Browser plugins are likely to be blocked for many of my users as well.

Though not the most functional option with regards to getting the most out of the dimensions system,
a bulk .zip download which preserves dimensions folder structures while giving the selected files/folders out of dimensions
could be an option for downloads which would be preferable for an end-user who cannot otherwise get/download any files.

I would not think that the ability to upload one file (Add Item feature) at a time by necessity would require Web Client Tools.
A .zip upload would take way more end-user work area consistency/awareness and Windows know-how than a lot of my users would probably possess.

1.)
It seems to me that end-users can most definitely get the most out of dimensions by using the CM Desktop Client.
2.)
The next-best thing is CM Web Client Tools.
3.)
Perhaps it could be that the tier below that is a yet-future capability below that, utilizing only what the native web browser can support.
And if such a 3rd, lower-tier of capabilities for uploads/downloads were implemented, it would probably be a good idea to perhaps have some first-time use dialogs which pop-up
to inform the end-user of the limitations of the 3rd-tier browser-based feature they are about to use,
while recommending Web Client Tools in its place if possible, for the end-user.

It doesn't seem that a .zip download or single file upload would be a technical leap for dimensions to do.
I think I made a case for why it may be desirable for dimensions to implement that 3rd-tier capability.
Having a 3rd level of file transfer capabilities available can make the difference of either having a workaround or not, for if and when the 1st or 2nd tier of download/upload options
either are not available or have configuration problems which are being troubleshooted.

Hello Joshua,

The main problem is probably registering custom protocol handling (dmweb://), which happens via Windows Registry. More info on that is at https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa767914(v=vs.85).aspx

So, then when Web Client is navigating to any "dmweb://..." URL - a browser is passing control to a registered local application (dmweb.exe), which then can communicate to Dimensions CM Server (via http(s) tunneling or directly) to download/upload files to/from the local file system (since browsers these days have no access to client file systems).

There are no many other options to provide the communication between the browser and native system these days (because of more and more raising security restrictions). Say, other than custom protocol options could be having an agent running on each client host (for you probably not easier than installing Web Client Tools), or implementing a browser plug-ins (which is huge effort, taking into account each browser specifics and not certain if plug-in security will allow any disk access). There could be also very user-unfriendly option to, say download files from Dimensions CM as archive using browser Save As, then upload/check-in file-by-file using again browser facilities.

Kind Regards,