Getting Started see troubleshooting
- Does Pando give me a new email address?
- Does the person to whom I'm sending files need Pando?
- How big is the Pando application?
- Can I get a computer virus from a Pando file?
- Do Pando file attachments take up space in my email program?
- How does the status menu work?
- How do I shut down Pando completely?
- How do I uninstall Pando?
- Is Pando some P2P thing?
- Where can I get the technical lowdown on how Pando works?
- Will Pando stay free? What's the business model?
- What does “Pando” mean?
- What’s with these Ads?
- How do I upgrade my Pando account?
- What’s the deal with storage limits?
Receiving Files see troubleshooting
- I just installed Pando, and it's telling me to open my ".pando email attachment." I don't know what to do.
- Can I close Pando in the middle of downloading a Package?
- How can I find a previously received Pando Package?
- How can I pause or stop a Package that's currently being received?
- How do I pause all transfers?
- How do I see what files and folders are contained within a Package?
- Can I get RSS feeds into Pando?
- How do I turn off an RSS feed (Channel)?
- Where on my computer do Pando files go?
- What do I do if a Package is expired?
- If I clear files in my Received list, does that delete them from my computer?
- How can I clear the Received Items list?
- I received a Package that needs a password. What’s the password?
- I tried to retrieve a Package but there's an error link in the Received window. What went wrong?
- I tried to retrieve a Package but got a “Package removed” notice. Why is that?
- How do I open this file?
Sending Files see troubleshooting
- How do I send a file by email?
- How do I send a folder?
- What is this "Package" thing that I need to name?
- Can I use contacts from my email program's address book?
- Do files I send need to be downloaded within a certain time period?
- Can I forward a Package before it is finished downloading?
- What size files can I send with Pando? How much can I store on the Pando servers?
- When would I want to send a package by e-mail, IM, or Web?
- How can I password-protect my files?
- What happens when I forward a password-protected Package?
- Can I post a Package on a Web page?
- Can I send an IM with a link to a Package in it?
- Will the Package link in my Web page or IM work for people who don’t have Pando?
- Why is "Browse" disabled when I share a Package?
- Can I stop a file from being transferred after it starts?
- Do transfers continue in the background?
- Where do the files I send go?
- Are folders in Pando Packages preserved when sending them?
- How do I know my files are secure?
- How can I see if someone has received my file?
- I tried to send a Package but there's an error link in the Sent window. What went wrong?
- Can I send a Package to more than one person at the same time?
- Why does Pando send the email before the upload is complete?
- I want to post a Package on my blog. Will the Flash Widget work on my site? I want to add a Channel from an RSS feed for a blog. Will it work in Pando?
Setting Options see troubleshooting
- How do I change my options in Pando?
- Can I keep Pando from starting automatically?
- How do I change where Pando will put downloaded files?
- Can I set the destination folder for each download?
- Can I see the Info window before I choose to download a Package?
- Can I turn off that notification I get when Pando finishes downloading a Package?
- Can I turn off that notification I get when I shut down Pando in the middle of an upload?
- Where do I change my name and email address?
- Can I put limits on Pando's upload speeds?
- Can I change the anti-virus program Pando uses?
- I use a proxy, how can I set those options in Pando?
- How do I clear the Received Items list?
- How do I clear the Sent Items list?
- Can I set up My Channels to automatically download files, or to stop automatically downloading files?
Getting Started
Does Pando give me a new email address?
No. We work with your existing email address(es). Who needs the headache of a separate email address just for one program?
When you send your first Pando Package, we ask for your name and email address. These are used in messages you send via Pando.
If you want to use a different email address and/or a different name, you can change your settings before you send the Package. Just click on the name and email address link in the Send window.
Does the person to whom I am sending files need Pando?
Yes. But we make this process lightning fast, easy and, of course, free for both you and your recipient. Using Pando, you send files and folders (a.k.a. "Pando Packages") along with a message to any email address you wish. The recipients get your email with a polite note explaining that the file was sent using Pando, and in order to receive the file, they must get Pando, too.
"Aha!" you think. "That's the rub -- you're forcing me to get others to download your software!" You caught us. As that old song goes: "If spreading good software's a crime, we guess we're guilty every time..."
And if you want to invite friends to install Pando before springing a Package on them, here’s how:
- Click the help menu in the upper right of the Pando window.
- Select Invite Friends The Web page you’ll be taken to includes a form where you can send a message politely suggesting that they get with this Pando thing.
