Software to distribute files?

[Santiego]

Looking for specific application that I thought would exist, but doesn’t seem to.

I have a client who generates soil test results. They are looking to place the reports into folders. The software would associate email addresses with specific folders. On a schedule, the software would check if there are any new files in the folders. If there are, it would email those files to the email addresses associated with each folder.

A file’s Archive Bit could easily be used to determine if a file has been sent, or if it is new.

Looked high and low, but can’t find any software that would accomplish this task. Tried MailChimp, but no luck. Any ideas?

 

[Moltuae]

You could use SendEmail and write a batch file to cycle through the files. The batch file could check/set file attributes or you could just move sent files into a Sent folder.

 

[Santiego]

That is interesting, hadn't come across it. But would definitely be too complicated for any end user to change destination email addresses, setup new folders for distribution, and edit batch files.

 

[HCHTech]

Need some more details - how big are the files? What format? A few users that get many files over time or hundreds of separate users that only get one file and then they are done?

Do these files get generated on a regular schedule? I would think it would be more efficient to put them on a dropbox or other cloud share and then let the users go get the files. Maybe even some sort of ticketing system, so the users could be notified of the existance of the file - etc.

 

[red12049]

If Then?

Rick

 

[TurricanII]

https://www.experts-exchange.com/qu...tomatically-attach-files-and-send-emails.html

 

[phaZed]

This sounds like a job for JavaScript, a Webpage and a Server hosting a SQL Database or similar. Any files can be uploaded to the website and the database can track the users and such... (Relatively)Easy to modify in the future, too.

 

[GTP]

What about Sharefile?

 

[Santiego]

What about Sharefile?

Possibly. No experience before with Sharefile. I will look into it. Thank you.

 

[Santiego]

This sounds like a job for JavaScript, a Webpage and a Server hosting a SQL Database or similar. Any files can be uploaded to the website and the database can track the users and such... (Relatively)Easy to modify in the future, too.

Yes, this is likely the best solution. I just figured there might possibly be software available for this very specific task. Thanks!

 

[Santiego]

Need some more details - how big are the files? What format? A few users that get many files over time or hundreds of separate users that only get one file and then they are done?

Do these files get generated on a regular schedule? I would think it would be more efficient to put them on a dropbox or other cloud share and then let the users go get the files. Maybe even some sort of ticketing system, so the users could be notified of the existance of the file - etc.

When individual test results are typed up, they are saved to that job's folder as individual PDFs (relatively small file sizes).

Dozens of clients. Some clients are active for several years, and some will only need one distribution. Often there are several cc email addresses per client. Some get a few new PDFs every day. Some only once in a while.

I thought about something like dropbox, but I think that would require the client to actively check their specific Cloud Share link. Was really looking for something like email, which would naturally provide an easy notification that test results are available.

Thank you - Some type of cloud share will probably end up being my fallback position.

I could see some not yet created software where you create a client/company. Add a bunch of email addresses to that client. Then just match the client with one or more folders on your computer. Each folder is a different project. Once a day, the software goes down the list of clients - Checks the folders associated with that client - If there are no new files since the last check, no email is sent - If there are new files, those files are sent and the archive bit is unchecked to mark the files as sent. When a client hires you for another job, you create a new folder and link it to the client. That's what I envisioned anyway, but I don't think it exists.

 

[HCHTech]

This is a pretty-specific task. I think you're looking at a one-off programmatic solution. Do you know any programmers? BTW, I found a question on Experts Exchange very similar to yours that recommends a vbscript, and a question on Stackoverflow that posted a powershell script.