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Need A File Transfer Program... IF it exists!

N

Netopia

Diamond Member
Let me begin by appologizing for posting this on several forums and also for being long winded... different people frequent different areas so I thought I could better tap into the AnandTech Collective Hive Mind better that way! 🙂

Now... my dillema. I work for a printing and publishing company and we have three main areas that constantly get files from customers: Electronic PrePress (Graphics), DataProcessing (Databases, Subscriber lists, etc) and "Instant" Printing (high end copiers that can do 180 or so pages per minute, make stapled books, bound books...etc.. these are usually PDF's or PostScript Files). Unfortunatly, getting customers to QUIT EMAILING files is next to impossible, but I continue to try... the problem is that I can find the single product to meet my needs.

In a perfect world, what I would have would be something akin to an FTP server. I would create an account with User Name and Password and provide a folder for them (3 actually, one per department) while restricting them from other's folders. That much almost ANY good FTP server can do... many for FREE!

Here's where it gets harder... I want a MANDATORY form to be filled out before they can transfer the file. It would include who is sending it, what it is, and other job info... this is to keep us from getting files and not having a clue what they go to. The next thing I want to happen is that they have to choose which department they want to send the file to and then they can transfer the file. When the transfer is complete, I want the package to send an email to one or more people with the information from the form, the time and date and name of the file.

There is a MAC product which can do most of this, but it only copies to one folder per acct and only mails the Administrator, who isn't the one who needs the file and has other work to do (i.e.... I don't have time to forward a hundred emails a day!) The MAC program also requires you to give the client a client-side program to load, since it isn't a pure FTP server.

Any ideas? I've called IPSwitch (WS_FTP) and others and they say "WOW... great idea... nope, ours doesn't do that...SORRY". I could maybe kludge something together if I had a way to generate emails whenever a new file appeared in a folder, but I've not found software for that either. 🙁

Thanks to all of you who have even read to this point, I realize that it's a long explanation. I appreciate any input you guys give me and I WILL dilligently look through anything you tell me as well as letting people know if/when I find anything. Thanks again,

Joe
 
You may be able to do this with a web-based application. Then, you can control HOW the form is filled out (ie, drop-down boxes to limit choices, etc), that certain fields are ALWAYS filled out, and that email is sent to the proper people based on the values in the form when it is submitted.

Most scripting languages (think ColdFusion or PHP especially) allow for file uploading to specified directories and a good, experienced coder should be able to choose WHERE the file goes depending on the form values and possibly, also check file extensions to make sure they're "allowable".

This is something that will most likely need to be outsourced for development, but certainly worth the money, doesn't require clients to install any special software (any web browser will do), and can be made very simple for them to use. Passwords can be set up in order to control access to the site for clients.

One major plus that I can see from this method is that you can create an automatic way to log when and what files come in, along with the instructions that are included -- something that could become very important when snags are hit along the production line and/or a client and your production staff have communication issues.

Hope this helps!

~Ladi
 
Just what I was thinking, PHP is the way to go on this! 🙂
In fact, that sounds like an exact program I've made just recently, I could probably whip that up in a couple days. I don't know if I should voluteer to do it though, but if you can find anyone that knows PHP, this could be something they could make for you quite quickly.
 
I'm sure this can be done with HTML. It would be consist of a form that had a field where the user can browse and attach files. He can also choose where the file will go. Once the form is completed..press send and the rest is history. Easy in theory, prob a liitle more involved when programming.
 
well, it could be scripted as stated above, perhaps ASP or PHP.


put in basic info -> destination folder -> name of file


you can attach a pointer from the email to the file and use the webbroswers' ftp capabilites.



just a thought.




dam()
 
I think I may have found the software to do what I want. I've already talked to a sales person and I'll be talking to them more next week. It also runs on both MAC and NT and they will give us a very cheap site licence.

The name is BeHive.

The responses are great and greatly appreciated.

Joe
 
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