Client areas (per-user document portals) Pro

A client area turns a document category into a private portal space for specific people: an accountancy’s per-client folders, an agency’s deliverables area, a consultancy’s project rooms. Assign users to a category and only they (plus site managers) can see it — everywhere.

FileDeck Pro — this feature is included in all Pro plans. See pricing

Set up a client area

1. Create (or edit) a document category: Documents → Categories.
2. In Client area — assigned users (FileDeck), enter the client’s usernames or email addresses, comma-separated. They need WordPress accounts (any role — Subscriber is fine).
3. Save. The category is now visible only to those users and site managers.

Assignment is enforced the same way as every FileDeck restriction — in libraries, search, downloads, single pages, feeds, and WordPress’ own REST/sitemap surfaces — and it keeps being enforced even if a licence lapses.

The portal page: [filedeck_my_documents]

Create a page (e.g. "Your documents") containing the [filedeck_my_documents] shortcode. Each visitor sees only their client areas, each as a section with its name, description, and its document library. Visitors who aren’t logged in get a login prompt; users with no assigned area get a friendly empty message (customisable via empty_message).

Let clients send you files

Add uploads="1":

[filedeck_my_documents uploads="1"]

Each area gains a "Send us a document" form, locked to that area’s category. Uploads go through FileDeck’s normal document submission moderation — nothing a client sends is published until you approve it.

Notifications

When you publish a document into a client area, its assigned users are emailed automatically (the publisher isn’t emailed about their own publish). Sending relies on your site’s email (wp_mail); on hosts that can’t send mail, use an SMTP plugin. Developers can reshape or suppress the email with filedeck_client_notification_email, or turn notifications off with filedeck_client_notify.

How it composes with the rest of FileDeck

• Access control — role and password restrictions on the same category stack with user assignment (all must pass).
• File protection — restricted files vault automatically on download, so raw URLs stop working.
• Versions, review cycles, expiry — lifecycle features work unchanged inside client areas.
• Watermarking (AI tier) — pair with PDF watermarking and every file a client receives carries their name.

Notes

• A category with no assigned users is a normal category — clearing the field removes the restriction.
• One user can be assigned to many areas (they’ll see one section per area), and one area can serve a team of users at the same company.
• Managers (manage_options) always see everything, everywhere.