How big is the Pando application?
Pando packs all of its power into a mere 1.6MB on Windows.
Other programs may tell you they're small but they make you install 20MB of ancillary stuff so the programs can work. We designed our software from the ground up to be lean and mean.
Can I get a computer virus from a Pando file?
If your computer has a virus-scanning program, you can set it to check the files you download with Pando. Click here to learn how. Pando does not have its own virus-scanner. You should take the same precautions with files you get through Pando that you take with any incoming files to your computer.
You don't have a virus-checking program? You really should. That way, any new files that hit your hard drive from any source will be scanned -- hopefully before they can do any harm. How about installing one right now? Here are links to a few of our favorite antivirus programs. Some of these programs will also check for spyware and adware, too. Neither of which, by the way, you'll ever get from Pando.
Do Pando file attachments take up space in my email program?
Yes, but Pando attachments are tiny. Even if the Pando Package you're sending is 500MB, the typical .pando file attached to your email is usually a mere 30KB or so.
The full 500MB Pando Package gets transferred directly to your hard drive, so it bypasses your email storage entirely. As for the 30KB Pando file that is attached, you'd need about a half million of them to fill up a gig of email storage space.
How does the status menu work?
The Pando status menu lets you quickly see if you are connected to the Pando network.
When you are online, you can send and receive Packages. If you change your status to offline, file transfers that are already in progress will be paused.
How do I shut Pando down completely?
Click the Pando icon in your system tray. Choose Shut Down Pando.
- Make sure Pando is shut down
- Click Start, point to Settings, then click Control Panel. (In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel.)
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs
- Select Pando
- Click Remove
Is Pando some P2P thing?
Yes, and we're proud of it. In fact, we think we've made peer-to-peer better and more useful.
But to understand Pando, let's start with what we're not.
Pando is not a directory where you post the contents of your hard drive for everyone to see. Neither is Pando a "space" you need to keep updated with witty posts and funny avatars for your friends to see. Pando is especially not a network to swap digital music and movies that you don't have the rights to share with others. You can read more about our thoughts on copyright here.
Now let's talk about what Pando is.
Pando is designed to create the best and easiest way to publish and receive content—no matter how big—over the Internet. Pando uses the distributed part of P2P technology to take a large file and break it up into little bits. And our network's smart enough to distribute those bits in the fastest way possible to your recipients' machines. This allows you to transport much larger stuff—say, ALL your Spring Break videos rather than just a couple of photos.
Of course, the transfers are all private and secure because we encrypt it. But Pando's piéce de résistance compared to other P2P networks is that it lets you publish those beach videos anywhere and everywhere you like—by email, by IM, on your blog, on your MySpace page and more.
Pando’s also a great place to find great content. When your friends aren’t busy sending you stuff, check out Pando Channels to get cool video episodes downloaded hot off the presses and right to your hard drive.
Where can I get the technical lowdown on how Pando works?
First, check out "How Pando Works (for geeks)" on our website.
To ask specific questions regarding Pando's technical wizardry, we invite you to join our forum, where you can chat directly with our talented engineers.
Will Pando stay free? What's the business model?
Pando's goal is to get as many people using our free app as possible. Thanks to the funds invested in Pando, we are able to grow our install base without charging our users. In addition, the app is and always will be 100% clean of spyware and adware.
Our business model is a combination of sponsored content distribution, premium services, and technology licensing which we will roll out over the coming months. We definitely plan to make money, but not at the cost of our users. For instance, you may have noticed our new premium account options – for a monthly or yearly fee, you can get even more cool features from Pando. But the same great free version of Pando is still available, and we aim to always have a version of Pando that’s free.
What does “Pando” mean?
In searching for a short word that would embody the essence of our p2p platform we turned to the Latin dictionary (as many startups do when ALL the web domain names you think of are already taken). Pando is latin for “to stretch out, spread out, extend“, which we feel is perfect for a platform that unleashes files stuck on people’s computers. It also means “to make known, publicize” which applies to the future of Pando.
What’s with these Ads?
Many people have asked us if Pando will remain free. The answer is, we hope to always have a free version of Pando. This means we need to generate revenue in other ways including advertising. Rest assured, there are a few things we will not do to make money such as including spyware and adware in our products or selling personally identifiable user data. Like any company, we hope for financial success but never at the expense of our users' trust. If you see any advertising that you consider questionable please send us (support@pando.com) a screen shot of the ad and we will look into it for you.
