GroupDrive Client Details

The GroupDrive Client application or web browser interface provides an easy way to access and distribute files stored on your GroupDrive Server.

Choose Your Interface

GroupDrive offers the ability to choose the client interface, based upon connection or personal preference. The GroupDrive Client software integrates directly into the Windows Operating System. This enables you to use the familiar interface of the Windows Explorer or to open, edit and save files directly from within the applications that you commonly use. The GroupDrive Client isn’t a new client interface to learn, but an extension to the functionality that you are already accustomed to using in Windows. This reduces the cost of training and IT support, particularly in implementations with a large number of client seats.

In addition to the drive-mapping client, GroupDrive also provides a browser-based interface for file access. Using the GroupDrive Web Interface, users can collaborate on files from any Internet-accessible computer, whether it’s a kiosk in an airport, a handheld device with full browser support, or a computer at a client’s location. Installation of the GroupDrive Client is not required in order to gain the majority of the benefits of using GroupDrive.

Collaborate in Real-time

GroupDrive's unique SimulShare™ technology enables users to simultaneously collaborate on the same file. Users avoid getting "locked out" of a file that's currently being edited—each user can work on different sections or blocks of a file at the same time. The SimulShare™ technology also protects against users overwriting changes posted by another user. This feature is especially useful for organizations that work on large reports or proposals, database tables, and research papers.

Deposit to the DropBox

Whether you are using the browser-based interface or the GroupDrive Client, files are accessed through the familiar folder structure used in Windows. Permissions can be set at the file or folder level, determining who has access to the file, and what actions they can perform on the file. In addition to folders, GroupDrive has the ability to create "DropBoxes". DropBoxes are special containers allowing users to place files into the DropBox, but not to see or access any of the other contents. This is particularly useful in government to enable constituents to drop off files, in education where students can submit assignments, papers and research projects without viewing the work of other students, or in human resources for submitting completed reviews and employee suggestions.

Use Resources Efficiently

Many installations of GroupDrive not only involve collaborating on the files, but performing mass file distribution of completed work. E-mailing large files is problematic—many e-mail servers have file size limits, e-mail is not secure, and there is no way to verify that the intended recipient received and accessed the file.

GroupDrive provides the ability to e-mail links to files. Rather than clogging up e-mail servers and having transmissions fail due to files sizes exceeding the defined limits, using GroupDrive to e-mail links provides a fast, efficient and secure method of distributing files. In many industries such as engineering, broadcasting, and design, employees need to work with files that are several megabytes in size. An e-mail based solution is just not practical in these situations. GroupDrive enables the recipient to access the file at a convenient time, rather than forcing them to wait for their e-mail to download. GroupDrive also provides the option to log access to the files, so that the sender can easily see who has accessed the files and when they were viewed.