Files that you send are uploaded to Attunity MFT Server as Attunity MFT packages. Packages consist of your files and Attunity MFT metadata files. Attunity MFT metadata files contain important information such as who to deliver the files to, when the package expires, and so on. After you send a package, it is uploaded to Attunity MFT Server where it undergoes processing before being delivered to hosts or downloaded by users.
For information on checking the status of sent packages, see Checking the Status of Sent Packages.
In this chapter:
Sending a Package – Describes the basic requirements for sending a package.
Inviting Users – Describes how to send packages to Ad Hoc users (users who are not Attunity MFT users).
Advanced Tab – Explains how to configure advanced options such as security and package expiration.
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Sending a Package
Packages can contain files or a message or a combination of both. To send a package you must, as a minimum requirement, specify a recipient. You can also choose additional transfer and security options as described in Advanced Tab.
The package sending options differ depending on your operating mode. If your operating mode is "Enhanced", continue below. If it is Lite continue from Sending a Package in Lite Operating Mode. For a description of Enhanced and Lite, see Terminology.
In order to send a package the only requirement is to specify at least one recipient. All other options such as specifying a subject, writing a message and adding files are optional.
Sending a Package in Enhanced Operating Mode
To send a package:
1. Click the (New) button in the left pane.
The New Package window opens displaying the Package tab.
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2. In the To field, specify the recipient names. You can either type them or select them from the Address Book (recommended) by clicking the button next to the To. Recipients can be users, distribution lists and/or hosts. You may also be allowed to send packages to recipients who are not Attunity MFT users.
For more information, see Inviting Users.
Note: If you cannot remember the recipient’s user name or are unable to locate it in the address book, then you can specify his/her e-mail address instead. The e-mail address will be used by Attunity MFT Server to identify the intended recipient.
When typing host names, you must use a special format consisting of the host nickname followed by the target nickname. For example:
bach:brandenburg
For more information on host name formats, see Terminology.
Multiple recipient names must be separated by a semi-colon and no spaces, for example:
mike;jane;peter;mozart:serenade
Note: Attunity MFT Web Client's auto-complete feature will automatically complete unambiguous recipient names. For example, if the recipient's user name is "andrew" and no other user names begin with "an", typing "an" is sufficient.
If you typed the recipient names, it is a good idea to verify whether you specified valid recipient names by clicking the below the button. For more information about checking recipient names, see Checking Recipient Names.
3. To prevent recipients from seeing who else the package was sent to, select the Hide recipients from each other check box.
4. To allow recipients to download files without logging in, select the Allow recipients to download files without logging in check box. This option will only be displayed if it is has been enabled by your Attunity MFT administrator.
Note: Selecting this option makes it easier for the recipients to download the files, but it will also allow anyone with access to the recipients’ computers to download the package files (since login is not required). Therefore, it is advisable to only select this option if the files that you are sending do not contain any confidential information.
5. In the Subject field, enter a package subject.
6. In the Message field, write a message to accompany the package.
7. (Optional) To choose files:
a. Click the Add button to the right of the Files field.
The Choose file dialog box opens.
b. Either double-click a file or select a file and then click Open.
The file is added to the list.
8. (Optional) To choose multiple files at the same time:
a. Click the Add button to the right of the Files field.
The Choose file dialog box opens.
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b. Perform one of the following tasks as appropriate:
o Adding a group of files: While holding down the [Shift] key, click the file at the beginning of the group and then click the file at the end of the group.
o Adding individual files: While holding down the [Ctrl] key, click the files that you want to add.
c. Click Open.
The files are added to the Files field.
9. To remove a file, select the file in the File pane and click Remove. (Use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select multiple files for removal).
10. To send the package, click the Send button at the bottom right of the tab (The Advanced tab also contains a Send button).
The Upload Progress window opens.
Note: If you are using Java as your operating mode, when sending the package a Java security dialog may ask you whether you want to run BHubApplet.
This dialog will only be displayed if:
- You did not agree to always trust BHubApplet the last time you were prompted to do so (either while completing the Attunity MFT Web Client Setup Wizard or while sending a package).
- The security certificate has been deleted from the Java trusted certificates store.
11. Agree to run the BHubApplet applet.
For more information, about sending methods, see Operating Mode.
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Transfer Progress Window
The Transfer Progress window opens when you send a package.
The Transfer Progress window provides a progress report and transfer-related information, including:
Overall transfer progress – The total overall transfer progress.
Current file - The name and transfer progress of the file that is currently being transferred.
Transfer status - The current transfer status.
Estimated time left - The transfer progress in terms of remaining time.
Files transferred - The number of files transferred so far.
