The Audit a file report provides the various actions that any user has performed on a specific file over a specified period. The report results are exported as a comma-separated values (CSV) file.
Locate the file to audit
Before you can audit a file, you must establish the location of the file that you want to audit:
If you have access to the file:
- Use the Syncplicity online file browser to locate the file. Note the parent Syncplicity folder and the full path from below the Syncplicity folder to the file.
- If the file is synced to one of your desktop clients you can use the native desktop file browser (for example, Explorer on Windows or Finder on a Mac) to locate the file. Note the parent Syncplicity folder and the full path from below the Syncplicity folder to the file.
If you do not have access to the file:
- Ask the user to provide the file's parent Syncplicity folder and the full path from below the Syncplicity folder to the file.
- If you are a Syncplicity administrator you can impersonate the user and then use the Syncplicity online file browser to locate the file. Note the parent Syncplicity folder and the full path from below the Syncplicity folder to the file.
- Use the Audit a user or Audit a folder reports to find the Syncplicity folder, the full path from below the Syncplicity folder and the file name for a particular file associated with a particular user or contained within a specific Syncplicity folder.
Create an Audit a file report
- Start typing part of the Syncplicity folder name in the input field. The autocomplete feature assists to locate the Syncplicity folder. Click the x icon to remove the selected user. You cannot select the Syncplicity default folders such as Desktop or Pictures.
- Enter or paste the exact path and file name (including any extensions) of the file you want to audit into the File Path and File Name input field. Do not use a leading slash and use slashes to separate folders, sub-folders and the file name. For example,
folder1/folder2/filename.ext. - If the file is directly within the Syncplicity folder (not located in a folder or sub-folder under the Syncplicity folder), enter the file name and any extension. For example,
filename.ext. - Enter the date range. The default date range for the report is one month from today. You can change range each time you run the report.
- The start of the date range cannot be earlier than January 1, 2011.
- The end of the date range cannot be later than today's date.
- The maximum range between start and end dates cannot exceed 365 days.
Report CSV file column and row descriptions
In the CSV output file for the report, each row provides information on an action performed at a point in time on the specified file, during the period defined by the date range selected when the report was run.
|
CSV file columns |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Syncplicity Folder: Name |
The Syncplicity folder name. This is sometimes referred to as a syncpoint or a Syncplicity top-level folder within the user's Syncplicity online file browser view. |
|
Syncplicity Folder: GUID |
A globally unique identifier (GUID) for the Syncplicity folder. The values in this column allow you to filter down to a view that contains only actions taken on a specific (unique) Syncplicity folder even though there may be other folders with the same name. |
|
Syncplicity Folder: Owner |
The full name of the Syncplicity user who is the owner of the Syncplicity folder. The user names in this column allow you to filter down to a view that contains only actions taken on a Syncplicity folders owned by a specific user even though there may be other folders with the same name. |
|
File: Path |
If the action performed by the user was related to a folder or file contained within a Syncplicity folder (rather than the Syncplicity folder itself), then this column contains the file path below the Syncplicity folder, excluding the file name. |
|
File: Name |
If the action performed by the user was related to a file contained within a Syncplicity folder (rather than the Syncplicity folder itself), then this column contains the file name, including any extensions. |
|
Action: Type |
The type of action performed by the user. Refer to the auditable user actions section below for a list of the user actions that are reflected in the audit a user report. |
|
Shared Link: Type |
The type of shared link: "Public", "Login required", "Password required", or "Login and password required". |
|
Shared Link: Outcome |
The outcome of the "File shared link accessed" action: "Download initiated", "Login failed", or "Password incorrect". |
|
Action: Date and Time: UTC |
The date and time when the action was performed in UTC time. The date and time values are formatted in the international date and time format: yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss |
|
Action: Date and Time: UTC<+/-HH:mm> |
The date and time when the action was performed in the time zone based on the locale of the administrator's browser session when the report was initiated. The time zone's positive or negative offset (in hours and minutes) from UTC time is included in the column name. The date and time values are formatted in the international date and time format: yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss |
|
Action By: User Name |
The full name of the Syncplicity user who performed the action listed in the "Action: Type" column. Since this audit a user report pertains to actions performed by a specific user, this column contains the same user name throughout. |
|
Action By: Email |
The email address of the Audit a folderSyncplicity user who performed the action listed in the "Action: Type" column. Since this audit a user report pertains to actions performed by a specific user, this column contains the same email address throughout. |