Want to get rid of the ads? Upgrade to a premium account, and those ads will be gone in a flash! Sorry, that’s the only way; otherwise, you’re stuck with them.
Click here to view our Ad policy
How do I upgrade my Pando account?
Click here to see a comparison of free Pando versus Pando Pro, along with links to purchase an upgraded account.
You can also click on any of the Upgrade your account links you see in the Pando program itself.
For a step-by-step guide to upgrading your account, click here.
What’s the deal with storage limits?
Storage limits are not currently enforced and even when they will be, Pando will continue to enable all users to send an unlimited number of packages that can be downloaded an unlimited number of times. An encrypted copy of each package you send is stored on Pando’s secure servers for 30 days from the last time they were forwarded or downloaded (from the web). In the future, storage limits will be enforced, but that only means that your old packages will expire sooner to make room for new ones if you exceed your storage limit. You will still be able to publish an unlimited number of packages even with a free account. For more info on expiration click here.
Receiving Files
I just installed Pando, and it's telling me to open my ".pando email attachment." I don't know what to do.
The typical way someone will be introduced to Pando is by receiving an invitation from a friend or colleague. This will arrive via email and will often include a Pando attachment, a.k.a. a "Pando Package." This is the file -- or group of files and folders -- the sender wants you to receive.
The first time you use Pando, you need to:
- Go back to your email program.
- Open the email that has the .pando attachment. Double-click on the attachment. If your email program lets you select "Open," do that and skip to step 4.
- Download the .pando file the way you normally download an attachment. Go to where you downloaded it and double click on it.
- Opening a .pando file launches the Pando application. (If you haven't installed the Pando application yet, go back to Getting Started in this Help section.) The Package will automatically download. Its name will appear in the Received list.
Once you have downloaded your first Pando Package, Pando will congratulate you and give you a little tip.
Perhaps you've installed Pando, but no one has sent you a .Pando Package. If you're staring woefully at a blank Pando Status screen, go to www.pando.com/fromceo and click the orange Download button in the Welcome to Pando box. Choose Open when Windows gives you that option, and you'll be up and running with a video from our CEO.
Can I close Pando in the middle of downloading a Package?
If you shut down Pando or change your status to "offline," all transfers will be paused. Those transfers will automatically pick up where they left off the next time you start up Pando or change your status to "online."
How can I find a previously received Pando Package?
- If Pando is already running, start Pando by clicking on the Pando icon in your system tray.
- Click on the Received tab.
- Scroll through the items listed.
- If it's not there, you may have cleared your Received list. Try going to Windows' Start menu and use Find to search for filenames ending with .pando. Once you've found it, you can open it and download the Package again.
How can I pause or stop a Package that's currently being received?
Just click pause at the bottom of Pando's Status window. "Pause" changes to "Resume" in case you want to resume later.
If you want to stop the transfer completely, select the package by clicking on it, and click clear. You'll have the option of just clearing this item from the list of received packages, or clearing it and deleting the portion you've already downloaded from your hard drive.
How do I pause all transfers?
Click the Pando system tray icon to display its menu and select Pause All Transfers. Likewise, you can Resume All Transfers from this menu.
How do I see what files and folders are contained within a Package?
This is what we call Package "Info." Choose a Package from the Sent or Received list and click info to see what's contained within it. You can also double-click on items to bring up the Info window.
Can I get RSS feeds into Pando?
Yes. Subscribe to any RSS feed that posts .pando files and Pando will update your Received list every 6 hours or each time you start Pando. It shouldn’t even slow down your launch time.
- Click the options menu on the upper right part of the window.
- Select Channels.
- Click + Add Channels in the upper right part of the Options window. A new window will open.
- Enter the URL of an RSS feed in the text box (note: you can usually right-click an RSS icon on a site, choose “Copy Link Location,” then paste the link into the text box). Click the test button to make sure the feed will work. If the link is a valid link but doesn’t currently have any .pando files, you can still subscribe to it and Pando will check it regularly for .pando files.
- By default, Pando will automatically download new Packages published to that Channel onto your computer. If you'd rather Pando just show you the available files in your Channels tab so you can choose which ones to download, uncheck the box next to "Auto-download…".
- The default setting for new Channels is to automatically delete Packages, starting with the oldest, to make room for new ones. ( More info on that here!) If you'd rather not have Pando automatically delete Packages from your Channels list at all, uncheck the box next to "Auto-delete." If you would like to change the threshold (number of Packages) at which Pando starts deleting, leave the box checked but change the number -- the default is 3 -- to whatever you wish.
