WordPress Client Zone - Use Case - How to Let Users Transfer Files Between Each Other

Use Case - How to Let Users Transfer Files Between Each Other

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Introduction

The WordPress Client Zone add-on creates a safe portal to transfer files to and from your customers.

Use Case Front-End

Simple way to send a file:

Advanced way to send files:

Use Case Assumptions

In this example use case guide, we'll cover how to configure a secure download zone for your users to let them transfer files between each other.

We consider that you have already bought the plugin, but not installed it. 

It follows:

• Installing the plugin
• Adding sidebar
• Setting up user dashboard
• Allowing users to send files to specific users
• Sending files to specific users
  • Advanced method
  • Simple method
• Enabling notification for new downloads
• Translating the zone interface
• End Result

Installing the Plugin

The process is the same for all CM plugins.

• Download the plugin from your customer dashboard.
• Log in to WordPress and navigate to the WordPress Admin  → Plugins settings.
• Click on Add New.
• Activate it and add the license.

Adding Sidebar

1) Use Shortcode or Default Page

You can generate the client zone page using the shortcode  [client-download-zone]  or use the default CM Download page created by the plugin when it's installed and activated.

• Learn more about shortcodes.
• Learn more about the default CM Download page. 

2) Add Two Widgets To The Sidebar

You also need to go to the plugin widgets area and add the following widgets to your defined sidebar container:

• Admin Menu for CM Client Download Zone
• Client Menu for CM Client Download Zone

Both widgets are needed as they include the client zone navigation tools.

Navigate to Admin Dashboard → Appearance → Widgets. 

Add the widgets to the sidebar and click the button Update to save the changes. 

With the plugin ready to go, it's time to start creating content.

And What If My Theme Doesn't Have a Sidebar?

Some themes may not provide a sidebar to place widgets on. 

That is not a problem. The WordPress Client Zone add-on provides new widget areas called CMCDZ before content and CMCDZ after content so, even if there's no sidebar, the admin can add those widgets to these areas in order to display the upload options. 

Setting Up User Dashboard

Users can have access to their own dashboard, where they can upload files and manage files that have been shared with them or with user groups to which they belong.

Setting up and Accessing the User Dashboard

Users can access their dashboard at the permalink setting that you define in the plugin settings. First, navigate to Admin Dashboard → CM Downloads Pro → Settings → General tab.

Under the Navigation section, in the field Dashboard page permalink part the admin can define the permalink at which logged-in users can access their user dashboard.

Using the User Dashboard

On their dashboard, users can search, view, preview, download files that have been shared exclusively with them, or that have been shared with user groups to which they belong. Users can also manage and edit their own uploads. 

Example

All files will appear directly on user dashboard, where users can easily download them by clicking the Download button. 

Users can also upload files to share with other users directly from their dashboard by clicking on the button Upload file.

Allowing Users to Send Files to Specific Users

Now we need to configure a few important settings to let users upload and send files to each other.

First, in plugin settings, navigate to the Client Download Zone section under the Index Page tab. Find there and turn on the option Enable form for sending files among users.

Note: This option is needed to enable the form for sending files in the Clients widget:

Next, head to the Access and moderation tab. We need two options under the Access section:

• Who can add new downloads - Choose here Logged-in users. It is needed to let users have access to the dashboard.
• Who can view downloads - Choose here Let download author decide. It is needed to make users be able to send files to specific users.

Now, click the button Save settings under settings or in the floating window.

Sending Files to Specific Users

Users can send files to specific users using the form in the widget in their dashboard.

There are two methods to assign a download to specific users:

1. Advanced
2. Simple

1) Advanced Method

First way is to find the user to whom the files will be sent and click the Upload icon next to his username.

A file upload form will open. The user needs to fill all needed data and upload files. Learn more about Upload Form. The most important option for sending files to other users is placed at the bottom of the form - Allowed Users. As you can see, the user that we chose in the example above is already added to the list of users for sending files:

The user can add some more users to send files. There are two options for this:

• Find user - Write needed username in the search bar and click add next to it.

  

• Show all users - Click this button and choose users from the list. To add more than one, hold the button CTRL/CMD and click on needed users. Then click the button Add selected.

  

Then click the button Add under the uploading form to send the files.

Result: the uploading is visible only for the sender, for the admin and for the users that this uploading was sent to.

2) Simple Method

There is also a simple method of sending files to another user. Using this method the user can send only one file to one user at a time. 

This method demands a little configuring of the Client widget. Navigate to the widget area and click on the added Client Menu for CM Client Download Zone widget. You need to enable there the option Use simple form? and then click the Update button to save the changes.

New option will appear in the Client widget:

• Title - Enter here the name of uploading.
• Select file - Click this button to upload the file.

When the title is written and the file is chosen, choose the user you want to send the file to and click on the Upload icon.

Result: this file is visible only for the sender, for the admin and for the user that the file was sent to.

Enabling Notification for New Downloads

The user that receives a file gets an email notification that someone has sent him a file. You can customize this email. To do this, navigate to Admin Dashboard → CM Downloads Pro → Settings → Index Page tab → Client Download Zone section.

There are three options for the email notification:

• Enable notification - Turn on this option to send email notification to the user every time when somebody sends him a file.
• Subject for "Simple user to user" form - Customize the subject of the email.
• Body for "Simple user to user" form - Customize the body of the email.

There are a few shortcodes that you can use to customize an email text:

• [blogname] - name of the blog
• [title] - new download title
• [link] - link to download page
• [author] - uploader name
• [author_email] - uploader email
• [moderate_link] - link to moderation

Translating the Zone Interface

If your site is not in English, that's ok. You can translate the Front-End text (also called labels).

Navigate to the Admin Dashboard → CM Downloads Pro → Settings → Labels tab.

Here you can edit all important labels of the plugin, from buttons to headers.

Client Download Zone Label

Under the Client Download Zone section there is only one label: Access denied.

Learn more: Settings - Labels

End Result

Following instructions found in the plugin and guides, you should be able to configure a secure download zone for your users to let them transfer files between each other.

Use Case Front-End

Simple way to send a file:

Advanced way to send files:

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