Targeting the User

Hilgraeve has created a family of DropChute products to meet the needs of specific market segments, including DropChute Enterprise, DropChute Pro, and DropChute Lite. All DropChute versions incorporate a familiar email-like user interface, making it convenient and intuitive to use. DropChute Enterprise was designed for easy integration with new or existing applications, and provides robust capabilities necessary for large-scale implementations. For example, the program stores its data in an ODBC-compatible database format that accommodates unlimited phonebooks and file lists; it also comes with the ODBC database engine used by Microsoft Access.

DropChute Enterprise has powerful Inbox Automation capabilities that allow businesses to predefine actions initiated automatically upon receiving files -- actions such as executing batch files or separate applications to process the received data. The program not only allows users to exchange individual files, but complete folders or entire drives. It can be configured to segregate files received from each party into separate folders or store them in common folders.

DropChute Enterprise also allows businesses to create Auto-Delivery folders. Files placed in an Auto-Delivery folder are automatically sent to one or more recipients associated with that folder. This provides a powerful mechanism for sending files automatically or manually. To send files automatically, other applications can simply write the files into these folders. To send files manually, users can just copy the files into the appropriate Auto-Delivery folder. By creating Auto-Delivery folders on shared network drives, administrators can enable users on company networks to exchange files with outside users, while avoiding the need to install the software on each network workstation. This makes it possible for even Mac or Unix users on the network to take advantage of the software.

In addition, businesses can easily drive DropChute Enterprise from other applications, by launching the product using a powerful set of command line options and switches. Users can pass the program the individual names of files and intended recipients, or lists of files and/or recipients.