| Web folders can be set up to enable shortcuts to Web servers. If your server supports Web folders, folder taxonomies can be created to save and publish documents. These documents can then be exposed through the portal dashboard site via Web Folders or My Network Places, or accessed by your end users' standard Web browser. Files and folders can be displayed from Web servers as well as network file servers and local drives . The key difference between Web folders and other folders, of course, is that the Web folders reside on a Web server and not on a user 's local hard drive or mapped drive. This difference between the Web folder and other folders is realized during the save process. When you save files on a Web folder, the file is saved directly to the Web server rather than the local personal computer or network-based file share. Assuming you have the appropriate security, you can easily view the contents of a Web folder. Files saved on a local drive or network file server, on the other hand, are not as easily accessed by or shared with others. TIP Web folders and My Network Places are essentially the same thing. PCs running Windows 2000 will use My Network Places for access to SharePoint Portal Server. PCs running Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 utilize Web folders for access to SharePoint Portal Server.
Creating a Web Folder A Web folder (or network place) must be created for access to the workspace. To create a Web folder, perform the following: -
Double-click Add Network Place from within My Network Places. -
Proceed through the instructions in the Add Network Place Wizard. -
Files can be saved to the network place by dragging files and folders to this new network place. Note that a Network Place shortcut to the new workspace specified at installation time is created for you. A network place can be just as easily deleted, too, if you do not want the network place to appear on your computer any longer. To delete a network place, do the following: -
Open My Network Places. -
Right-click the target network place that you wish to delete. -
Click Delete. -
Click Yes. Web folders can be used to store and manage files from within the workspace. Files can be added by using Windows Explorer or by using the Open or Save As dialog boxes within Microsoft Word. Once you run the Add Web folder wizard and create the Web folder, you can then save files and folders to the new location. To create and then use a Web folder from My Computer, do the following: -
Double-click My Network Places from My Computer. -
Double-click Add Network Place. -
Proceed through the instructions in the Add Network Place Wizard. -
Files can be saved to the Web server by dragging files and folders to this new Web folder. To create a Web folder from Microsoft Word, do the following: -
Click File, and then Open from within Word. -
Within the Open dialog box, click Web Folders on the Look In bar. -
Click the New Folder icon in the toolbar, and then follow the instructions in the Add Web Folder Wizard. To create a new Web folder from an existing Web server location, do the following: -
Click File, and then click Save As from within Word. -
In the Save As dialog box, click Web Folders on the Save In bar. -
Type the Web address (such as //MyServer/) in the File name box, and then click OK. Web folders can also be easily deleted if you do not want the Web folder to appear on your computer any longer. To delete a Web folder, do the following: -
Double-click Web Folders from within My Computer. -
Right-click the desired Web folder that you want to delete. -
Click Delete. -
Click Yes. Accessing SharePoint Portal Server Through Web Folders The workspace is actually a Web folder on the SharePoint Portal Server with unique properties and a dashboard site. Basic Web folder document management functions can be performed. For example, as we have seen, the Web folder view allows documents to be checked in, checked out, published, approved, or rejected. This content becomes part of an enterprise index that allows efficient searches for information stored within and outside your organization. Categories can be accessed, which enables end users to browse through a hierarchical view of how documents are classified . Lastly, perfolder settings can be enabled for role based security, document publishing, and document version control. Three Methods of Accessing Web Folders File and folders within a Web folder can be viewed and managed in several ways, as follows : -
Web Browser Once Microsoft Office Server extensions are enabled on a Web server, a Web browser allows users to browse Web Folder Content as well as file system properties. -
Microsoft Office Allows users to view, open, save, and create new Web folders. -
Windows Explorer The Explorer view allows users to see a detailed list of files and folders. The files and folders can be renamed , moved, copied , or deleted. This view also allows files and folders to be dragged from Web server to Web server, as well as between Web servers and traditional network file servers. |