- Click subscribe.
How do I turn off an RSS feed (Channel)?
- Click the options menu on the upper right part of the window.
- Select Channels.
- Find the unwanted Channel in the list. Select it. Click the Off button to stop Pando from checking for new files. The Channel will remain in this list. Or, click Delete to stop Pando from checking for new files and remove the Channel from the list.
Where on my computer do Pando files go?
When you installed Pando, it created a folder in c: \Documents and Settings\My Documents called "My Pando Packages". That's the default destination for downloads. Episodes for your RSS feeds (Channels) are placed in the “Channels” folder inside “My Pando Packages”.
But you can change that if you like:
- Open Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Storage.
- Look for "Default download folders:" Click the ". . ." button , either for Channels or Email, IM and Web.
- Navigate to your folder of choice or click the New Folder button. When you click ok, the new folder selection will appear in the field next to the ". . ." button.
Changing the location for each download:
If you want to decide where each download will go, you need to first change your default download options.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the main Pando window. Select Transfers.
- In the Receiving section, deselect "Start downloads automatically when I open .pando files."
Now, when you double-click on a Pando Package, the Info window will appear before the Package downloads. That window has an orange download (or download all if it's more than one file) button as well as a ". . ." button. Click the ". . ." button to select the download location.
What do I do if a Package is expired?
Pando Packages expire after a certain number of days (depending on what type of account the sender has):
- Pando Free:
- 7 days (when sent by email/IM) or
- 30 days (by Web)
- Pando Pro: 14 days(when sent by email/IM) or 60 days (by Web)
If you click the ignore button in the Package Expired window, the Package will remain in your Received list. If you click cancel download, the listing will be removed. (If your Packages keep expiring before your recipients get a chance to download them, consider upgrading to a Pando premium subscription. If you're the one stuck trying to download an expired Package, when you ask the sender to resend it, encourage them to think about upgrading as well!)
If I clear files in my Received list, does that delete them from my computer?
When you clear your Received list, you're always given the option to clear just the list, or to clear the list AND delete the corresponding files/folders from your hard drive.
How can I clear the Received Items list?
Once in a while you have to do a little housekeeping. To clear received items:- Open Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Storage.
- Click the clear received items button. You can either:
- Clear only the Package list displayed in the Main Status window, or
- Clear the list AND delete the file(s)/folder(s) contained in those Packages from your computer.
- Note: This cannot be undone.
I received a Package that needs a password. What’s the password?
We don’t know. Really, we don’t. Only the person who originally sent the file knows. When you try to open the file, a window appears asking you for the password. Toward the bottom of that window is the name of the person who originally sent the file and who created the password. If you know that person, contact them. If you don’t, contact the person who sent you the file.If you need some time to get the password, just click the cancel button. The file will remain in your received list with a download button.
I tried to retrieve a Package but there's an error link in the Received window. What went wrong?
Occasionally things go wrong. Possible problems with receiving files include: the Pando Network is still waiting for the sender, the file is unavailable or you don't have enough disk space. Click the error link for details.
I tried to retrieve a Package but got a “Package removed” notice. Why is that?
We at Pando take piracy very seriously. If a Package containing copyrighted material has been posted without the copyright holder’s permission, we will remove it from the network and you’ll get a Package removed notice. When you click cancel download, the Package will be removed from your Received list. Pando can send and receive many types of files. Here is a guide to some of the common file types, with links to tools that can work with them.- Pando - A Pando file is a small file that allows you to download a large package (a file or collection of files). Opening a Pando file causes the Pando application to show you information about the package. Clicking "download all" will download the files described by the Pando file.
- File compression tools:
- ZIP - A zip file contains one or more files that are packed together and compressed. You can use WinZip to unpack the file.
- RAR - Comparable to a zip file, a RAR file contains one or more files packed together and compressed. You can use WinRAR to unpack RAR files.
- ISO - This is a disk image file, often used for distributing software. You can burn an ISO in windows XP here.
- DMG - This is a Mac disk image file, often used for distributing software. Windows users can't easily use these files.
- Video formats:
- MOV, M4A, M4P - These video files play using QuickTime. You can download QuickTime here.
Sending Files
How do I send a file by email?
Once you send files and folders in Pando, you may never want to do it any other way.
- Start Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the share new button on the upper left corner of the window. Pando gives you the option of sharing via Email, IM, or Web. Select Email.
