Clients for Web Integration
Optimized data transport requires that native code run on the client system. ExpeDat Desktop and WebDat serve as the client for web integrated ExpeDat data transfers. ExpeDat Desktop is most suitable where users need direct control over file transfer operations. WebDat is designed for use with custom webpages which provide the entire user interface.
| Feature | ExpeDat Desktop | WebDat |
|---|---|---|
| Run Model | Application | Agent |
| Installer | No | Yes |
| Startup | User or URL | On Login |
| User Interface | Yes | No |
| HTTP API | Yes | Yes |
| Progress | Window | Webpage |
| Reporting | Detailed | Summary |
| Logging | Yes | Yes |
Each is distributed as a single-executable which requires no administrative privileges. ExpeDat Desktop has no installer: it can be run immediately after download. WebDat is distributed as an "Install WebDat" application which creates a background agent to launch automatically whenever the user logs in.
ExpeDat Desktop
Download or copy "ExpeDat Desktop" to the local system.. If you download it as a .zip or .dmg file, you must extract the application before using it. You may place ExpeDat Desktop in any folder, including your Desktop. macOS will automatically launch it whenever an expedat:// URL is clicked. Windows users must run ExpeDat Desktop.exe after moving it to activate or repair URL functionality. Webpages can use this to launch ExpeDat Desktop for you and automatically begin a transaction.
If your operating environment does not allow execution of custom URLs, you may instead copy and paste a URL into the Server field. Then press return or click 
to execute the URL.
If you have multiple copies of ExpeDat Desktop, macOS will service URLs using the most recent version on your local filesystem, while Windows will use whichever copy you last launched manually.
ExpeDat Desktop maintains an HTTP API server whenever it is running. Webpages can use this to start and monitor transactions. For your privacy and security, ExpeDat Desktop will ask your permission whenever a new Webpage seeks to control its functions.
See the ExpeDat Desktop Web Integration section for details of how ExpeDat Desktop handles URL actions and HTTP API requests.
WebDat
Download or copy "Install WebDat" to the local system.. If you download it as a .zip or .dmg file, you must extract the application before using it. Running the installer will create a macOS Launch Agent or a Windows Startup item so that WebDat can automatically launch whenever you login. Once running, WebDat will appear as an ExpeDat icon in the macOS menu bar or the Windows the task bar among the notification menus.
Webpages can use the HTTP API can start start and monitor file transfers. For your privacy and security, WebDat will always ask you to choose which files or folders you want to upload, or where you want to save downloading files.
The WebDat menu provides brief information about its version and current activity. You can also use this menu temporarily quit WebDat, or disable it from running on startup.
See the WebDat section more details about installing and using WebDat.
URL Shortcuts
An easy way to communicate URLs to end-users is to create .url shortcut files containing the desired link. The most reliable way to create URL shortcut is to use a text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit to create a file like that shown below, and save it with a .url extension:
[InternetShortcut] URL=expedat://example.com/path/myfile?u=username
URL shortcut files work on both Windows and macOS systems. You can include them when you send ExpeDat Desktop itself, or you can send them later as needed.
You can also distribute the ExpeDat Desktop software and URLs using the Landing Page web template.