# 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.

### Storage

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

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>

## 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.

#### 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.