Drag and Drop Zimlet: Uses HTML5 to help you easily attach files to your emails

How often do you spend extra time searching for the document that you want to attach to an email, or even worse you forget to attach the document before you hit send? The Drag and Drop Zimlet saves you time and makes it really easy. All you do is drag the files that you want to upload directly from the desktop to the Mail composer and drop them into your email. It’s that simple!

Back in 2007 Zimbra released the first version of a Firefox 2.0 extension and an accompanying Zimlet to make the mundane task of uploading effortless. We just couldn’t stop there, and contemplated multiple ways to bring this great feature to many clients. Browser Plus was considered, but deep down many of us were really more excited about HTML5’s upcoming possibilities – especially its advantage of not requiring the user to install more add-ons. Fast forward to 2010 and that specification is now a reality.

How to Enable the Drag and Drop Zimlet: Go to Preferences > Zimlets > check the box for “DnD” > save & reload your web-client.

How to Use Drag and Drop with your Documents: Select one or multiple files on your computer. Then simply bring them into the Mail compose window and release them onto the message below the subject line that reads: “Tip: Drag and drop files from your desktop to add attachments to this message”.

Your browser goes to work uploading:

Attachment is complete and a draft is auto-saved:

Download:
The Zimlet comes bundled in the latest server editions and desktop betas but you can also grab it here: http://gallery.zimbra.com/type/zimlet/drag-and-drop-attachments

Release Notes:

  1. The previously XPI plugin is no longer needed with the use of HTML5 in modern browsers, just the Zimlet itself.
  2. Compatible with ZCS/ZCA 6.0 (ZD 2.0) and newer.
  3. Supported by the following browsers:
  • Firefox 3.6+
  • Chrome 4+
  • Safari 4+ (Mac)

A quick video of the Zimlet in action:



Coming soon: The ability to insert dragged images directly into body, addition to the lite/standard client, and briefcase support for the new HTML5 compatible Zimlet.

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10 Responses to Drag and Drop Zimlet: Uses HTML5 to help you easily attach files to your emails

  1. rpatil September 18, 2010 at 11:01 AM #

    Excellent! Now next this is do drag the attachments back to your system to download them

  2. Lorenzo September 30, 2010 at 2:44 PM #

    It seems that it doesn’t works on linux (centos 5.4) whith files from network shares
    on windows it works with any files.

  3. Christian October 10, 2010 at 11:49 AM #

    Really looking forward to using this

  4. Manu October 21, 2010 at 1:15 PM #

    It’s a good idea rpatil.

    Regarding the fonction Drag and Drop Zimlet, I think that it’s a good idea. I will try it in order to send my opinion.

  5. Opik November 16, 2010 at 6:23 AM #

    Wow zimbra has been support for drag and drop, really? it’s cool. I will try it first on my offline webserver.

    Thanks for your services.

  6. Solusiplus December 5, 2010 at 7:15 AM #

    Wow, thanks Zimbra. with this drag and drop, it will help easily to attach the files.

  7. Jamie Hughes December 29, 2010 at 9:08 PM #

    Great, makes drag and drop so simple

  8. L. Arnold December 25, 2011 at 8:35 PM #

    Drag and Drop works OK onto the attachment area. Dropping into the message itself is quite a bit more awkward.

    For one, this only works at all in the Web Client right now.

    For two, if you insert a picture via the Templates Zimlet, the resulting message you can build from the Template has a broken link to the image though it remains attached to the message.

    For three, the real estate Zig Zag required to insert a picture is very awkward, particularly if you are sending out a batch of individully addressed Christmas cards. Basically Click high, click low left, click high right, double click (at best) in the choose file box, be sure you have clicked “insert into image”, then click attach, then click send…

    At least you can do this. You can do it in Gmail as well in Rich Text Mode. You can’t do it in Zimbra Desktop.

    I won’t go into the navigation helpers needed when you are choosing recipients.

    Still a good program. Just needs some attention to the small details in addition to the feature set.

  9. tiskarna December 27, 2011 at 11:06 PM #

    Oooh, what a great feature!
    Thank you for developing such user-friendly stuff!

    Thomas

  10. BoonHong January 3, 2012 at 4:24 AM #

    It doesn’t work with firefox7. However, there is an unofficial fix here: http://blog.otelconsulting.com/2011/10/zimbra-6-drag-and-drop-firefox-7-compatible-fix/

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