Offsite Storage: Box.net to Windows Live Writer
Posted by Cynthia September 07, 2006
Box.net to Live Writer is an amazingly smart as well as an amazingly well thought out plugin for Windows Live Writer.
Box.net to Live Writer inserts files stored on Box.net into your Windows Live Writer post.
The plugin comes with its own installer/uninstaller.
Once the plugin is installed, configuration is simple. You provide your Box.net login information. If you leave the Auto login unchecked then you’ll each time be presented with a Box.net login screen, displayed via the plugin:
Otherwise the plugin will automatically and transparently login for you.
So, after hitting Insert Box.net File… from the insert menu dropdown or from the sidebar, and after (automatic) login), you’re presented with a Box.net browser screen. On the left is your folder 
tree. Top-right details for the selected file will be shown while bottom-left the link details as the plugin will use them are shown.
It is this screen that best shows how well thought out this plugin is. Right-click on a file to get more options: Rename, Delete, Download, Share.
Unless a file is set to Share you cannot make it publicly available… It is brilliant to add that option in the plugin interface itself so that you don’t need to go back and forth between Box.net and Windows Live Writer. You can also right-click on folders to get more options:
Again, a brilliant idea to make it possible to upload to Box.net right from within the plugin interface.
Finally, when a (shared) file is selected the file’s details are shown top-left, the link details bottom-right.
Files can have a display text (the text that will become your link to the file), the URL of the file (already filled in by plugin), a title (shown when you hover over a link), target, and you can opt to show the file icon.
There is also an Image tab on the insert options but to be honest, This option is only available for those with a premium Box.net account. Not a choice from the plugin maker, obviously, but one to do with Box.net.
What is Box.net?
Box.net offers offsite storage. 1GB of free storage to be exact. Larger packages (5GB or 15GB) are 5 to 10 dollar a month. [Box.net signup - referral link].
With Box.net you can post files to your blog(s), share files with others, offer files to the public, etc.
To me Box.net has been that missing link between offline/online and between the places where I work on the computer. Just as I keep my links on del.icio.us, I keep my work files on Box.net.
A must-have plugin for Windows Live Writer users with a Box.net account — and for those without one, the best excuse reason to try one.
I’ve tried to store 100 GB of my files, music and videos at an online storage provide like Flipdrive and Mediamax. Does it really work during day-to-day usuage? How much does it cost? Can it replace your local harddrive(s)? Check out my report at my blog if you’re interested.