Transfer Rate - The current transfer rate.
Transfer log - provides various information about the transfer including the name of the directory in which the package was created, the total size of the package, the package ID and how many files were transferred successfully.
Note: The total number of files transferred includes two Attunity MFT files (<name>.control and <name>.content) that are created during the packaging process and that are required by Attunity MFT Server. In other words, if you selected four files to transfer, the transfer report will state that six files were successfully transferred.
To pause a transfer:
Click the Pause button.
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The caption on the Pause button changes to Resume.
To resume a paused a transfer:
Click the Resume button.
To abort a transfer:
Click the Cancel button and then click Done.
To close the Sending Package window:
Click the Done button.
When sending a package, you can override several of your default transfer and security preferences. For more information, see Advanced Tab.
For more information on default preferences, see 9. Setting Preferences.
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Sending a Package in Lite Operating Mode
To send a package:
1. Click the (New) button in the left pane.
The New Package window opens, displaying the Package tab.
2. Perform steps 2-6 of Sending a Package in Enhanced Operating Mode.
3. To select a file:
a. Click the Add button.
A Browse button appears.
b. Click the Browse button.
The Choose File to Upload dialog box opens.
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c. Double-click the file that you want to send.
The file is added to the Files field.
d. To select more files, repeat steps a-c.
4. To send the package, click Send.
The Upload Progress window opens, showing you the files that you selected to send. While the transfer is in progress, both the Total data sent value and the size of the file currently being transferred are updated every few seconds to show how much data has already been uploaded.
5. To abort the upload operation, click Abort.
When the transfer completes, a transfer report is shown. The report includes the total amount of data transferred, the amount of data transferred for each file and the completion status of each file (indicated by an icon).
6. Click Done to close the Upload Progress window.
When sending a package, you can override several of your default transfer and security preferences. For more information, see Advanced Tab.
For more information on default preferences, see 9. Setting Preferences.
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Checking Recipient Names
After typing the recipient names, you can click the below the button to verify that you have specified valid recipients. If all of the recipients are valid, a confirmation will be displayed. Even if you do not click the Check Recipients link, Attunity MFT verifies the validity of each recipient before sending the package. If the validity of one or more of the recipients cannot be verified, the Check Recipients window opens:
In the above example, users mi is "Ambiguous" meaning that there are several valid user names beginning "mi"
(mike and miles in the example). The other recipient is "Unknown", meaning that he/she is not a valid user.
1. To correct "Ambiguous" recipients, select the intended recipient from the drop-down list in the Corrected Recipient column and then click Add.
The recipient is added to the Valid Recipients field at the bottom of the window.
2. To correct "Unknown" recipients, type the correct recipient user name in the Corrected Recipient column and then click Add.
The recipient is added to the Valid Recipients field at the bottom of the window.
3. After you have corrected all the recipients, click OK.
The package will be sent if you already clicked the Send Package button and if all the corrected recipient user names are valid.
If have not already clicked the Send Package button, the program returns you to the Package tab.
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Selecting Recipients from the Address Book
The Address Book contains the names of all the Attunity MFT users or distribution lists to which you are permitted to send packages. Using the search feature, you can easily search for specific users or groups of users that match your search criteria.
To select recipients from the address book:
1. Click the button next to the To field.
The Address Book window opens.
The Address Book is divided into three tabs: Users, Distribution Lists and Hosts. In each of these tabs, the procedure for selecting and searching for recipients is identical. The right side of the tab lists the recipients that you are permitted to send packages to while the left side of the tab enables you to search for recipients.
2. To add recipients, click the Attunity MFT entities to which you want to send the package and then click Done.
3. To search for recipients by the first letter of their name, click a letter on the left as appropriate.
4. To search for recipients using the available search fields, enter a search string in any of the designated fields and then click Find.
Note: A search string can contain letters and/or wildcard characters. A single letter can also be used to find recipients. For example, entering “a” in the Users tab's Last Name field and “b” in the E-Mail Address field will find all recipients whose last name begins with “a” and whose e-mail address begins with “b”.
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Inviting Users
If permitted by your Attunity MFT administrator, you can send packages to recipients who are not Attunity MFT users. These recipients, known as Ad Hoc users, will receive an e-mail, sent on your behalf, inviting them to enroll to Attunity MFT and download the package using Attunity MFT Web Client.
To send a package to an Ad Hoc user:
Follow the procedure described in Sending a Package, but in the To field specify the email address of the intended recipient.
Note: If you do not know whether or not you are allowed to invite Ad Hoc users, ask your Attunity MFT administrator.
