Accessing the shared company file from a workstation

> Accessing the shared company file from a workstation

Workstations are Windows computers that access a company file stored on another computer, referred to as a host computer. Accessing the remote company-file folder on the host requires you to complete these procedures for each Windows workstation on the local area network (LAN). This process is also known as mapping network drives.

When you are able to access the company-file folder containing the shared company file, you can create a desktop shortcut to the file. Clicking the shortcut starts your software and opens the shared company file.

To access a shared folder on Windows 7 or Vista

To access a shared company file folder on other Windows versions

note : Access may be password protected

If a password is required to access the shared company-file folder, a window will request you to enter a user name and password when you attempt to access it.

1	In Windows Explorer, open Network Neighborhood (or My Network Places). You can also double-click the Network Neighborhood (My Network Places) icon on the desktop.

2	Locate the host computer on which the shared company-file folder is stored—see Setting up a company-file folder on a Windows host.

a	Expand Entire Network.

(In Windows XP Home, open My Network Places, click Add a network place and complete the Add Network Place wizard.)

b	Expand Microsoft Windows Network.

c	Expand the workgroup or domain in which the host is located, if there is one.

d	Expand the host computer.

e	If a Connect to hostName window appears, complete the User Name and Password fields, select the Remember my password option and click OK. You should now be able to see the Company_Files folder.

note : Navigating network folders may not be necessary

In some versions of Windows, depending how the network access is set up, all networked computers may be visible in Network Neighborhood (My Network Places) without you needing to navigate to network folders.

3	Right-click the Company_Files folder and choose Map Network Drive.

4	In the Map Network Drive window (or wizard), accept the proposed drive letter or choose another, select the Reconnect at logon option, and click OK (Finish). If access to the folder is password protected, a logon window may appear. If so, type the password and click OK.

In Windows Explorer, the Company_Files folder now appears as a network drive under My Computer. For example, you might see the shared folder listed as ‘Company_Files on 'Hongs-pc' (V:)’.

5	Open the shared Company_Files folder to see the shared company file in it.

To open your company file from a shortcut