Everyone works on the complete project on their own computer, and TeamCloud transfers the project between the team lead and team members (see how TeamCloud works). This page explains where TeamCloud stores your projects, how much space they require, what stays online, and how to switch computers.
Where TeamCloud projects are stored
MAXQDA stores TeamCloud projects in a dedicated folder on your computer called the TeamCloud workspace. The default location is:
- Windows: %APPDATA%\MAXQDA\TeamCloudWorkspace
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/MAXQDA/TeamCloudWorkspace
The workspace contains a subfolder for each TeamCloud project. These folders have generated names rather than project names. The workspace also contains files MAXQDA needs, such as logs.
Do not rename, move, or delete any files or folders in it, and do not open project files from it. Changing the folder structure or file names will break your TeamCloud projects. Always open TeamCloud projects from the Team Projects tab in the welcome screen or via TeamCloud > Open Team Project. If you have worked on a project file outside TeamCloud, see how to bring that work back into TeamCloud.
Changing the workspace location
You can move the TeamCloud workspace to a different local folder:
- In MAXQDA, go to the TeamCloud menu.
- Select Account > Settings.
- Next to Folder for TeamCloud projects, click ... and select a new local folder.
When you confirm the new location, MAXQDA moves all existing TeamCloud projects there.
The dialog also includes a button for opening the TeamCloud workspace in your computer's file manager. Use this button only if MAXQDA Support asks you to.
Never use USB drives, network drives, external hard drives, or folders synchronized by cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud. MAXQDA writes changes directly and continuously to the project file. If the connection between MAXQDA and the project file is interrupted, as can happen with sync services, the project file can become corrupted.
Storage space and external files
TeamCloud stores all PDFs, images, audio files, and videos as external files, regardless of size. The usual size limit for external files does not apply. Every team member stores the whole project on their own computer, including all of these files.
Before starting the first cycle, make sure everyone on the team has enough free space, especially for large media files such as long videos. When the team lead uploads the project, the upload dialog shows how much space the project needs. Online, all projects created with a TeamCloud license share that license's storage space.
For more about external files in general, see how MAXQDA stores large files outside the project file.
If a PDF cannot be found
If MAXQDA cannot find a PDF file in a TeamCloud project, you can relink the document to the correct file, just as you would in a regular MAXQDA project. Open the document properties and go to the Storage section. This section only appears when the PDF is missing.
What TeamCloud keeps online
In addition to the projects stored on each computer, TeamCloud keeps the following online:
- Earlier versions of the main project: one for each cycle, in the version history on the project's Files tab (see the TeamCloud website).
- Uploads: each team member's latest upload in the current cycle, ready for the team lead to import.
- The project logbook: it exists only online.
Stay on one computer per cycle
- Use only one computer for each TeamCloud project during a cycle. Switching computers mid-cycle risks data loss.
- Team members switching computers: ask the team lead to start a new cycle first, then download the new cycle on the new computer.
- Team lead switching computers: start the new cycle on the old computer, then go directly to the new computer without making any further changes to the TeamCloud project on the old one. On the new computer, download the main project from the Team Projects tab on the welcome screen.
