Sending files as email attachments may be convenient however there are disadvantages.
- Most email servers limit the size of attachments (on many systems messages greater than 10Mb are likely to fail although the OxMail systems currently support messages upto 50Mb).
- Attachments rapidly use up your mailbox quota - for both sender (Sent Items) and receiver (Inbox)
- Some email addresses, such as department maillists, reject attachments. (e.g. >200kb)
The solution is to make the files available on via the web and then just send the download link via email.
Here are two recommended systems for transferring large files.
University Large File Transfer Service - OxFile
OxFile is a web service that supports the exchange of large files with people inside and outside of Oxford University. It is simple and fast to use, and any member of the University can setup a file exchange for immediate use.
The size of individual files is limited to 25Gb, and the size of a single folder to 40Gb. Success in uploading and downloading large files depends on the quality (and to a lesser extent the speed) of your connection. Interruptions in the connection may result in a download or upload that cannot be resumed.
Use OxFile now
Department of Materials Web Upload Utility
The Department of Materials provides a simple utility which enables users to quickly make one or two files accessible to colleagues via the web (either publically or privately). After upload the user is presented with text containing the weblink suitable for pasting into an email message, rather than sending the file as an attachment (either due to large size or due to maillist restrictions). The uploaded files are automatically deleted after a few days. This system is currently limited to filesizes <100Mb.
Use Webupload Now
