In Filr 2.0 Desktop a user can see everything this user has rights to (home directory, net folders ...).
As I heard, the Filr developers worked hard for this new feature. And also I think, this was a good idea.
But not always! There are situation, were users will be a bit confused, when they see too much with Filr desktop.
So for our about 300 schools we would like to have a possibility to limit this to (some) subdirectories the user really needs and wants to sync.
I mean not to go back to older versions. I just mean a restriction possibility within the new feature.
And by the way it would be nice if the developers would treat us customers not with a "sink or swim" attitude, but with a more "evolutionary" way where kind of old methods are still working (like Novell did it always in the past).
by: Uwe L. | over a year ago | Desktop Client
Comments
I would like to explain my point of view, why I would prefer the possibility to configure and limit, what I want to see in Filr desktop 2.0.
Consider a school with -let's say- 100 teachers, which all use Filr desktop. They used to synchronize one or two subdirectories in their home directories on the OES school server.
They don't need and don't want to sync the complete home directory. So at home they have a clearly arranged Filr-subdirectory on their home-PC.
Of course the new Filr desktop 2.0 approach with the online technique helps to minimize the transfer over the internet, especially in respect to poor internet connections and tranfer costs.
Let's now say 20 of those teachers have R/W right access to a PROJECT folder on the OES school server. But only one or two have to work online from home in this PROJECT folders. The others have to work there only when in school.
With Filr desktop 2.0 all "see" the folder PROJECT in there Filr-subdirectory at their home-PCs.
And since most of them don't need to see this folder at home, some might come to the conclusion to delete the Folder PROCECT they see on their home-PC. but now they will delete (by sync) that folder on the OES school server. This will be a disaster next day in school ... :-(
The same might happen in the own home directory, when I see the whole home directory at my home-PC, although I only need one or two subdirectories at home. I also could come to the conclusion to delete some folders in the Filr-subdirectory on my home-PC in the faulty believe I just put them our of sight.
Filr users and especially teachers are not computer specialists who always [or nearly always ;-)] know what they are doing.
So in my opinion it is absolutely necessary to limit what I see with Filr desktop 2.0 at my home-PC and it is not a contradiction to the very good idea of the new online method.