[Dawn]

I am wondering how other designers handle accepting files from their clients... what is a good solution to client's sending several larger files - other than email or an FTP site?

Basically, I have some clients that need to send me photos of their events to be posted on their site weekly. In the past they have sent them as email attachments. But the amount is increasing, and plus my longtime host has just incurred mailbox limits of 20mb so I kept going over, and it shuts down my mailbox. So I have to explain that isn't an option anymore even though it's been ok in the past. Really shouldn't be sending that much thru email anyway.

I have a ftp site they can transfer to, but none are that computer savvy and want nothing to do with downloading a FTP client no matter how easy I say it is to do.

I quickly set up a really basic php script 'uploader 1.1' so they could use their browser to upload. It works ok but they're still having problems with it, I am afraid the interface isn't all that user friendly. Plus, one is sending 1.5mb photos - no matter how many times I explain 72dpi is fine, not 300.... and I think sending 5 of those at a time might be choking it up. The client is getting really annoyed at having to keep resending.

Any suggestions? a different solution? a better uploader script suggestions? - freeware, shareware, commercial, anything. Thanks for any insights.

[Mac Write]

Set up AppleShare if they are on a Mac. Then they can drang and drop to your public folder, or an account you setup for them on your computer.

Or if they are on Windows, then setup Windows file sharing. then they can drag and drop from a winfows machine over windows file sharing.

As for the image, if they have Photoshop, then make a droplet that will downsize the resolution from 300DPI to 72DPI.

[Yose]

Setup a webfront fo ryour ftp account so they can send files through their browser... there are tons of free php scripts already written to do this.

[Dawn]

thanks for the suggestions. my clients are using a PC so i started looking into windows file sharing... but ended up finding with the PC you can just type:

ftp://clientusername@mydomain.com

in the address bar and then login user/password to the FTP web user account I already established on my domain.

So instead of using a FTP client, they can just drag files over to the open window. I am not very familiar with PCs had no idea you could do this. (duh. feeling kinda silly) So I am going to try and get my client to use this.

But this seems too easy a solution - is there any reason not to do it this way?

[bluedog]

Its a fair solution, but not necessarily the most secure. If you are in control of the FTP server, be sure you are using a recent (more secure) server app.

- Use an updated (more secure) FTP server app
- Don't leave an anonymous account open

[Corys]

I used Yose's Solution and setup a CGi script that handles file uploads..there are tons out there.
The only problem with this is I haven't found a way to give the user feedback on the progress of the upload...

it's my understanding it can't be done since the script is one large http request.

[Dawn]

I'm not in control of the server, I'm just using the webuser ftp accounts that my host provides for my domain - so I'm not sure how recent/secure their software is.

I have no anonymous accounts setup, each client has a userame and password. Of course, now that I have it set up, they haven't tried it yet , so I don't know if it's going to be a solution or not.

I had already tried a PHP uploader script. It worked ok, but without any feedback or progress bar, and prone to error msgs if they send less than the 5 files, or something with the same name - gives clients the jitters.

I thought I saw a software package for like $60 or $70 somewhere along my seach but neglected to bookmark it.... it seemed to offer a better interface for the user but who knows.

I don't think I can use the windows file sharing option if i am using a cable modem, wouldn't you need a static IP to connect to?

[iT4c0]

www.xdrive.com

give it a try