pCloud, as you might gather from the name, is a cloud storage system
and is the one we use at Martin Way. It is also the name of the supplier
which is based in Switzerland thereby satisfying GDPR rules regarding
data and it’s storage. The current capacity is 9GB of which we are using
just under 1GB. Up to 10GB is cost free, but should we require more
storage then that can be purchased. pCloud run offers from time to time
and it is worth waiting for those.
What are we storing
The following information is currently being stored on pCloud in the
named folders:
Backup
Periodic backup of Church, Open Table and Lunch Club Accounts
Church Accounts
Financial accounts spreadsheets from 2011/12 to the present day
Church Council
Minutes of meetings and other documents
GDPR
Consents, Data mapping, annual returns and other supporting
documents
Lunch Club
Financial accounts spreadsheets from 2012/13 to present day and
other documents
Notices
Current year’s Weekly Notices in pdf format; all current and
previous year’s Notices are stored on the Martin Way website
Open Table
Financial accounts spreadsheets from 2022 to present day and other
supporting documents
Pastoral
Community Roll spreadsheet
Property
Log books spreadsheets, quotations and supporting documents
Safeguarding
Latest policy document
Suppliers
Invoices organised by supplier
Technical
Documents pertaining to use of pCloud strorage
Websites
Markdown source and HTML/CSS code for the following websites
Martin Way
Christian Care
Who has access
Due the sensitivity of our pCloud data, access is restricted to our
Minister, Treasurer, Property Steward and the Administrator to whom requests
for access should be made.
How to access
There are two ways to access our pCloud data
Via the pCloud app
If you want to edit or create pCloud files then you need to install
the pCloud app on your computer.
Installing the pCloud app creates a virtual drive
(P:) by replicating the online folder/file framework on
your computer and providing an index to those folders and files. It
appears that the folders and files are stored on your computer, but in
fact they are not. They are in the cloud and only the index is stored on
your computer, accessible via Window’s File Explorer on
the P: drive (pCloud Drive (P:)), in
the normal way.
When, for instance, you open an Excel file from within the index, it
is downloaded from the cloud for you to work on and is automatically
uploaded back to the cloud when you save it. Newly created files within
the index are also automatically uploaded when saved.
Installation process
Click on Download in the heading line
Click on Download button on next screen and select
the version for your computer.
The download should then begin
Click on “How to install pCloud Drive”
Follow the instructions to install the app
Once installed, start the app and follow the instructions to
complete the installation
The first time you start the app you will need to login with email,
authorisation code and password.
Now you are able to access all pCloud files on the P: drive as
though they are local to your PC.
Advantages of
having the app on your computer
As far as you are concered, very little space is used on your data
drive as it is only the index that is stored there. However, pCloud does
use some storage, usually on the C: drive, for caching files when
synchonising.
You only go through the login procedure the first time after
installation so long as you tick the “Remember me” box.
Browsing files online
If you just want to check, view, download or upload files to pCloud
then this can be conveniently done online.
Online process
Go to pCloud.com
Click on Log in
Enter email address
pCloud sends an email to that address with an authorisation
code
Enter that code to gain access.
Enter the password
You’re in!
Remember that if you download a file this way, edit and save it, it
is only saved in the folder to which you downloaded or moved it. It is
not automatically synchronised back online unless you upload it
yourself. If you do this regularly then it is better to install the
pCloud app as above.
To logout click on My Profile bottom left and select
Log out on the next screen.