Sending files to other users, especially large files

Problem

• You need to send a file to another PowerPoint user and find that the file's too large to send by email because of limitations imposed by your email system or the recipient's.
• You're seeking help with a problem file on a support forum; people are willing to help but they need to see your file. You want to make the file available to anyone willing to help.

Solution

If you have your own web site, you can upload the file to it and then send the URL to anyone who needs it so they can download the file.

If you don't have your own web site, you can use any of several free "file drop" sites. Typically these allow you to upload the file using your browser, then email a link to anyone you designate, or they may provide a link that you can copy/paste into a help forum message.

Here are a few such services you can try:

• Box
• Dropbox -- free, but requires signing in. Includes an add-in that can automatically download new files to your computer.
• Microsoft's OneDrive service: free storage for anyone with a Microsoft ID or LOTS of storage if you're an Office subscriber
• YouSendIt
• MediaFire
• FileFactory
• FileSavr
• FileDropper

I've used OneDrive, Box and Dropbox. All of them allow you to "share" a file by supplying the recipient's email address; they automatically email a link to the file. Which frequently doesn't work because it requires the recipent to have an account on the service you're using.

Instead, choose the option to create a link, copy/paste the link into an email using your regular email program and send that to the person (or people) you want to share the file with.

Before sending a file this way, be sure to remove any information that you don't want to share. Double click any embedded charts, spreadsheets or other documents and presentatons to make sure that there's no proprietary information hidden in them, and also check the presentation's document properties.

If need be, save a copy of the file and replace any "sensitive" information with fake info and upload that version of the file.

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