- In the "to" field, enter email addresses of people who you want to receive the Package. Clicking the to button will access your Outlook address book.
- To add files, you have a couple of convenient options:
- Drag and drop them into the "Files & folders" field, or
- Press browse or click the << button to open Pando’s File Drawer. The File Drawer slides out to show you the contents of your My Documents folder. Double-click your files to add them to the package, or highlight them and click the paperclip icon at the top-right. Use the Ctrl or Shift key to select multiple items.
- If you are sending more than one item, you need to name your Pando Package in the "Package name" input field. (If you are sending only one item, by default Pando will use the filename as the Package name.) * Optional: To add a description, click the Package name: link. It's a good idea to add a description -- the Package name and description are the first things your recipient will see. Learn more here
- Add an email subject and message, if you like. If you have a premium account, you can password-protect the file, too. Click here for instructions on how to do so.
- Click the send button in the upper left corner.
For first-timers:- Before you send your first Pando Package, you’ll need to click the [Click to enter your email address] link at the bottom of the window. Enter the name and email address you want your recipients to see when they get your Pando Package. You shouldn't have to enter the info again (Pando’s got a great memory), but you can change these at any time.
- If this is the first Package you are sending with Pando, a window with distorted text will appear. You’ll have to enter the distorted text into the box marked "Code:" and click ok. The one-time test proves beyond reasonable doubt that you are human and not a spam-spewing robot.
- Pando now uploads the full contents of your Package to the Pando network, and sends an email with a small .pando ("dot pando") file attachment to your recipients. (For good measure, it also sends a copy to your email). You'll see a status bar. If, by chance, something goes wrong during the sending process, an error link will appear in the "Sent" column. Click that link for further instructions.
- Want to check if your Package was downloaded? Click the “sent” tab. Under the name of the Package you just sent, it will say “downloads: 0”. This number will go up each time the Package is downloaded.
Two important notes about sending Pando Packages:
- If you turn off your computer, disconnect from the Internet, or shut down Pando before your Package is finished sending, your recipients won't be able to download the Package until the next time you start Pando and complete sending.
- Pando Packages (files you send) expire 7 days after the date sent or the last date the Package was forwarded. Learn more about package expiration here.
Another way: You can also right-click on any file or folder in Windows to send it with Pando.
How do I send a folder?
It's basically the same as sending a file. See the question just above this one: "How do I send a file by email?" In step 4, you can drag and drop entire folders. Select as many folders as you like. Pando will also include any subdirectories. Make sure you name the Package, and it's easy as that.
What is this "Package" thing that I need to name?
A "Package" is simply the group of files/folders you've selected to send. If you are only sending one file, Pando will use the filename as the Package name, unless you tell it otherwise. But once you add more than one item to the Package, you'll need to name the Package. This is the filename your recipient will find attached to his or her email, the Package name Pando users see in their application, and the name of the folder saved to your recipients' computers.
Can I use contacts from my email program's address book?
Sure, if you use Outlook. (If you use Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo mail, or AOL, we’ve got plug-ins too.)
- Click the share new button.
- In the Send window, click the to button. A window will open with your address list from Outlook.
- Click the email addresses you want. Use Ctrl or Shift to select more than one.
- Click To ->. They will appear in the "Message Recipients" field.
- If you need to remove any recipients from the list, right click on their name. Select Remove.
- Click OK and they will be put into the "to:" field on the Send New Package window.
Do files I send need to be downloaded within a certain time period?
- For free accounts:
Files you email to someone are stored securely on Pando’s servers for 7 days from the last time they were sent or shared by anyone with Pando. After that they may still be available from your and other recipient’s computers if you/they leave the Pando package in your sent or received lists and you are online at the time.
Files you “Send to Web” (post to a web page/blog) will expire from Pando’s servers 30 days from the last time they were downloaded or shared. For example – if at least one person downloads your file(s) from the Web (by clicking web download button/link created by Pando) every 30 days, your files will never expire from Pando’s servers. Files you post on IM will expire from Pando’s servers 7 days from the last time they were downloaded. - For Pando Plus and Pando Pro users: The same rules apply, except your files last 30 days instead of 7.*
Can I share a Package before it is finished downloading?
Yes. On the bottom of Pando's Status window, you'll see a share button. Select a Package to share and click the share button. Enter a subject and message, if desired, and click Send on the top left of the Send window. You cannot modify the files and folders, the Package name or the description of a Package you are sharing.
What size files can I send with Pando? How much can I store on the Pando servers?