|
Action By: Device Name |
The name of the device from which the Syncplicity user performed the action listed in the "Action: Type" column. |
|
Action By: IP Address |
The IP address of the device from which the Syncplicity user performed the action listed in the "Action: Type" column. |
| On Behalf Of: User Name | The user name of the impersonated user. |
| On Behalf Of: Email | The email address of the impersonated user. |
|
Folder Shared/Unshared: Group Name |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing of a Syncplicity folder with a Syncplicity group, then this column contains the name of the group. |
|
Folder Shared/Unshared: User Name |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing, unsharing or changing of sharing permission of a Syncplicity folder with a Syncplicity user, then this column contains the full name of the user. |
|
Folder Shared/Unshared: Email |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing, unsharing or changing of sharing permission of a Syncplicity folder with a Syncplicity user, then this column contains the email address of the user. |
|
Shared Link: Group Name |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing of file link with a Syncplicity group ("Shared link created" action), then this column contains the name of the group. |
|
Shared Link: User Name |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing of a file link with a Syncplicity user ("Shared link created" action), then this column contains the full name of the user. |
|
Shared Link: Email |
If the action performed by the user was related to the sharing of a file link with a Syncplicity user ("Shared link created" action), then this column contains the email address of the user. |
| Lock: Owner Name |
If the action performed by the lock owner was related to the lock, the full name of the user. |
| Lock: Owner Email | Email address of the lock owner. |
| Lock: Duration |
Lock duration time is based on the following examples:
|
| Tags | If the action performed by the user was related to the addition or removal of tags on a file or folder (where user is editor/owner), then this column contains the tag(s) that were added or removed. |
Auditable user actions
The table below provides a list of the user actions that are reflected in the audit reports.
|
Action Type |
Reports |
Action Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Syncplicity folder shared |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
A user shares a Syncplicity folder with other user(s) and/or group(s). |
|
Syncplicity folder unshared |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
A user unshares a Syncplicity folder from another user. This action is also referred to as removing a user from a Syncplicity folder share. |
|
Syncplicity folder created |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
A user creates a Syncplicity folder by using the desktop client to add the folder to the folders that are synced with the Syncplicity account. |
|
Syncplicity folder mapped |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
A user accepts a Syncplicity folder that has been shared with them and maps it to a local folder via the desktop client. This event also occurs automatically when a user first creates a Syncplicity folder. |
|
Syncplicity folder unmapped |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
A user unmaps a Syncplicity folder by unlinking it from Syncplicity via a desktop client. |
|
Syncplicity folder deleted |
Audit a user |
A user deletes a Syncplicity folder by removing it from the Syncplicity account via a desktop client. |
|
Syncplicity folder restored |
Audit a user, Audit a folder |
Syncplicity Support restores a Syncplicity folder (syncpoint) on request by one of your account administrators. |
|
File shared link created |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user generates a shared link (URL) to a file within the Syncplicity account. The type of shared link security selected is recorded: Public, Password required, Login required, Login and password required. |
|
File shared link accessed |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user accesses a shared link (URL) to a file within the Syncplicity account. The access outcome is recorded: Download initiated, Password incorrect, Login failed. |
|
File shared link deactivated |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user deactivates a shared link to a file. |
|
File created |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user creates a file in one of the folders that their desktop client is syncing to the Syncplicity account, or a user uploads a file to Syncplicity via their mobile client, or a user uploads a file via their Syncplicity online file browser. |
|
File updated |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user updates, or uploads a new version, of a file that is already being synced via Syncplicity using their Syncplicity desktop, mobile or web interface. |
|
File deleted |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user deletes a file that is already being synced using the Syncplicity desktop, mobile or web interface. |
|
File restored |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user restores a file, via the Syncplicity online file browser, that the user had previously deleted. |
|
File recreated |
Audit a user, Audit a folder, Audit a file |
A user moves a file out of a folder on the desktop that is being synced (causing a file deleted event within Syncplicity) and then moves or copies the unchanged file back to the original folder (causing a file recreated event). |
| File tag added | Audit a folder, Audit a file | A user adds a tag on a file or folder. |
| File tag removed | Audit a folder, Audit a file | A user removes a tag on a file or folder. |