Upload it again. I can't download files I stored in Dropbox or Google Drive Files saved to Dropbox or Google Drive need that account to be connected to download them through the app. If you disconnected it, reconnect the same account in Settings. A file shows "Purged" If a free trial ends without upgrading, uploaded files are removed from built-in storage after a grace period, and you'll see a red notice at the top of Storage. The list still shows what you had. Upgrade, then upload the files again. A watermarked copy shows "Expired" Watermarked ARC copies are deleted 30 days after they're generated. Send a new copy from ARC Tracker. The Upload Files or New Folder button is greyed out Your role on this account can view Storage but not change it. Ask the account owner to give your role edit (and, for deleting, delete) permission for Watermarking, Storage, ARC & Query Tracker in Collaboration. If you see No Access, your role doesn't include Storage at all. "Subscription required" Uploading and downloading through Dropbox or Google Drive needs an active trial or paid plan.