- With a free account, you can send files that are up to 1GB each. (That’s bigger than many people’s whole email account capacity!) You can store up to 5GB on Pando’s servers at any given time.
- With a Pando Pro account , you can send files as large as 3GB and store as much as 10GB on the servers.
When would I want to send a package by e-mail, IM, or Web?
All the time! Pando creates tiny little files that allow everyone to receive large downloads fast and dependably. Your complete packages are stored on Pando’s servers for a limited time (learn more here) as well as on your own P2P network. You can share packages three different ways to do all sorts of things:
- E-mail – Send your latest photos, videos or other large files direct to your friends as often as you like without ever clogging up their inbox! E-mailing files and folders is as easy as this.
- IM – So you’re explaining the minutiae of your PowerPoint presentation over instant messenger and your partner hasn’t a clue what you’re talking about. Use Pando to generate a link to your file, and paste it right into your IM conversation—no matter which messaging software you use. “How?” you ask. Click here.
- Web – Got an awesome web site or blog? Share your files on the Web or post those videos directly to your blog. Pando generates neat-o Flash widgets, MySpace widgets, BBCode, or plain ol’ URL links. Just copy and paste. See how to do it here.
How can I password-protect my files?
This feature is only available to premium users. (Want a premium account? Click here to upgrade!)
If you have a premium account, make sure you are signed in, then start preparing your package to send as usual. Before you hit the Send button, click the lock icon next to the Package name field.
Enter the same password twice in the window that opens; you can use any combination and any number of characters.
Note: It is up to you to send the password to your recipient. Packages that are password-protected will appear in the Sent and Received lists with a small padlock icon.
What happens when I share a password-protected Package?
Password-protection stays with a Package. Once you enter the password and download the file, you can open it as many times as you like without providing the password again. But if you share that Package with someone else, they will need to enter the original password to download the Package. You cannot change a password when sharing a file.
Can I post a Package on a Web page?
Sure. Pando can generate HTML code for a slick little box with an image, a description and a download button that you can put in a Web page.
Get code for a new Package:
- Click the share new button in Pando, and select Web.
- Add your files and/or folders. See “Sending files and folders” if you haven’t done this before.
- Click the get code button in the upper left corner.
- After Pando has finished packaging your files, a new window will appear with three sections: “Package preview,” the “Send Package to:” menu, and a box containing the code you will be posting on the Web page.
- The default option for the "Send Package to:" menu is the nifty-looking Flash Widget, which will look like the "Package preview" you see at the top of the window. Alternatively, you can also choose to generate a simple download link (no fancy code), BBCode (for posting in online forums), or a Simple Widget for sites (such as MySpace) that do not allow embedded Flash. (For a rundown of which sites allow what, click here.)
- Copy the code from the code box and paste it into the appropriate place in your Web page.
Get code for a Package you’ve already sent:
- Click on the sent tab.
- Select the Package you want code for.
- Click info.
- Click the Send to Web link.
- The “Send to Web or IM” window opens with three sections: “Package preview,” the “Send Package to:” menu, and a box containing the code you will be posting on the Web page.
- The default option for the "Send Package to:" menu is the nifty-looking Flash Widget, which will look like the "Package preview" you see at the top of the window. Alternatively, you can also choose to generate a simple download link (no fancy code), BBCode (for posting in online forums), or a Simple Widget for sites (such as MySpace) that do not allow embedded Flash. (For a rundown of which sites allow what, click here.)
- Copy the code from the code box and paste it into the appropriate place in your Web page
Can I send an IM with a link to a Package in it?
Of course. Pando can generate a simple – but long – link to your Package that you can easily put in an IM.
Get code for a new Package:
- Click the share new button, and select IM.
- Add your files and/or folders. See “Sending files and folders” if you haven’t done this before.
- Click the get link button in the upper left corner.
- After Pando has finished packaging your files, a new window will appear with your link.
- Copy the code from the code box -- it will be one long link -- and paste it into your IM window.
Get code for a Package you’ve already sent:
- Click on the sent tab.
- Select the Package you want code for.
- Click info.
- Click the Send to Web link.
- The “Send to Web or IM” window opens with three sections: “Package preview,” the “Send Package to:” menu, and a box containing the code you will be posting on the Web page.
- Choose "IM (IM Link)" from the "Send Package to:" menu.
- Copy the code from the code box -- it will be one long link -- and paste it into your IM window.
Will the Package link in my Web page or IM work for people who don’t have Pando?
