Contacts Live Files — a brief features overview

Uploading files
You can upload an unlimited number of files through the same Add File form. For each file you can provide optional description (annotation).

You can upload ZIP archive and automatically uncompress it on the server side to restore full folder hierarchy contained in archive file. This feature allows you to deploy a complex folder structure with a large number of files to your Contacts Live Files account in a minute.

Creating and sharing file links
You can create file links to allow open access to any number of selected files, search results, or a file folder. Share links with your colleagues or friends, or place it on a blog, website, newsletter, instant message, etc.

Organizing folders and files
Files are organized in folders which are sorted in hierarchical order. Each folder may contain as many files and subfolders as you need. In the Folders panel you can collapse/expand folder (using [–] and [+] icons next to the folder name) to hide/show included subfolders.

Embedding file repository into your website or blog
Webmasters frequently face demands to display downloadable lists of files on websites. With Contacts Live Files you can easily create a widget linked with selected files or entire folder and place this widget on your web page.

At the same time, Contacts Live Files back-end gives you powerful but easy-to-use tools to administer and maintain your file repositories. Learn more about Contacts Live File List widget.

Manipulating with folders and files (Copy/Move/Delete...)
You can copy or move the whole folder including all subfolders and files to a new location. You can also copy/move multiple files in batch mode to any accessible folder.

You can delete the whole folder or selected files. When you delete a file or folder it moves into Recycle Bin. You can then restore selected files and/or folders or permanently remove them. Access to Recycle Bin can be customized by administrator.

Displaying file list in different formats
You have several options to display list of files. Depending on the type of files you can set the most convenient format (separately for each folder):

 

	Grid — tabular format where file attributes appear in different columns, e.g. file name, type, size etc… You can sort the list by any column by clicking its title.
	List — a convenient option to display large icon with file name and full content of document description at the same time. Sorting feature is also available in List format.
	Thumbnail List — displays thumbnail (small image) and file description. Great option for photo album where each picture is supplied with annotation.
	Thumbnail Tile — displays just thumbnails one by one. Perfect to browse large image collections.

 

Sharing folders with other users
You can customize personal or group permissions for every folder in order to share it with other users.

There are three levels of user/group access rights:

R (Read) — can list and read files in this folder
W (Write) — can add/modify files in this folder
F (Folder) — can add/modify files, folders and permissions

You can see a list of all users and groups that share access to your folder as well as their access rights. This feature gives you more control and confidence when you perform any file manipulations in the folder.

Emailing update notifications
Every user may receive email notification when his/her accessible folder is being updated; e.g., files added or deleted. This notification feature can be turned ON or OFF by administrator. Email notifications are friendly and informative.

Controlling usage of storage space by User Quotas
We define quota as the amount of storage space allocated to a user. Primary purpose in specifying quotas for users is to control resource usage on your web server. Every time user uploads a new file, the system compares the total storage space occupied by all files owned by this user with the allocated quota. If the quota is exceeded, the upload operation is prohibited.

Quotas are optional. It's up to you to specify quotas for certain users.

Checking In/Out and Version Control
Version Control function significantly enhances your capabilities for collaborative document editing.

When a user checks the file out, it changes the status of the file on the server to read-only for other users. User can then download the checked-out file to her local computer for editing. Other users would be able to download the file for viewing, but would be unable to upload the file back into the system (check it in).

Version Control function can be enabled/disabled at your discretion.

File Version History
With Version Control function enabled, all previous versions of file stay in the system. Most recent version of file appears in the main list when you open a folder. You can easily access Version History list to see details on previous versions of file; e.g., date/time of upload, user name and comments. You can always download any previous version of file, simply by clicking it in the Version History list.

Emailing files as attachments
You can email files directly from your Contacts Live Files account without using your client mail program (e.g. Outlook Express or The Bat!). Selected files can be compressed (ZIP archive) before you send them to reduce a size of your attachment. Multiple recipients, optional subject and text message can also be provided as with any regular email message.

Downloading compressed files
You can compress selected files or folder (with optional subfolders) or entire Contacts Live Files repository. You can then store created ZIP archive in any write-accessible folder or download archive to your local computer.

Searching files by name or description
Search function allows you to search by any key phrase containing in file name or description. Search Results list is fully operational — copy, move, delete, modify files directly from the Search Results list.

Reports
Contacts Live Files provide a number of reports that allow you to see consolidated picture; e.g., overall resource usage statistics, user quotas, total number of files grouped by folders, etc. There are also activity reports that allow you to see recent uploads or frequently updated files.

Available reports:

• Storage space usage and quotas
• Recent uploads
• Folders summary
• File type statistics
• Frequently updated files (VC enabled)