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Whenever you want to add an image or file to the Sitecore Media Library, you would need to either upload each element individually or zip the files and then upload the zipped file (Sitecore will then unzip and load items into the media library).

This is normally sufficient for most solutions. However, some clients want their editors to use drag and drop as they can do with the normal file directory (such as the Windows explorer). They want to do this through the browser interface and without setting up an ftp server.

To solve this, you may use WebDav.

WebDav is a protocol to publishing and manageing file content to a web server. WebDav uses port 80, the same port used by web servers. This means you do not need additional ports open on your filewall. WebDav even allows you to modify the file directly from the server instead of download/upload with normal file sharing properties, - exactly like the Windows Explorer.

Setting up WebDAV is really easy:

• In order to use WebDav you would need to install and enable WebDav on your server. WebDav comes with all Windows 2003 servers with IIS but is not part of the default configuration.
• You would naturally also need to enable WebDav access on the client PC's. Windows XP has a built-in WebDAV client that doesn't need to be installed, only enabled.
• WebDAV is also supported by Windows 2000 with Internet Explorer 5 or higher installed, and it’s also supported by Office 2000 or later. Some of these earlier platforms don’t fully support every feature of WebDAV that Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP support however.

When installed, simply configure your WebDAV to access your upload folder. To install WebDAV and configure it on your server follow the steps in this article: http://www.wown.com/articles_tutorials/WebDAV-IIS.html

Once WebDAV is up and running, all you need to do is simply to build an new application (a blank window) that points to the WebDAV folder. User may then drag and drop and modify files directly from their windows enviroment to the browser interface.

How do the dropped files make their way to the Media Library?

Sitecore V5 has built in media library extension. Whenever you drop a file in the upload folder, it is imported into the Media Library. If it's an image, Sitecore even creates thumbs in desired sizes.

If you are using Sitecore V4, you must purchase the Enhanced Media Module in order to get full benefit of the WebDAV.