Who is this article for?

Customers wishing to understand more about integration with cloud filing solutions.

No special access or permissions are required.

This article explains the requirements and limitations when using Mail Manager with cloud sync platforms such as Box and Dropbox.

1. Understanding platform support

Online sync platforms like Box and Dropbox are officially not supported as of 2022. However, these platforms can work with Mail Manager if they are configured to store files locally rather than using on-demand file retrieval. 

1.1 Box Drive

Cloud-first, on-demand by default

• All files appear locally as placeholders (metadata only).

• No files are stored locally until:

• You open them, or

  • You explicitly mark files/folders as Available offline.

  • Local files are downloaded on demand and may be cached temporarily.

  • Offline access is opt-in and must be explicitly configured per file or folder.

1.2 Dropbox Desktop App

Local-first by default (on most accounts)

• Files download automatically to local disk and sync in the background.

• Files are available offline by default.

• On-demand behaviour (Online-only files) exists but is:

  • Optional

  • Enabled via Smart Sync and/or admin policy.

  • Users can later mark files or folders as Online-only to save space.

Important: Box Drive only supports on-demand local sync, which means files are downloaded when clicked. This configuration will not work with Mail Manager, as the files need to be physically present on the local drive.

2. Configuring file storage locations

To set up a cloud sync platform to work with Mail Manager, follow these steps:

1. Move the default file storage location out of the user profile.
2. Place files under the C:\ drive to ensure paths are consistent for all users.
3. Configure the Shared Configuration Folder and project folders to sync locally to the users' C:\ drive.
4. Configuration of the licensed installer package is per standard procedure.
5. Set up for Collections and Filing Locations, is then as would be performed for a standard server folder configuration.

Note: This configuration requires all users to follow the same file storage structure.

3. Managing ongoing support requirements

Your local IT team needs to be aware of the following considerations:

• Support calls may increase each time a new user is set up
• Users often forget to move their Box files from the default user profile location to the C:\ drive
• The setup process requires additional work and is not generally recommended

Ensure your IT team has documented procedures for configuring new users to avoid repeated support issues.