The File Request feature makes it possible to request content from those who don't have (and don't need) a Ci account. The feature provides a simple yet intuitive user interface, two upload mechanisms (Standard and Aspera) and also makes Workspace content inaccessible for a requester.
To create a File Request, the user has to click on the "Add New" menu option, then click "New File Request":
Figure 1: Creating a File Request
The user will be presented with a File Request settings modal:
Figure 2: File Request settings modal
Customize tab.
As seen in Figure 2, there are multiple settings that can be applied to a File Request. The first two fields allow you to modify the File Request name, and write a note for recipients to see. Within the notes field, we support the following markup options:
- Bold - <b>
- Italics - <i>
- Hyperlinks - in either anchor tags or within the text
- Ordered list - <ol>
- Unordered list - <ul>
The user can specify a folder where the files should be contributed to (files also can be uploaded directly to the Workspace's root folder):
It is possible to set up a File Request lifespan. Select from preset values or customize date and time when the File Request should be deactivated (the user can change those values at any point later, even after File Request has expired):
Figure 3: Specify File Request expiration
Opt-in Notify others as File Request uploads are completed checkbox and insert an email address(es) to let people know the contribution was successful. Once the upload completes, Ci will send email notifications to each address in the list.
Advanced Settings
Opt-in Require Contributor's email if there is a need to know who contributed files.
Highlight Aspera upload — selecting this option will highlight the Aspera upload option to encourage users to upload via Aspera:
Figure 4: This is how File Request recipients see File Request with Aspera upload highlighted
Allow folder uploads — allow or disallow folder upload.
Max file upload count — set the total number of files allowed. This option is only available if folder uploads are not allowed.
File types allowed — the user can set the types of files allowed. This option is only available if folder uploads are not allowed:
Figure 5: File Request Advanced Settings
Request Metadata tab
Request Metadata allows the File Request creator to request additional metadata along with contributing files. Contributed metadata will shortly be indexed and become searchable. Requesting metadata only works for files or batch of files being uploaded. It does not apply to folder uploads with Aspera due to the considerable number of folders and files that could be in a selected folder and the accuracy to which metadata would be applied.
The user can specify a Custom contributor form and add as many fields as needed, specify metadata keys, set fields required or optional and even prefill some (or all) of them.
The user can select fields from a metadata model template if there is one configured for the Company Network that the workspace where the file request is being created.
Figure 5: Custom Contributor Form
After adjusting your settings, select Create File Request. The following prompt will give you the option to send the File Request link directly to email addresses. Simply type in the emails and click Send. You also have the option to copy the link. To complete this step, select Done:
Figure 6: Send File Request Modal
Here's how the Contribute page will look like for File Request recipients:
Figure 7: File Request example as seen by a contributor
To start the setup & configuration to upload to Ci from one of the SONY Professional model cameras, first create a new File Request while logged into a Team Workspace in Ci as outlined above. It might be helpful to make sure the File Request is set to never expire so that a user does not have reconfigure in the Camera more than once, unless the intent is to separate content flowing to different Workspaces for different projects by using different File Requests.
Once the File Request has been created, select the Show File Request code (as seen in Figure 6) and copy the 8 digit code that makes the link unique and save it somewhere to reference for later use, it will look something like the example below:
For the next steps on configuring SONY Professional model cameras to upload to Ci, feel free to go to our Camera to Cloud section of the Help Center.
For any additional questions, please reach out to the Ci Customer Success Team by submitting a request here in the Help Center.