In a way. If a person has Pando and clicks the download link, it will begin downloading the Package. If the person does not have Pando, clicking the download link will open a Web page that will guide them through installing Pando. If they choose to install Pando, the Package they originally tried to download will begin downloading automatically once the installation is complete.
Why is "Browse" disabled when I share a Package?
Packages need to be shared "as is." The browse button is grayed out and the File Drawer is disabled because you can't add anything. You can see the items that the Package contains in the "files & folders" space.
top Sending Files
Can I stop a file from being transferred after it starts?
Sort of. In the current version of Pando you cannot really stop a message from being sent to its recipients once you have hit send. If you pause and clear a Package while it is being sent, your recipients will still receive an email with a Pando Package, but it will only contain the part of the Package you sent before clearing it. Here's how to do that:
- Click on the sent tab.
- Select the Package that you want to stop transferring.
- Click the pause button on the bottom of the window. You need to catch the transfer before it is finished.
- You can resume sending your file at any time by selecting the Package and clicking the resume button at the bottom of the window. Or you can select the Package and click clear to remove the Package from your list. Your original files will not be deleted.
Do transfers continue in the background?
Absolutely. If you close Pando, it will remain running with its icon in the system tray and any files you have queued will continue to transfer.
Only shutting down Pando (clicking on the icon in the system tray and choosing Shut Down Pando) or changing your status to "offline," will make your transfers pause. Those transfers will automatically pick up where they left off the next time you start up Pando or change your status to "online."
Where do the files I send go?
Via a secure, end-to-end 256-bit encrypted transfer, your files are uploaded to our storage proxies (Pando servers), and an email is sent to your specified email recipients. As soon as they open the ".pando" files attached to the emails they get, the files are transferred to your recipients' computers simultaneously from your own computer and our storage proxies. No one, including us, has access to your encrypted files except for you and your intended email recipients. IMPORTANT NOTE: As with any email attachment, if your recipients share packages with their friends, they will also be able to download your files. Please keep this in mind when emailing private files.
Are folders in Pando Packages preserved when sending them?
Folders are preserved on the recipients' machines once the download is complete. The Pando Package simply shows a raw list of all the files in a Package. It's similar to how Winzip works.
How do I know my files are secure?
The files that you send are encrypted while in transit and while on Pando's servers. When your recipient downloads the Package using the .pando file that they received, the files are decrypted transparently and the user sees the original data you sent. Pando uses the most secure implementation of the latest encryption technologies - 256-bit encryption keys of the AES, to ensure your files are secure while in transit. You can read more about it: AES on WikiPedia.
How can I see if someone has received my file?
Go to the Sent tab and look under the name of the Package. It will say “downloads: 0.” This will change to 1 when someone downloads the Package and keep changing as more people download it whether it’s from an email, the Web or an IM.
I tried to send a Package but there's an error link in the Sent window. What went wrong?
Occasionally things go wrong. Possible problems with sending files include email errors or a lack of disk space. Click the error link for details.
Can I send a Package to more than one person at the same time?
Yes, you can. When you are sending a Package, just enter all of the email addresses in the to: field, separated by commas.
Free users can include up to 10 recipients at a time, and premium users can send to as many as 100 recipients at a time.
Why does Pando send the email before the upload is complete?
The email behavior is intentional, so that the downloader can take advantage of a P2P connection both to the sender’s computer and our server as the files are being uploaded
(Click here to learn more about how Pando works).
If you want to avoid this “email first” situation, you can use the Send to Web feature to post the files.
Then you can copy and paste the download link in a message to your recipient once the file has been uploaded.
I want to post a Package on my blog. Will the Flash Widget work on my site?
I want to add a Channel from an RSS feed for a blog. Will it work in Pando?
Here is a list of common blogs and their compatibility with the Simple Widget and the Flash Widget. If the Flash Widget is not compatible with your site, please use the Simple Widget instead. For more information on how to post to the web, click here.
RSS feeds from almost all of the blogs below will work in Pando (as long as they are posting .pando files!), but the exception is noted. For more info on how to add a Channel to Pando, click here.
| Simple Widget | Flash Widget | RSS Subscription | |
| Xanga: | Y | Y | Y |
| Blogger: | Y | Y | Y |
| Typepad: | Y | Y | Y |
| Drupal: | Y | Y | Y |
| MySpace: | Y | N | N |
| LiveJournal: | Y | N | Y |
| WordPress: | Y | N | Y |
| FaceBook: | Y | N | Y |
| Yahoo 360: | Y | N | Y |
Setting Options
How do I change my options in Pando?
