Looking for an online file browser program
May 14, 2007 6:53 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for an online file browser program for my company.
I run a small company with no IT department. We have around 5 managers who need to access a number of files (Word docs, PDFs, Photos, etc) from a number of different computers. So I thought I'd set up an online file browser. I've thought about using Google apps, but I didn't feel they were good enough when it came to handling
Google-ing turned up a lot of result, but I don't want to waste a lot of effort on products, which are never updated. I'm fairly comfortable with HTML and CSS. What I'd want from my file browser.
- Password protect some files, and set different levels of permissions for different users.
- Hierarchal view of files and folders.
- Allow people to download files and upload files.
- Allow people who upload to put a description of the file along with it.
- It would be nice if I could modify the look of the browser.
- Extras such as photo thumbnails would also be nice.
And it would be great if this was free, although I'm willing to pay if I get some benefit from that. Anyone have any experience with these types of programs?
I run a small company with no IT department. We have around 5 managers who need to access a number of files (Word docs, PDFs, Photos, etc) from a number of different computers. So I thought I'd set up an online file browser. I've thought about using Google apps, but I didn't feel they were good enough when it came to handling
Google-ing turned up a lot of result, but I don't want to waste a lot of effort on products, which are never updated. I'm fairly comfortable with HTML and CSS. What I'd want from my file browser.
- Password protect some files, and set different levels of permissions for different users.
- Hierarchal view of files and folders.
- Allow people to download files and upload files.
- Allow people who upload to put a description of the file along with it.
- It would be nice if I could modify the look of the browser.
- Extras such as photo thumbnails would also be nice.
And it would be great if this was free, although I'm willing to pay if I get some benefit from that. Anyone have any experience with these types of programs?
I'd recommend moving toward a centralized server setup. It's easier to maintain, easier to backup, and easier to set file access permissions. Additionally, centralization will likely be a welcome consequence of implementing a Document Management System (DMS).
jLibrary, although I haven't personally used it or set it up, looks like it will do everything you need it to do.
posted by pmbuko at 7:49 AM on May 14, 2007
jLibrary, although I haven't personally used it or set it up, looks like it will do everything you need it to do.
posted by pmbuko at 7:49 AM on May 14, 2007
Response by poster: Just to clarify. I'd prefer if this were entirely web based. Although Folder Share looks nice it seems that I have to download and install a program on all machines.
And I have to be able to use this on both Macs and PCs.
posted by einarorn at 7:57 AM on May 14, 2007
And I have to be able to use this on both Macs and PCs.
posted by einarorn at 7:57 AM on May 14, 2007
Response by poster: And by web based, I mean something I could install on my own domain.
posted by einarorn at 7:58 AM on May 14, 2007
posted by einarorn at 7:58 AM on May 14, 2007
I have the same problem, and finally decided to put all the shared docs on a secure web page.
It's not an ideal solution, security-wise... but our own centralised server setup is planned for Q3.
posted by chuckdarwin at 8:05 AM on May 14, 2007
It's not an ideal solution, security-wise... but our own centralised server setup is planned for Q3.
posted by chuckdarwin at 8:05 AM on May 14, 2007
You did not specify what platform you prefer, which makes a difference.
Every single feature you list is supported by Windows SharePoint Services product. WSS is a free add-on to Windows 2003 server. So, if you have a computer with a Win2003 OS on it, you simply download the product and install it and you are ready to go in 5 minutes or less. I've done this process several times in similar situations, always with great results.
If this is something you are interested in, you might also consider Microsoft Small Business Server, which is Win2003 + SharePoint + Exchange + a bunch of integration software goodness all wrapped into a single package and priced very low to target specifically small businesses.
I have a couple of vanilla SharePoint sites exposed on the internet -- if you want, email me and I can set you up with a temporary username and password to check it out.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 9:29 AM on May 14, 2007
Every single feature you list is supported by Windows SharePoint Services product. WSS is a free add-on to Windows 2003 server. So, if you have a computer with a Win2003 OS on it, you simply download the product and install it and you are ready to go in 5 minutes or less. I've done this process several times in similar situations, always with great results.
If this is something you are interested in, you might also consider Microsoft Small Business Server, which is Win2003 + SharePoint + Exchange + a bunch of integration software goodness all wrapped into a single package and priced very low to target specifically small businesses.
I have a couple of vanilla SharePoint sites exposed on the internet -- if you want, email me and I can set you up with a temporary username and password to check it out.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 9:29 AM on May 14, 2007
If you run windows server then just go with MS's Sharepoint.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:32 AM on May 14, 2007
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:32 AM on May 14, 2007
Oh also, don't underestimate apache's webdav support. Will probably require some tweaking to get some of the featuers you require, but its a good start.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:35 AM on May 14, 2007
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:35 AM on May 14, 2007
Response by poster: Regarding what platform I prefer. Our setup is basically that we have a bunch of PCs in a number of different locations (restaurants), along with a few laptops (both Mac and PC). There is no central server.
The only thing I have is our web domain, which I think is run on Linux (IX webhosting). Oh, and I'm a complete beginner when it comes to things like apache webdav.
posted by einarorn at 10:02 AM on May 14, 2007
The only thing I have is our web domain, which I think is run on Linux (IX webhosting). Oh, and I'm a complete beginner when it comes to things like apache webdav.
posted by einarorn at 10:02 AM on May 14, 2007
Maybe something like Lussumo FileBrowser plus some htaccess magic? Or maybe there is an add-on for user-access control?
posted by misterbrandt at 9:22 PM on May 14, 2007
posted by misterbrandt at 9:22 PM on May 14, 2007
Here is what I would do:
1. Get a computer and Microsoft Small Business Server
2. Install SBS, watch it roll out a complete environment for you (including domain controller, sharepoint, monitoring tools, etc).
3. Create an active directory account for everyone at your company. Will take 30 seconds per person.
4. Go to your sharepoint site and tweak access rights and what not as you see fit.
5. Configure sharepoint to allow HTTP basic auth (unless you want to bite the bullet and have all these disparate laptops and desktops authenticate into the domain, which will give you tons of benefits, but does entail a change, and mac support is iffy). With basic auth, every client can use the site.
6. Email a link to the web site to your users.
7. You are done.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 10:48 PM on May 14, 2007
1. Get a computer and Microsoft Small Business Server
2. Install SBS, watch it roll out a complete environment for you (including domain controller, sharepoint, monitoring tools, etc).
3. Create an active directory account for everyone at your company. Will take 30 seconds per person.
4. Go to your sharepoint site and tweak access rights and what not as you see fit.
5. Configure sharepoint to allow HTTP basic auth (unless you want to bite the bullet and have all these disparate laptops and desktops authenticate into the domain, which will give you tons of benefits, but does entail a change, and mac support is iffy). With basic auth, every client can use the site.
6. Email a link to the web site to your users.
7. You are done.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 10:48 PM on May 14, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
free and secure
https://www.foldershare.com/
posted by radsqd at 7:10 AM on May 14, 2007