ownCloud Administrators Manual

Versions

The ownCloud Versions app maintains older versions of a file which have been modified by an ownCloud user.

Expiry of versions

The versions app expires old versions automatically to make certain that the user doesn’t run out of space. The following algorithm is used to delete old versions:

  • ownCloud keeps one new version every 2 seconds for the first 10 seconds
  • ownCloud keeps one new version every minute for the first hour
  • ownCloud keeps one new version every hour for the first 24 hours
  • ownCloud keeps one new version every day for the first 30 days
  • ownCloud keeps one new version every week thereafter.

The versions are adjusted along this algorithm every time a new version is created.

Space limitations

In addition to the expiry of versions, ownCloud’s versions app makes certain never to use more than 50% of the user’s currently available free space. If stored versions exceed this limit, ownCloud will delete the oldest versions first until it meets this limit.

Configuration and storage

Configuration

By default, the ownCloud versions app is enabled. To verify or disable, navigate to the apps page and select Versions.

1000000000000336000000F38C3FAF84_png

Storage

Previous versions of files are stored in the data/<user>/files_versions folder.

100000000000021C0000004CACBF786C_png

This directory is automatically created when the first file version is created.

The naming convention of the files in this directory are:

<file_name>.v<unix_timestamp>

10000000000002210000002DE3BE7515_png

Utilization

The versions app, when enabled, automatically creates a new version each time an existing, non-empty file is saved.

Initial File creation

Create a file on the ownCloud server – either directly via the browser, an upload, or a file sync from the client. In this example, the file versionText.txt was created via the web browser.

1000000000000427000000324F58266D_png

Note

Since this file was initially created via the web browser, it is an empty file.

Edit the file

Edit the file through the web browser.

100000000000019E0000004CD2A0F407_png

And save.

Notes

Editing an empty file, as in this instance, for the first time, does not create a new version.

Create version

Edit the non-zero byte file either via the web browser, via the sync client or via an upload.

1000000000000194000000498325A766_png

And save.

Notes

When performing an upload of a file which already exists on the server, a dialog box appears asking whether to keep the existing file or the new file.

10000000000001C1000000FE663748B2_png

In order to create a version, the New File must be selected. If the Existing File is selected, the file is not replaced hence no new version is created.

Accessing Versions

In order to view what versions exist for a given file, hover over the line containing the file and select Versions on the right side.

1000000000000430000000AF9D6E724E_png

In this case, there are two previous versions of versionTest.txt . The thumbnail and creation time can be used to identify what was in the file in that version.

Reverting to a different version

To revert to a previous version, simply select the restore next to the version as seen in .

Notes

In the instance where a file is reverted to another version, the “existing” version of the file is versioned and can be reverted at a later date.

Sharing and Versions

If user-A shares a file with user-B, user-B may revert the file to any previous version. If user-B modifies the file, a new version is created.