Introducing Files

Posted on 26 September 2011 by Comments (16)

If you organise your company docs in perfectly colour-coded, dated folders then you're likely borderline OCD. For the rest of us, there's the new Files section!

Wondering where those important documents are will be a thing of the past with the Files section, as you can now upload and store documents. It's in The Cloud and everything, so you'll even look cool doing it.

The Files section link is found in the top-right corner and everyone gets 1GB of free storage, which should be plenty of space. More details in the Knowledge Base.

Files section

But there's more. Or there will be. In the next few weeks we'll be allowing you to attach files to outgoing invoices and estimates emails (which we know you want!) and there's other improvements beyond that.

Sales Tax positioning on Invoices

Invoice address

Following on from customer feedback, we've made a small change to the positioning of VAT/Sales Tax numbers on invoices. Previously, these had both been displayed at the foot of the invoice, which sometimes caused confusion, especially with non-English invoices.

We've now moved the numbers beneath the corresponding address, so your VAT/Sales Tax number will be displayed below your address on the invoice, and the clients will be displayed beneath their address. Sounds complicated but actually makes loads of sense. Honest.

We've tested all invoice templates, but if you use a custom theme we'd recommend giving your invoices a once over, to make sure everything is tickety-boo.

Interface Redesign coming!

If you've kept an eye on the Blog you may have seen us mentioning an upcoming interface redesign.

New FreeAgent interface

We'll be releasing more information soon, but take a look at what's been revealed already. We're really excited about it!

And finally

FreeAgent was recently shortlisted in the 2011 .Net Awards in the best Web App of the Year category, and we'd very much appreciate your vote, if you're that way inclined.

Until next time,
Roan & The Team at FreeAgent.

Over to you...

Adam, Mon September 26, 2011
Any word on when automated bank integration is likely to surface? This will be a killer feature in my eyes.
Richard de Zeeuw, Mon September 26, 2011
Nice one guys! But actually was hoping now you've tinckered with the VAT number you would just make sure it always appears on the invoice, weather VAT is charged or not. This realy is a legal requirement, now we have to enter it semi-manually at a weird place at the bottom of the invoice.

For the rest - great job!

Cheers,

Richard
Kris Noble, Mon September 26, 2011
Excellent news re: files - looks great and I will be super-happy when I can attach them to invoices and estimates!
Mike Hayes, Mon September 26, 2011
I absolutely love FreeAgent but it's role is certainly not "cloud" file storage. We have DropBox, Google Drive (or Docs as it's called for now) etc for this. Please don't try to be something you're not, for the good of us all! Concentrate on the brilliant accounting app.

I do understand that this area is perhaps needed for file attachments though, which is brilliant.

Anyway good job guys, very much looking forward to the fresh design.
roan, Mon September 26, 2011
@Mike: Thanks for the feedback

We're definitely not trying to be Dropbox or Google Docs, but I do think there's some important reasons for basic file storage in your FreeAgent account:

1) To attach them to invoice/estimate emails
2) To share them with your accountant

Yes, you could work around either of these but Files should really simplify the workflow of many.
roan, Mon September 26, 2011
@Adam: we're making good progress with automated bank feeds, but we do want to get it just right, so we're taking our time - if you hadn't worked that out :)
Clayton Limited, Mon September 26, 2011
Looking forward to checking this out properly this evening but in the meantime it sounds very positive. Definately in favour of file storage directly linked to FreeAgent and very much looking forward to the next stage when invoice attachments come on-stream.

Good to hear also that your still progressing the automatic bank streaming facility.
Mike Hayes, Mon September 26, 2011
@roan

Thanks for getting back to me. Yeah, that's cool, I just wouldn't like to see you edging too far away from what you guys already do a great job at. Prior to finding FreeAgent I had tried ClearBooks, Xero etc and none of them really suited me and most where far too over complicated. FreeAgent is just perfect and I don't stop telling people about it :) Love it!

& praise where praise is due, the fresh design looks absolutely brilliant too. When it was first announced I was worried that it would ruin FreeAgent as I love the existing interface. However the new one does without a doubt look a lot better, really can't wait.
roan, Mon September 26, 2011
@Mike: Thanks for the feedback. We are *very* mindful about overcomplicating FreeAgent because we know the simplicity of the app is what attracts many people.

In fact, with the redesign we're simplifying things even more I think, at least visually.

Do let us know if you think we ever mess things up though!
John, Mon September 26, 2011
I like the UI Improvements that are coming and especially the automated bank feeds that are mentioned in the comments. Like others I think the files feature could be handy but I hope the core focus remains on accountancy software. Two suggestions I would have for files is:
1) The ability to create folders/subfolders
2) The ability to upload multiple files
Thanks,
John
Jon Moss, Tue September 27, 2011
Great to see so many developments Roan!

Non-flash interface and the new design are the things I'm looking forward to...

As wise people say, it's easier to add things than take them away. Keeping it simple and intuitive is what I love about FreeAgent. Files look good though and I'm sure I will use it in some form.

Keep up the good work - scratch that - keep up the terrific work!

Jon
Mark Charles, Tue September 27, 2011
-thanks I'll use it!

We also use insight.ly as CRM & support tool. There they have similar document storage which is useful. They also provide a "link" to existing Google Docs, i.e. only need to keep one copy of a document, but make the link available from other apps. Really useful idea.
Ian Clarke, Tue September 27, 2011
Personally, I think you need to get the simple process of uploading an attachment fixed and working reliably before I'd even thinking about using FreeAgent as a file storage solution.

I'm pretty fed up of seeing your "500 Internal Server Error" screen

That aside, I think FreeAgent is great, just a real shame this takes up so much of my time (I've been trying to upload a receipt since Saturday!).
roan, Tue September 27, 2011
@Mark: That's a neat idea. Other people have mentioned Dropbox integration too, although it's not something we've currently got planned.

@Ian: sorry you're having problems uploading attachments. Have you contacted support about this?
Jenni (One Accounting), Thu September 29, 2011
From an accounting perspective, we're fans of this feature. We do utilize other services like google docs and dropbox but it makes sense for us to be able to share specific accounts-related files with our clients on the site we're already using with them. Its just another example of how online accounting keeps you more connected with you accountant. So thanks for that!
Mark Reynolds, Thu October 06, 2011
I see in the example of the VAT number appearing, you used my name......don't tell me there's another guy called Mark Reynolds!?

The idea of attaching files to automated emails that go out is great. I have recurring emails being sent out once a year for web hosting and I need to attach our web hosting brochure PDF to it as well. So having attachments on recurring invoice emails will be great.

It would certainly be easier for us if the email referenced the file name eg. web-hosting-brochure.pdf, so that if we upload an updated brochure we can overwrite the existing one and not have to do any relinking to the email.
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