Getting Started with Couchdrop Inboxes – Couchdrop

Couchdrop Inboxes are a way to retrieve files through ad-hoc methods from external parties and consumers. Given the simplicity and ease of use, these methods of ingestion are perfect for non-technical audiences, or for a quick way to get a bunch of files into your cloud storage securely.

The joys of the Inbox functionality is that like the wider Couchdrop product, it sits on top of your cloud storage or file server enabling you to have files placed exactly where you would like them, without the customer knowing. Additionally, you can also custom brand the web portal and email with your own URL, branding colours and logos.

Inbox methods of retrieval

Upload Portal
Email

Step 1. Connect Storage

Before you can receive data through Couchdrop's Inboxes, you need to mount and connect the backend storage for data at rest (where the data will live) as Couchdrop won't store your data (unless you're choosing Couchdrop's Storage). To learn how to connect your storage platform, navigate to Couchdrop's Connecting Storage Guides

Step 2. Configure Inbox

Now your backend storage is connected and accessible through Couchdrop, it's now time to create the Inbox by following the Create New Inbox wizard.

First navigate to your Inbox Dashboard
Select Create New Inbox

Name and Select Destination

Provide the Inbox a name that you can identify it by
Navigate the folder structure and select the directory where you would like the files to be placed in once uploaded
Select Save and Continue

Web Portal

If you're looking to retrieve files via the web portal the continue with the next steps, or if you're only looking for email ingestion, then Save and Continue to the Email Inbox step in the wizard.

Check the Enabled box to enable the web upload portal
Enter a message to welcome users to your Inbox page or to provide instructions
Copy the URL
Save and Continue

Collecting Form Data with Uploads

From here you can configure Input Forms to capture additional information with uploads, this could be a name, email address, number or something different. This information can also be used as part of automations so you can route all of the files into a folder named as the email address for example, or append the files to have the company name in them.

Add input fields as required
Save and Continue

Email Ingestion

The next step is how you enable ingestion of files through email. This is where someone or a system sends an email with attachments. Couchdrop will then strip the attached files and place them in your storage platform (specified at the start of the wizard).

Check the Enabled box
Specify any domain whitelisting
Copy the email address (this can be whitelabelled with a CNAME or with email forwarding)
Save and Continue

Expiry and Alerting

The final step is to configure an expiry time frame (if you wish) where the Inbox will only be valid for a set period of time and also configure alerting.

Specify an expiry time frame (optional)
Enabling email alerting (optional) - this could also be configured under Folder Settings or at the Global Administrator level

Step 3. Share Link

Now you've configured your Inbox you can share your link with your third party to send you files securely, whether it's by the web upload portal, or email. You can also access the Inbox URLs and email addresses from the Inbox Dashboard by clicking on Email Upload or Web Link.

Example of the Web Inbox that was created as part of the wizard

What's next?

Go to Couchdrop to start your free 14-day trial (no credit card required) or jump back in.