Many internet service providers still limit the size of email attachments, so it can be all but impossible to send large files via email.lndeed, if you've got an enormous file to share - a digital video, say - it can sometimes seem easier just to pop a CD in the post than attempt to transfer it electronically. But there are other options. A tool called Pando, for example,solves the problem in a clever way. Rather than rely on clunky old email servers, Pando users can send large files to the Pando server.Then you can send an email to everyone telling them it's there. They then download it from the server - or from the PCs of selected contacts. In this Workshop, we'll demonstrate how to download and make use of Pando to share a large video file.

TO DOWNLOAD PANDO AND start swapping large files
with friends all over the world, load your web browser, type www.pando.cominto the Address or Location bar and press Enter. When the website appears, click the large Get Pando Free button, and at the next screen, make sure the Windows version is selected and click the green Download Pando Now button. Ignore Windows' security warnings and save the file to the Windows Desktop.When the download is complete, click the Run button to start the installation process.

PREPARE TO CONFRONT AND ignore one ortwo otherWindows security warnings and click Run to install Pando. Follow the wizard, accepting all the defaults and agreeing to the licence.Then, when the program has finished setting itself up,just click the Finish button. After a moment or two, Pando will launch forthe first time. Everything's now ready to send a very large file - in this case a 150MB video.To start the process, click the Send New button .

PANDO CREATES 'PACKAGES' BY adding files and folders and then giving them a name.To begin, click the Browse button and a panel will slide out ofthe left-hand side of the dialogue box. We're going to send a 150MB video so we'll click on the Videos button at the bottom ofthe panel and then find the one we want to send¬Flying Lyndy.Just click to grab the file with the mouse pointer and drag it across to the Files and Folders window on the right.

THIS VIDEO IS GOING to our friend Beryl,so we'll type her email address into the top line. Notice that Pando has already given the package a name - Flying Lyndy.wmv - and should we add further files they'll be saved under the same name. Remember that Beryl needs to know we're sending her a file so we should type in a subject and a short message. Next, we'll click the From link under the message window and type in our own name and email address. Then click OK.

THE FIRST TIME ANYONE sends an emijil via Pando, the software asks for a security code. Simply type in the numbers and letters (upper- and lower-case) exactly as they appear in the hint window. This is common practice for free services like this and helps to prevent them from being hijacked by unscrupulous types with automated tools who may want to use them for their own mischievous schemes. It's a one-time only code and hereafter won't be required. Click OK and Pando starts to upload the file.

AND WE'RE OFF. How quickly Pando sends a package depends on lots ofthings - how big it is, how fast the internet connection is (remember, because of the way broadband internet connections work, uploads are generally much slower than downloads) how well it's working and so on.ln a way this doesn't matter because the idea is that having started the package going, it's possible to leave it ticking away in the background and get on with something else like sending and receiving emails, word processing or whatever.

ALTHOUGH THE PACKAGE IS still being sent, the accompanying email has already arrived at the other end. Beryl sees that it's the promised video and clicks the link nearthe top of the message window to get the copy ofthe Pando software she'll need to open it.This takes her to the Pando website where she can download and install the software exactly as we did in steps one and two
(so feel free to refer your friends to this Workshop). Pando then s tarts, recognises that a file is ready to download and starts doing so automatically.

STAYING WITH BERYL'S PC, the video has finished downloading and it's sitting in the Pando window with a green button next to it labelled Open, with a 'NEW' sign next to it. These labels are useful if you're receiving lots of packages that have lots of different files inside them. Clicking Open loads Windows Media Player and the 150MB video starts playing back. Remember, sending a file this size via conventional email is likely to be impossible.

THE IDEA OF PACKAGING a single file is redundant, but when it comes to sending lots of different files at once, it starts to make much more sense. In this example various accounting documents have been selected and dragged across to the main Pando window. In the same way as before, it can be addressed and given a 'package' name.

THIS TIME, THOUGH, THERE'S an important difference.The stuff inside this package is pretty sensitive information and to ensure only Beryl can open it we click on the padlock icon next to the package name.This opens the password-protection dialogue box so the package can be given a password - remember to tell the recipient that they'll need one in order to open it.ln this example, rather than include the password in the email messa~e, we're going to relay it to Beryl over the phone, for added security.

A PADLOCK APPEARS NEXT to the large Pando icon on the right of the main window to indicate the package is secured by a password. Click Send to upload the files. While the 40MB file is being sent, Beryl gets the email telling her that she's got a package waiting. She phones up and we tell her the password, then she tries to open the attachment in Outlook Express by clicking on the paperclip icon and then selecting it from the list.

IF WINDOWS ASKS IF it is OK to open the file,just click Open. After a moment, the Pando download window opens and the Password¬protected package dialogue box appears,asking forthe password. Beryl types it in and clicks OK. Pando confirms it is the correct one and then begins to download the package containing all the accounting files.

PANDO REALLY COMES INTO its own when you want to send one or more very large files to a number of different people. Start the program as before and click the Send New button.This time, type the email addressesofalitherecipientsintothe.To.field at the top, separating each one with a comma, then add the files, include a subject and message and click Send. Because ofthe way Pando works, the more people sending and receiving a Pando package, the faster it can travel.

BY DEFAULT, PANDO LAUNCHES with Windows, which mayor may not be appropriate (it uses about 50MB of memory even when it's not doing anything).To change this and other important settings, open the program window, click the Options menu and choose My Profile.To prevent Pando from loading automatically, remove the tick next to that option in the dialogue box by clicking there.
Explore Pando's other options by clicking the icons in the left-
hand column.