enabling a file for use offline

[Guest]

I'm trying to make a shared folder available offline. When I right-click on
the file or folder I want to share there is no "Make Available Offline"
option. Why is this and how can I fix it/is there another way to make the
files available offline? I have Windows XP Pro and I do have offline files
turned on.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I'm trying to make a shared folder available offline. When I
right-click on the file or folder I want to share there is no "Make
Available Offline" option. Why is this and how can I fix it/is there
another way to make the files available offline? I have Windows XP
Pro and I do have offline files turned on.

The share itself (on the remote computer/server) needs to have the option
for offline caching available, but it will by default. Check the properties
of the share you created.

 

[Guest]

I am trying to create a share for the first time, it has not been shared yet,
that is where I am having the problem. I have caching enabled and set to
automatic caching of document.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I am trying to create a share for the first time, it has not been
shared yet, that is where I am having the problem. I have caching
enabled and set to automatic caching of document.

So, set up the share, and test from another workstation. Not sure what
you're having problems with as you haven't yet set up the share.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I didn't word that right. The folder is shared on my home network
already. I'm just trying to make it available offline.
I have looked up how to do this in the knowledge base and it says to right
click on the file/folder to share and select "make this available offline"
however, when I right click on files and folders I have shared (both on the
local host computer- running xp pro and the remote computer- running xp home)
there is no option for this.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Sorry, I didn't word that right. The folder is shared on my home
network already. I'm just trying to make it available offline.
I have looked up how to do this in the knowledge base and it says to
right click on the file/folder to share and select "make this
available offline" however, when I right click on files and folders I
have shared (both on the local host computer- running xp pro and the
remote computer- running xp home) there is no option for this.

Don't know about XP Home as I don't use it (and I know it's crippled in some
ways where networking is concerned).

On your XP Pro box, is simple file sharing enabled? Disable it.

Go to the properties of your share

Make sure you see the option to enable offline caching

From another workstation, go to \\xp_pro_computer\sharename

Find the folder you want to make available offline, and see whether you can
do so by right clicking on it or using the tools menu.

Personally, I hate offline files; I've seen many people lose data with that.
I suggest you look at SecondCopy, a shareware app, which I think works
*much* better, and doesn't puke up blood when the source directory is moved
or deleted.

 

[Guest]

I have already turned off simple file sharing. I know on XP home you can't do
offline files for local files however I'm pretty sure you can view them from
another computer. Either way, there's no option on either the local computer
or the remote one- in tools or right clicking- to enable offline file on that
folder.

The reason I'm asking this is b/c I'm working towards getting a microsoft
certification (desktop support technician) and in the self-guided study book
they're talking about offline files, however the method they describe (right
clicking as I said earlier) isn't an option.

I read somewhere else you have to map the shared files to a network drive
before you can enable offline file access. In the microsoft book and on the
website it doesn't say anything about this, do you know anything about that?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have already turned off simple file sharing. I know on XP home you
can't do offline files for local files however I'm pretty sure you
can view them from another computer.

I don't know that XP Home can use offline files at all- either hosting or
accessing others. Pretty sure not.

Either way, there's no option on
either the local computer or the remote one- in tools or right
clicking- to enable offline file on that folder.

The reason I'm asking this is b/c I'm working towards getting a
microsoft certification (desktop support technician) and in the
self-guided study book they're talking about offline files, however
the method they describe (right clicking as I said earlier) isn't an
option.

I read somewhere else you have to map the shared files to a network
drive before you can enable offline file access. In the microsoft
book and on the website it doesn't say anything about this, do you
know anything about that?

I don't think you have to use a mapped drive; a UNC path should work. But
since I disable offline files on all the shares I configure, and disable the
client option via group policy as well, I can't test for you. I suggest you
try this using two XP Pro computers.

 

[Guest]

Ok well that would explain the problem. Thanks for trying to help me. I'll
see if I can get access to another xp pro computer and try it again then.