What would be the easiest way of quickly mailing a file through GMail?

Question

I'm often in a situation where I spend quick exchanges with some coleagues - small files in size - goes to them, comes back to me 2 minutes later - then 5 minutes after, again, off it goes.

What would be the easiest way (firefox/explorer plugin?/something) to automate it to some degree ? The perfect answer would enable to right click on a file "Send via GMail", a new compose mail windows opens, I add some few words and off it goes ?

Anything like that exists ?

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Edit: Unfortunatelly, Dropbox & co. won't help me here. I know of them, and use them, but to solve this problem everyone else would need to use them as well ... and that creates a problem, for even if I could persuade them to use it (very difficult, border next to impossible) some of them could have problems installing it (being on company workstations where they don't always control the software installed).

Answer 1

Doing for Gmail what the MailTo link does for Outlook, the wonderfully simple gAttach is a small utility that reassigns Gmail as the default mail account from Windows documents. With gAttach installed, selecting Send from Windows Explorer, Firefox, and Microsoft Office automatically attaches the files to a Gmail composition.

gAttach is freeware.

Answer 2

This sounds like a job for dropbox - you can set up accounts on either box,and share a folder and it'll keep changes revertable for up to a week. I have a referral link for extra space which you could use while signing up if you wish. Just add the new file, and let the other person know ;)

2GB free, but you can get a bit of extra space through referrals

Answer 3

If this exchange is simple text words, you should consider using google wave (since you are already working over gmail). It should be quite fast and not require full file movement either.

lookup the google-wave tag; some references:

1. In 5 sentences or less, what is the purpose of Google Wave? and What are ways to use Google Wave?
   • Should I be excited about Google Wave? Why?
   • Is there any “How To” for Google Wave?

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ldigas,
I am suggesting the use of a google wave rather than a file in the first place.
The real-time communication aspect makes it quite suitable as a growing document.
On second thoughts, you could also use collaboration with Google Docs.

Jared,
I get your point on invitations, I got one quite a while back and missed that part.

Answer 4

I have upvoted the Dropbox and Google Wave answers, but perhaps the dragdropupload addon for Firefox would suit you? Not quite automated, but will save a bunch of time. Simply drag the file(s) into the gmail message instead of selecting "attach a file" and routing through folders.

Drop files into attachment boxes instead of browse for them or type in the filename. Drop multiple files

Answer 5

There is an application named Affixa that I found through a Lifehacker article

Affixa is a free download for personal use, Windows only. If you want the full, unlimited functionality, you can upgrade to Affixa's subscription version for rougly[sic] $3 per year.

There are some other links in the aforementioned Lifehacker article.

Answer 6

It may be worth it for you to check out Drop.io - While it doesn't have a lot of FREE file space, it still has some and it does realtime collaboration. It's very groovy if you ask me.

100 mb limit, so great for small file transfers, and has hidden url or public url and other features. For $20 a month you can get the HUGE storage version. I'm not really into paying for software though unless there is no free alternative. However drop.io does let you create as many free accounts as you want, infact they encourage it.

It's very cool technology and pretty tough to explain, check out the vid in the link.

Answer 7

Use a mail client like Thunderbird 3. Since installing is a problem, you can also use Portable Thunderbird. Configure Thunderbird to use GMail. Then goto the folder, select all and click on send to -> Email client. The pics will be sent to Thunderbird 3, provided its the default client and you can send the mails.