BC Apps allows members of the BC community to access and use certain licensed applications from any computer with an internet connection. The system includes file storage space designed specifically to work with BC Apps.
Accessing BC Apps Using the Light Version
Watch a short video to learn how to access BC Apps using the Light Version & also how to map access to the AppsStorage space (L: drive on Windows). Or, you can follow the written instructions below.
To access BC Apps using the Light Version:
- Using Chrome or Firefox, go to and sign in with your BC username (in lowercase letters only - no capitals) & your BC password. When prompted, complete BC 2-Step Verification.
- If you had previously used BC Apps with the Citrix Receiver: In the top right corner of your screen, click the arrow next to your name, and click Change Citrix Receiver.
- On the Citrix Workspace page, click "Use light version" (see figure below).
听 - To view the available applications, click APPS.
- Select the application you want to open.
The app opens in a separate tab and you may begin working. Note: When you click to open a second app, a window will pop up and disappear. The second app will appear in the same tab as the first app.
- If you get a message saying there is no storage space available, log out & log back in again.
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The first time you open an application in BC Apps, the process to initialize your designated AppsStorage space occurs. You will see a message window indicating your account is being initialized. Click OK. If you get a message saying there is no storage space available, log out & log back in again.
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For the best possible performance, ITS strongly recommends you save your files to AppsStorage when using BC Apps. Your AppsStorage space will display as the L: Drive within BCApps on Windows computers.
Working With AppsStorage (L: Drive)
AppsStorage is a secure drive dedicated to supporting BC Apps. Once you access AppsStorage, you will have access to any files you have saved there.
- Log in to BC Apps using the Light version (see instructions above).听
- The first time you open an application in BC Apps, the process to initialize your designated AppsStorage (L: Drive) space occurs.听
- You will see a message indicating your account is being initialized. Click OK.听
- If you get a message saying there is no storage space available, log out & log back in again.
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Notes:
- When working within any of the applications on BC Apps, your files will be saved to the L: drive (AppsStorage) by default.
- When you are logged into BC Apps, the L: drive听appears as if it is a local drive.
- You may access the L: drive to open or save files from within any of the applications.
- You have the ability to听access files stored on your local computer.听However, to make sure you are getting the best performance results, using AppsStorage is strongly recommended.
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Working from off-campus? To access AppsStorage from off-campus, you must use VPN.
Accessing AppsStorage (L: Drive) Outside of BC Apps
AppStorage can also be accessed independently of BC Apps, which will allow you to easily download/store files to be used within BC Apps (example: an SPSS syntax or data file). You may also want to move files from AppsStorage to another location or USB drive, etc.
Mapping a Drive to AppsStorage (L: Drive)
You may create a shortcut (or "map" access) to the AppsStorage space (L: drive) on your computer so that it is easily accessed. You must open an application in BC Apps first, before mapping the drive.
- Log in to BC Apps using the Light version (see instructions above).
- Open an application in BC Apps.
- Open the files app.
- On the top right, click the three dot menu.
- Click听Add new service.
- Click听Install new service.
- From the Available services, install听Network File Share for Chrome OS.
- On the top right, click the three dot menu.
- Click听Add new service.
- Click听Network File Share for Chrome OS.
- In the Mount File Share dialog:
- In the Share Path, enter (substitute "YourUserName" with your BC username):
smb://appsstorage.bc.edu/YourUserName
- Check the box next to听My file share needs a password.
- In the Username field, enter:听bc\YourUserName
- In the Password field, enter your BC password.
- If you want the drive to map automatically next time you sign in, be sure to check the听Store credentials听box.
- Click听Mount.
- In the Share Path, enter (substitute "YourUserName" with your BC username):
Once finished, your network drive will appear on the left-hand side of the files app.
Watch a short video to learn how to map access to the AppsStorage space. Or, you can follow the written instructions below.
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- Log in to BC Apps using the Light version (see instructions above).听
- Open an application in BC Apps.
- From the Mac Finder, click Go and select To Server.
- In the window that opens, type: smb://appsstorage.bc.edu/YourUserName
- Click the "+" sign to add the server path to your Favorite Server list.
Windows 11 & 10
Watch a short video to learn how to map access to the AppsStorage space (L: drive on Windows). Or, you can follow the written instructions below.
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- Log in to BC Apps using the Light version (see instructions above).听
- Open an application in BC Apps.
- Open File Explorer.听
- In the left navigation pane, hover over This PC and right-click.
- Click Map network drive.
- Select a drive letter you want AppsStorage to map to that isn't already in use. We suggest you select "L" as this is how AppsStorage is referenced within Apps.bc.edu.
