Organize Files as You Download Them

Most computer users have a special folder or location on the system where all downloaded items are piped in. Others define such location before starting the download activity, in order to have all data neatly organized and in place according to purpose or file type. If browsing every time for the desired storage folder is a pain for you Download Mover comes to relieve you as it can do this automatically, according to file type.

The application is free of charge and requires no installation. All its settings are stored in the same location as its executable so you can carry it around on any system without having to reconfigure it.

It is designed to automatically move files of a specific type to a folder selected by the user. You get to define the file format that gets moved as well as the destination. Download Mover does not keep a constant eye on the targeted folder. Instead, you set the frequency for it to check the directory where downloaded items are stored.

The interface is extremely simple, sporting only options that are absolutely necessary. Stripped of any bells and whistles, the application window also dubs as the configuration panel of the program.

Setting everything up is a simple procedure that requires you to define the general download location and add the extensions you want to be moved. After you punch in the file format (there is an example available, so you can’t go wrong with this one) you have to set the receiving folder. There is no restriction on the number of file formats supported or the transition locations you define.

On the downside, you can go only one extension at a time. The application will do absolutely nothing if you start inputting file formats one after another using any sort of separators. Also, it cannot search the target directory recursively, so it can be used only for files as other folders than the main one are not taken into consideration.

The frequency for checking the target location for the defined file formats is also up to you. The supported time interval is in seconds and you can change it only through the up and down arrows, either from the keyboard or the interface of the application.

Additional settings present in the program include displaying error messages, which occur whenever the file moving task is not carried out. Alerts in case of a successful job can also be shown, and the pop up window features links to the destination folder.

Download Mover does a great job as long as certain simple rules are respected. It is a simple tool and, as such, any task a bit out of the ordinary will fail to be completed successfully. For instance, if a copy of an item in the location it verifies is already present in the destination directory the program will issue an error message and fail to overwrite the item, without any hint at the cause of the error.

The application is as simple as can be, with no complicated set of options. However, there are choices some users might enjoy having. Although you can place it in Windows Startup folder it would be nice to have the option to configure it to start automatically after the operating system loads up.

To make it a bit more elaborate and thus cover the needs of a wider pool of users Download Mover should feature the possibility to search the download folder recursively. Also useful would be the ability to move entire folders holding the extensions you define.

However, applied to single files Download Mover does exactly what it is supposed to do. It stays in the system tray area of the desktop and functions automatically. You can easily enable or disable it and makes available activity reports to check out what failed to be transferred and the items that have been moved successfully.

On the upside, Download Mover is not a resource hog. During the file transfer CPU usage did not rise past 8% and RAM was maintained at a decent 4MB. In stand-by only ~1.5 MB of RAM would be required.

The Good

You don’t have to go through an installation process to get the application running. It will sit in system tray and monitor the download folder at a user-defined frequency.

Resource usage is minimal, even during data transfer. The activity reports show you the items that have been successfully transferred and those that couldn’t be moved.

The Bad

There is no editing function for the extensions already defined. Thus you are forced to start adding the entry anew if something was not set as it should have.

You receive alerts only when the data transfer is finished. It would be nice to learn about the current state when hovering the mouse over the tray icon.

The general rack of settings does not permit recursive folder search for the extensions you define and there is no possibility to learn about the causes of any of the errors that occur.

The Truth

Download Mover is the exact opposite of a complex applications, designed for an extremely simple need. It fulfills that need, but nothing more.

A more elaborate set of features and options would increase its functionality as well as the audience it addresses.