- Launch Pando by clicking on the Pando icon in your system tray. (If Pando isn't running, you first need to start the application.) Pando's Status window will appear.
- Click "Options" on the upper right portion of the Status window. You'll be able to change My Profile options, Transfer options or Storage options. See the following questions and answers for specifics.
Can I keep Pando from starting automatically?
By default, Pando will start up each time you start Windows. To change that setting:
- Start Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select My Profile. Uncheck "Start Pando when I start Windows" toward the bottom of the window.
How do I change where Pando will put downloaded files?
When you installed Pando, it created a folder in c: \Documents and Settings\My Documents called "My Pando Packages". That's the default destination for downloads. Episodes for your RSS feeds (Channels) are placed in the “Channels” folder inside “My Pando Packages”.
But you can change that if you like.
- Start Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Storage.
- Look for "Default download folders:" Click the . . . button, either for Channels or Email, IM and Web.
- Navigate to your folder of choice or click the New Folder button. When you click ok, the new folder selection will appear in the field next to the . . . button.
Can I set the destination folder for each download?
Can I see the Info window before I choose to download a Package?
Pando will start Package downloads automatically when you open a ".pando" file. If you turn this feature off, you will see the Info screen for each Package before choosing to download it. You will also be able to pick the destination for each file you download.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the main Pando window. Select Transfers.
- In the Receiving section, deselect "Start downloads automatically when I open '.pando' files."
Can I turn off that notification I get when Pando finishes downloading a Package?
By default, Pando displays a pop-up window when downloads are complete. If you don't like this, we're okay with that:
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Transfers.
- In the Receiving section, uncheck "Notify me when downloads complete if Pando is not open at the time."
Can I turn off that notification I get when I shut down Pando in the middle of an upload?
Pando likes to let you know if you are interrupting a transfer. But you can change that, too.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the main Pando window. Select Transfers.
- In the Sending section, uncheck "Alert me when I shut down Pando during an active upload."
Where do I change my name and email address?
You can change your identity with each Package you send.
In the Send New Package window, click your name and email address in the "From:" field. Change the information. Pando will remember only the last identity you enter.
Or, choose "My Profile" from the "options" menu. Change the information shown.
Can I put limits on Pando's upload speeds?
Pando lets you adjust your upload speed. The default is the available bandwidth of your Internet connection. You can set it to go up to the maximum speed available by your Internet connection.
- Start Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Transfers.
- In the Sending section, look for "Limit upload speeds to [input] KB/s." By default, the checkbox is not checked. That allows Pando to use the available bandwidth.
- Enter the new upload speed.
- Click the check box to enable this option.
Can I change the anti-virus program Pando uses?
If you have anti-virus software installed, it will most likely scan any files that you download via Pando. If you want, you can tell Pando to use a different anti-virus program.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the main Pando window. Select Transfers.
- In the Receiving section, select the "Scan files for viruses using:" option.
- Click the . . . button at the end of that line. Navigate to an anti-virus program. The correct file will have an ".exe" extension.
I use a proxy, how can I set those options in Pando?
- Open Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Transfers.
- Click the Advanced Connection Settings link. A new window will open.
- To set the port, replace the default setting in the "For incoming connections use port" field.
- To set the proxy, choose a configuration from the drop down menu. If you select "use IE settings," Pando will set the host and port to whatever Internet Explorer uses. If you select "HTTPS," you will need to enter host and port settings manually. You can turn on authentication for either IE or HTTPS settings.
How do I clear the Received Items list?
To clear received items:- Open Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Storage.
- Click the clear received items button. You can either:
- Clear only the Package list displayed in the Main Status window, or
- Clear the list AND delete the file(s)/folder(s) contained in those Packages from your computer.
- Note: This cannot be undone
How do I clear the Sent Items list?
- Start Pando. If it's already running, you can click on the Pando icon in your system tray to bring it to the front.
- Click the options menu on the upper right portion of the window.
- Select Storage.
- Click the clear sent items button. This will clear the entire list of previously sent Packages from your Sent list. Original files will not be deleted from your computer. You will get a chance to cancel this operation but once you click ok it cannot be undone.
- Click the options menu on the upper right part of the window.
- Select Channels.
- Select an active RSS Channel from the list. Uncheck the box next to Auto-download packages published to this channel.
- Repeat for each active Channel feed.