- In the Folder field, type: \\appsstorage.bc.edu\YourUserName
- Make sure Reconnect at sign-in is checked.
- If your Windows computer is not a member of the BC Domain, you will be prompted to sign in:
- In the Username field, enter: bc\YourUserName
- In the Password field, enter your BC password.听
- Click Finish and the drive will automatically open and show any files you have saved.
The L: drive will now be permanently listed under This PC along with your other local or network drives.
Working With Local Files
BC Apps applications are running on servers in the data center; accessing data on your local (own) computer will cause performance to be significantly degraded.
Although using听AppsStorage听(L: drive) is strongly recommended, you may access and save files on your own computer from within the BC Apps Server.
To open a locally stored file:
- From the听File听menu of the application you are using, click听Open.
- Click the plus sign (+) next to听Local Disk (C: on BC 鈥� USERID).
- Click听Users.
- Click your BC Username.
- Navigate to the folder on your computer in which you have saved the file, and double-click to open it.
Remember, performance will be better if you save files to the L: drive (AppsStorage). Once you have opened the file, use听Save As听to save it to the L: drive.
Accessing Files From a USB Drive for Applications Used on BC Apps
Although using听AppsStorage听(L: drive) is strongly recommended, you may access and save files on a USB drive (thumb drive, external hard drive, USB card reader, etc.) by following these steps:
- Be sure you鈥檝e connected the USB drive to your computer听before听logging in to BC Apps.
- From the听File听menu of the application you are using, click听Open.
- Navigate to the USB drive - for example,听Removable Disk (E: on BC 鈥� USERID)
- Navigate to the folder on your computer in which you have saved the file, and double-click to open it.
Remember, performance will be better if you save files to the L: drive (AppsStorage). Once you have opened the file, use听Save As听to save it to the L: drive.
Restoring Files From AppsStorage (L: Drive)
If you have accidentally deleted or changed files, you听may听be able to restore them from AppsStorage (L: drive) by following the steps below:
- Access your AppsStorage space (L: Drive) or mapped drive. You must be on the BC network or connected via听VPN.
Windows 10: Click Start and in the Search field, type \\appsstorage.bc.edu\YourUserName.
Mac: From the听Finder, click听Go听>听Connect to Server,听and type smb://appsstorage.bc.edu/YourUserName. Enter your username and BC password.
- A folder displays called听~snapshot.听(Windows: You may need to adjust your view options to display Windows hidden files. See instructions below.)
- Double-click the folder to open it.
- Subfolders will display. The names of the folders indicate when the data included in the snapshot was taken (hourly, nightly, or weekly, followed by the version).
Hourly听- The most recent snapshots, from the past 24 hours, done at 8 a.m., noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Nightly听- Taken Monday through Saturday.
Weekly听- Taken every Sunday.
Versions听- The newest versions are the ones appended with 鈥�.0鈥� and the older the version, the higher the number. Following this logic, the newest snapshot would be听hourly.0, created within the last four hours, and the oldest could be听weekly.2, which would be about a month old. You are not likely to find any snapshots older than one month.
- Open the folder of the time frame from which you believe the data you are looking for was saved.
- Once you find files or folders that you want to recover, you can copy them to their previous location or to a new location. Just be careful about overwriting data if you do copy it to its original location.
Displaying Windows Hidden Files
- From the听Options听menu, select听Folder and Search Options.
- Click the听View听tab.
- In the Hidden files and folders section, select听Show hidden files and folders.
- Click听OK.
File Storage Quota
- Faculty, graduate students, and staff can save up to 10 GB of data on AppsStorage (L: Drive).
- Undergraduate students can save up to 1 GB of data on AppsStorage (L: Drive).
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If your quota is close to being reached, you will receive an email notifying you, and should delete some files or save them on your computer.
Viewing Your AppsStorage Information
If you think you may be nearing your quota, you can view how much space you have used and have remaining before creating new files. Follow these steps:
- Map a drive on your local computer听to AppsStorage.
- After mapping the drive, it will display on your computer just as any other drive does.
- Windows: Click Start, then Computer. Right-click the mapped AppsStorage drive, then choose听Properties听to view the used and free space in the drive.
- Mac: In Finder, right-click the mapped AppsStorage drive, then choose听Get Info听to view the used and free space in the drive.
View AppsStorage Information From Within an Application
You can also view your available and used AppsStorage space if you are logged into BC Apps and using an application.
Windows
- When saving or opening a file, your AppsStorage drive will display on the left.
- Right-click the drive, then choose听Properties听to view the used and free space in the drive.