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Advanced Tab
In the Advanced tab, you can set preferences for the current transfer. Any preferences that you set will override the equivalent default preferences. Available preferences are as follows:
Security Preferences
Package Notifications
Priority and Expiration Preferences
Compression and Verification Preferences
Security Preferences
You can safeguard the package contents and prove your identity by encrypting and signing the package before it is sent.
Note: This option is only available in Enhanced operating mode. See also Operating Mode.
To display your security preferences:
Click Security Preferences.
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Encrypting Files
You can encrypt your package using any of the methods described below.
Encrypting Files with the Attunity MFT Server Certificate
You can use Attunity MFT Server's certificate to encrypt a package between your machine and Attunity MFT Server. After the package is uploaded to Attunity MFT Server, it is decrypted using Attunity MFT Server's private key. If the recipients' public keys reside on Attunity MFT Server and their profiles are configured accordingly, the package will be re-encrypted with their public keys.
Note: To encrypt files using the Attunity MFT Server certificate, the Attunity MFT Server certificate does not have to reside on your computer. However, an appropriate certificate should have been imported to Attunity MFT Server. If you are not sure whether such a certificate exists, please contact your Attunity MFT administrator.
To encrypt files using Attunity MFT Server's certificate:
Select the Use Attunity MFT Server certificate option.
Encrypting Files with a Recipient User’s Public Certificate
This option should only be selected if you are sending the package to a single Attunity MFT recipient (user or host) whose public certificate is stored on your computer. Additionally, this option is only available if the ActiveX option in the Transfer Preferences page is selected.
If you encrypt the package using the recipient’s public certificate, the package will be encrypted from your computer to the recipient’s computer.
To encrypt a package using the recipient’s public key certificate:
1. Select the Use a recipient’s certificate option.
2. In the designated field, specify the subject (or a unique part of it) of the recipient’s public key certificate.
Encrypting Files Using a Shared Secret
If you encrypt the package files using a shared secret, the files will remain encrypted until decrypted by the package recipients.
To encrypt files using a shared secret:
1. Select the Use a shared secret option.
2. Select a cipher from the Cipher drop-down list.
3. Specify a shared secret in the Shared Secret field.
4. Re-enter the shared secret in the Verify Secret field.
To decrypt the package files, the secret and the encryption cipher must be known to the package recipients.
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Signing Files
You can sign a package using a certificate containing your private key. Signing a package proves to the recipients that you are the package sender.
To sign the package:
1. Select the Sign file using this certificate check box.
2. In the designated field, specify a unique part of your private certificate subject.
Package Notifications
You can request to be notified by e-mail when any of the following events occur:
Package has been distributed to recipient’s inboxes on Attunity MFT Server
Package has been delivered to hosts
Package activity notification – You will be notified whenever recipients open the package or download any of the package file.
Note: If you select this option, you will also receive a final status report when the package expires. The report will inform you which files each recipient downloaded and which recipients did not open the package (if any).
To request package notifications:
1. Select any of the available options.
2. Specify an e-mail address in the designated field.
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Priority and Expiration Preferences
You can assign a priority to the package and set an expiration date after which the package will no longer be available for download.
To display your priority and expiration preferences:
Click Priority and Expiration Preferences.
Assigning a Package Priority
You can assign a priority (level of importance) to each package. Packages in the recipients' inboxes will indicate their priority level with an appropriate icon.
To assign a priority:
From the Choose a package priority drop-down list, select Normal, High or Low as appropriate.
Setting a Package Expiration Period
You can set a package expiration date after which the package recipients will no longer be able to download the package.
Note: The maximum expiration period defined on Attunity MFT Server is specified at the end of the note below the Package will expire within fields. The expiration period that you specify cannot exceed the maximum expiration period defined on Attunity MFT Server.
To set a package expiration date:
Select the Package will expire within check box and then specify the number of days, hours and minutes in the designated fields.
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Compression and Verification Preferences
You can compress packages for improved transfer speed. The package will only be compressed during transfer and will not need to be unzipped by the recipients. You can also verify that the package contents have not been altered during transit.
Note: This option is only available in Enhanced operating mode. See also Operating Mode.
To display your compression and verification preferences:
Click Compression and Verification Preferences.
To zip the files during transit:
Select the Zip package check box.
Note: Zipping large files or certain file types may increase transfer speed while zipping file formats that already compressed (such as jpegs and mpegs) will have little effect on file size and may even reduce the transfer speed and place an unnecessary burden on the CPU.
To verify that the package had not been altered during transit:
Select the Verify that files have not changed during transit check box.
Note: If a disparity between the source and target files is detected, the package transfer will be aborted.
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