Overview
The Files tab stores documents, images, and other files associated with a project. Every place a file can live gets its own card at the top of the tab, and where you drop a file is where it is stored:
- Beeswax Storage — always there. Files are held by Beeswax and count toward your plan's storage allowance.
- Your NAS — appears when a NAS is connected. Files dropped here are written straight to your NAS; Beeswax keeps no copy and none of your plan storage is used.
- Your Google Drive — appears when Google Drive is connected. Same deal: the file goes to your Drive, not to Beeswax.
Each backend card also lets you link files that are already there, without moving or copying anything.
Files can be viewed in a list or card layout, searched by keyword, and shared with others via download links.
Upload to Beeswax Storage
Drop files on the Beeswax Storage card, or click it to open a file picker.
How It Works
- Files are uploaded over HTTPS and held by Beeswax, with each selected file processed independently
- Up to 10 files can be uploaded at a time
- Files are accessible from anywhere and can be versioned
- They count toward your plan's storage allowance — the card shows how much you have used
Best For
- Teams without their own storage
- Files you want versioned
- Quick one-off uploads
Upload to your NAS
Drop files on your NAS card, or click it to open a file picker.
How It Works
- The file is written straight to your NAS over WebDAV, into the project's folder
- Beeswax keeps no copy — none of your plan storage is used
- The file shows in the list with the NAS icon in the Source column
Best For
- Large files
- Teams that use a NAS as their primary file store
Note: Because Beeswax holds no copy, files on your NAS cannot be versioned yet. The card only appears when your NAS is configured and connected. If you see "NAS Not Connected", check your storage settings.
Files already on your NAS
The Files page lists the project's NAS folder as it is, so files saved there from your network appear on their own — nothing is uploaded or moved. Browse existing files on the NAS card reaches files elsewhere on your NAS and adds them to the project.
Upload to your Google Drive
Drop files on your Google Drive card, or click it to open a file picker.
How It Works
- The file is written into the project's folder in your Drive
- Beeswax keeps no copy — none of your plan storage is used
- Open in Google Drive takes you to the project folder
Link files already in your Drive
Link files from Drive opens Google's own file picker. Selected files are linked to the project rather than copied, and stay where they are. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides can be linked too — Beeswax opens them in Google Drive rather than downloading them.
Note: Full detail, including what Beeswax can and cannot see in your Drive, is in the Google Drive Storage help article.
Beeswax, NAS and Google Drive — Key Differences
| Beeswax Storage | Your NAS | Your Google Drive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where files live | Beeswax cloud storage | Your NAS device | Your Google Drive |
| Counts toward your storage limit | Yes | No | No |
| Versioning | Yes | Not yet | Not yet |
| Accessible anywhere | Yes | Depends on NAS network access | Yes — via your Drive |
| Setup required | None | Yes — WebDAV must be configured | Yes — Google Drive must be connected |
| Link existing files without uploading | — | Yes — Browse existing files | Yes — Link files from Drive |
The Source column — where each file lives
The file list has a Source column showing where each file actually is. Hover the icon for the full explanation.
| Source | What it means |
|---|---|
| Beeswax | Stored by Beeswax. Counts toward your plan storage. |
| Google Drive or NAS | Stored on your own storage, uploaded through Beeswax. Uses none of your plan storage. |
| Google Drive · Linked | The file was already in your Drive and Beeswax holds a link, not a copy. Shown with a small arrow beside the icon. NAS files carry no such marker: the NAS folder is listed as it is, so every file in it is simply a file on your NAS. |
The arrow is the difference between a file Beeswax put there and one it only points at. A linked file can't be shared publicly from Beeswax, and deleting it here removes only the link — your file is untouched. A file Beeswax uploaded to your storage is Beeswax's own, so deleting it can remove it from the backend too (you're asked).
This is most useful after you change where files are stored. A project started before you connected Google Drive, added to afterwards, and topped up with linked files will hold all three kinds side by side — they look identical in every other column, but they don't behave the same way.
Note: Linked files show — instead of a size when Beeswax has no meaningful figure for them, which is always the case for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
Visibility, Sharing, and Downloads
Project files are private by default. Use the file row or card actions to:
- Mark a file visible or hidden for clients
- Share one file by email
- Select multiple files and download, share, or delete them together
- Download a file as an attachment so the browser saves it instead of opening it inline
- Open Show in Finder for NAS files when a local network path is configured, or Open in Google Drive for files stored in your Drive
Sharing a private NAS file publishes a public WebDAV copy first, then emails the recipient a download link.
