Dropbox question

[BrianKrieger]

Here is our scenario. Folder location contains objects. WC class comes
to pick them up, creates a document in Windchill, etc. We'd like this
automated. Our assumption was to use a cron job (actually, pretty
certain). Alternatively, we could use a job scheduler in WC. I've seen
some pros and cons listed, but to remove the question to a slightly
higher view, how is anyone else accomplishing this? I.e. files are
created outside of PDMLink on a (very) regular basis and documents need
to be created (that's a lot of user interaction). I.e. work flow robot
instead or......? The windows explorer drag 'n drop interface isn't an
option for us, either (though when it's in a better form it definitely
looks intriguing).

I'm new to the wc dev environment, so it's quick for me to get lost in
the weeds and miss a better/easier solution.

Thanks!
Brian

PS: I'm sending this a third time as it never showed up prior. I
apologize if it was just stuck in a queue the last day or so and there
are three of these. Stupid name server changes.

[AL_ANDERSON]

We have a document loader that works exactly like this using a Tidal job.
Tidal is our enterprise job scheduler. We don't have an end user drop
folder, however. We only use this for a system-to-system interface where
one system sends a file to the in box (folder) on the Windchill server by
FTP, then our job runs the loader every 15 minutes to find anything in
there, and upload it.

In our case, we don't revise this document, but choose to keep an initial
revision ("-" in our case) and either create a new document, or if that
number exists, then check it out, and upload a new primary content file,
and check it in with a comment if the document number already exists. You
could do this any number of ways - revisions, error out, whatever.

The code is fairly complicated with map files, and helper classes, and log
files, and JSP pages to view the logs, but it is doable with a goo
Windchill programmer.

Al