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Map a Network drive

Most Windows programs allow to browse the "Network Neighborhood" in the File-Open-dialog:


However, some older program converted from 16-bit code (as used on Windows 3.1) have not
been updated to use the new Win32 File-Open and continue to use their old customer-design
File-Open dialogs without possibility to browse the Network-Neighborhood.

And DOS-program are not capable to support the Network-Neighborhood, because they are
written in 16-bit code, which can only handle short filenames with the 8+3 limitation and can
not use internally the
UNC-names (as required when accessing files via Network Neighborhood)

To allow such old programs to work with Network-files, Windows networking offers a feature
called "Mapping":

the network resource is made available as a simulated disk-drive, also called a virtual disk-drive or
a network drive.

Via the "Network Neighborhood" on
the desktop, select a shared disk-resource
on the network, then right-click on the
resource and select from the context
menu to "Map Network Drive"

Note: On a Microsoft network, you can
only define a Mapping for a shared
resource, not for any directory inside
the shared resource
(that is possible on Novell Networks)
Select the drive character to be used
(windows will show the first available drive
character) and define, whether this drive
should be reconnected automatically on
rebooting your system
The system will then display the content
of the network drive.
Note the symbol used to represent this
drive:

a disk with a connected Network cable
Look in "My Computer" on your desktop,
where the network drive is now listed like
all other local
(=on your local computer)
drives.
In the File-Open dialog, the network drive
is displayed as part of "My Computer",
old programs can now access it using the
drive character.

 

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