Linked files behave differently. Files you linked from your NAS or your Google Drive, rather than uploading, can't be shared publicly from Beeswax — Beeswax holds no copy of its own to publish, and it won't make your original world-readable on your behalf. Share those from your NAS or from Google Drive yourself.
Deleting a linked file removes the link only. Beeswax does not delete a file you linked from your Drive, or from elsewhere on your NAS: it stays where it is and is managed there. A file inside the project's own NAS folder is different — the Files page shows that folder as it is, so Delete... removes the file from the NAS after you confirm (see NAS Storage). Files you uploaded are unaffected — Beeswax created those copies, so deleting them can still remove the copy on your storage when you choose that option.
NAS Setup Guide
NAS integration requires a WebDAV-compatible NAS device (e.g. Synology, QNAP) and must be configured by an account admin.
Step-by-Step Setup
Enable WebDAV on your NAS
In your NAS admin panel, enable the WebDAV service and note the URL and port (e.g. https://nas.synology.me:5006).Create a dedicated NAS user
Create a user on your NAS for Beeswax with read/write access to the shared folder you want to use (e.g. /beeswax/).Add storage configuration in Beeswax
Go to Account Settings and find the NAS Storage section. Click Add Storage Configuration and enter your WebDAV URL, credentials, and base path.Test the connection
Click Test Connection to verify Beeswax can reach your NAS. Once connected, default project folders are created automatically.Browse files in projects
The Browse NAS Files option will now appear on the project Files tab. Select files to register them with the project.
NAS Configuration Fields
These fields are configured in Account Settings under NAS Storage.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Configuration Name | A friendly name to identify this storage (e.g. "Sydney Office NAS") |
| WebDAV URL | Full URL including port (e.g. https://nas.synology.me:5006) |
| Username & Password | Credentials for the NAS user with read/write access |
| Base Path | Root folder on the NAS for all Beeswax files (e.g. /beeswax/). Project sub-folders are created within this path. |
| Public URL | Optional external URL if different from the internal WebDAV URL |
| Local Network Path | Optional path for accessing files on a mounted network drive (e.g. /Volumes/beeswax/ on macOS). This powers the Show in Finder action for NAS files. |
| Default Project Folders | Folder names created automatically for each new project. Defaults: Assets, Documents, Deliverables, Source Files, References. |
| Verify SSL | Recommended. Disable only if using self-signed certificates. |
| Set as Default | Use this storage configuration for new projects. |
File Versions
Every uploaded file keeps a version history. Uploading a new version replaces the file in place — links, attachments, and shares keep working and always point at the current version.
Upload a new version
- Open the file's actions menu (project files, contacts, journal entries) or use the upload-new-version button on a task file, then choose Upload New Version
- Pick the replacement file and optionally note what changed — the note appears in the version history
- The current file is kept as a numbered version (v1, v2, ...); the new file becomes the current version
- Files that live on your connected NAS or Google Drive are updated there too, in the background
Version history
- Files with previous versions show a version badge (for example v3) and a Version History entry in their menu
- The history lists each previous version with who replaced it, when, the file size, and the change note
- Download any previous version, or Restore one — restoring never loses anything: the current file is archived as a new version first
- Administrators can permanently delete an individual version to reclaim storage
Limits
- The last 10 previous versions are kept per file; older ones are removed automatically
- Archived versions count toward your account's storage quota
- Files you linked rather than uploaded — from your NAS or from your Google Drive — can't be versioned, because Beeswax holds no copy of them to keep as a previous version
Sharing Files
Files can be shared with others via email. Recipients receive a download link to access the file.
Single File
Click the menu on any file row and select Share to send a download link to an email address.
Bulk Share
Select multiple files using the checkboxes, then click Share Selected in the toolbar. All selected files are sent as download links in a single email.
Troubleshooting NAS
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "NAS Not Connected" warning | Go to Account Settings > NAS Storage and click Test Connection. Verify the WebDAV URL, credentials, and that the NAS is online. |
| Browse NAS Files not showing | NAS storage must be configured and connected. Ask your account admin to set up NAS storage in Account Settings. |
| Connection test fails | Check the WebDAV URL includes the correct port. Verify the NAS user has read/write access. If using self-signed SSL, try disabling Verify SSL. |
| Folders not created automatically | Default project folders are created when a new project is set up after NAS is configured. Existing projects may need folders created manually on the NAS. |
Note: NAS storage is configured at the account level. Only account admins (Owner, Super Admin) can manage storage settings.