There is already a discussion in the ILIAS forum, see www.ilias.de/iosbb/viewtopic.php?t=5004. Please continue the discussion on this wiki page.

Laurent Merle, Académie de Bordeaux, France - 17/11/2009:

Here is copy from the use case send by Matthias on the forum last year. We agree to most of the proposition. Our suggestions are in colour

General:
The feature can be disabled for all users in system administration. As Benoît suggested in the forum, it seems important that the administrators can decide to allow "my files" for some users and not to allow this feature for some others (for the guests for example)
It is possible to set a quota for file upload too. OK
There will be a new tab on the Personal Desktop called «My Files» where files can be uploaded and edited. Additionally there is a small box for «My Files» on the Overview page of the PD (like for Notes and Bookmarks). OK
File handling is similar to HTML module: only file name but no special field for title and description. If possible, we think title and description can help users to manage their files. If a file is copied/linked in a group from "my Files", it should have the same information in "my files" and in the group too.
Files on the PD are not subject to RBAC. We don't really understand why this feature should be or not sould be subject to RBAC. We need explanations about this question.
Shared files and uploaded files in other ILIAS objects will always be handled as copies. According to us, copy function is necessary, link function is optionnal
This new feature should support folders too. Folders are necesseray to manage files. Moreover, if "My files" can be also managed by WebDAV, certaing folders must be avalaible.

Use Cases
1. User loads up a file to the PD:
User enters PD and selects «My Files» tab. User clicks on button «Upload new file». ILIAS offers upload interface, user selects file on computer and upload it in the PD (same workflow like for file object). It is also possible to upload several files at once in a ZIP file. OK
All files will be displayed in a flat hierarchy. Is it possible to display "my files" as an explorer ? For example, in the same page, user could expand / collapse each folder without refreshing the page

2. User downloads file:
User clicks on file title in «My Files» and file will be downloaded. OK

3. User delets file:
User selects one or more files in «My Files» and clicks on «Delete» button. After confirmation by user ILIAS deletes the file(s). OK

4. Sharing a file with others:
User selects one or more files in «My Files» and clicks on «Share» button. ILIAS offers internal mail interface where user can select other users with whom he wants to share the file(s). Files are delivered as mail attachment via internal mail system.
We agree to what Benoît suggested in the forum : to have two different functions, sending (by mail) and sharing (copy and/or link). Then maybe the easiest is to offer "sending function" in the "My Files" interface.
For the sharing function :
a/ we suggest to have the possibility of sharing files with other user's PD : User A can share files from his PD with User B PD. Then User B has the files shared by user A in his own PD and only there. In this case, sharing function is offered in the "My files" interface and only allow sharing with other user's PD.
b/ We suggest to have the possibility to add files in ilias objects from "My Files". Then, in a group, a course or a category, the insert file interface offers a new possibility : copy (or link ?) from "My files". (as explained at the point 5)


5. Re-using a file in ILIAS:
Files from PD can also be included as content in other ILIAS objects with file upload (requires use of form class in this object). In addition to existing upload from computer workflow there will be integrated a second workflow Upload from Personal Desktop into the file upload GUI. OK

6. Store received files in «My Files»
If a user receives a mail with an attached file in the internal mail system, the user can store this file in «My Files» too. A button «Store in My Files» will be added to the mail inbox GUI. OK. It seems really important. Till now, all documents attached to a mail can't be reused easily in Ilias. It should be a great advantage for ilias internal mail system