Creating a Windows Drive Mapping for a Share Point Document Library

8/3/2019 Creating a Windows Drive Mapping for a Share Point Document Library

1/20

Creating a Windows Drive Mapping for a SharePointDocument Library

Drive mapping can be created to any SharePoint document library to facilitate document

management using the standard Windows Explorer applet (rather than the morecumbersome Internet Explorer (IE) interface.

Prerequisites:

Windows XP is required (or a WEBDEV updated Windows 2000) operatingsystem.

Mapping Procedure:

1. Use Internet Explorer (IE) to navigate to the desired SharePoint Library. Thescreen below shows an example library:


2/20

a. Note the URL for the SharePoint library; the one for the above is:https://companyweb.alleycat.org/ACA/admin/NetAdmin/Shared%20Docu

ments/Forms/AllItems.aspx

b. The critical portion of the URL is the part up to the /Forms; that is;https://companyweb.alleycat.org/ACA/admin/NetAdmin/Shared%20Docu

ments

c. Also note the %20 characters these characters represent a spacecharacter for WEB browser text strings. We will replace these characterswith the actual space character for the mapping operation.

2.

Open up Windows Explorer (WE) and select the Tools menu and then MapNetwork Drive item. You will see the Map drive dialogue box shown below:

3. Next select the drop-down menu arrow to the right of the Drive entry box andselect an available drive letter of your choice:


3/20

Drive letter W: has been selected as shown above.

4. Now TYPE (do not cut and past) the SharePoint folder URL as shownbelow:

http://companyweb.alleycat.org/ACA/admin/NetAdmin/Shared Documents


4/20

a. Note: http: is used instead of https:; this seems to work more reliably forthis procedure.

b. Note: the Reconnect at logon checkbox is checked so this mapping willbe retained until you decide to disconnect the drive mapping at somefuture date.

5. Click the Finish button to complete the mapping process.a. After a brief period of time an Explorer window will pop-up showing the

new mapped SharePoint folder:


5/20

b. Close the Window and return to the main WE window; you should nowsee the newly mapped drive as shown below:


6/20

c. You can now right-click on the new mapping and select the Renameentry from the pop-up menu. Rename the mapping to better identify its

SharePoint folder location:


7/20

6. Removing the SharePoint mapping.a. Right-click on the drive mapping in WE and select the Disconnect entry.


8/20

Thats it! However, if you have problems, refer to the trouble=shooting tips

that follow.

Trouble-Shooting Tips

Various Windows setup issues might interfere with the mapping process. Here are

several things to consider if you experience problems.

Remote Users

1. Remote users should be connected to the main office system with a VPNconnection for the most consistent behavior. This is actually not necessary, but itVPN connectivity sets up a complete environment that includes finding network

resources and WEB access.

2.

Make sure you have the Proxy settings set up for the VPN connection:a. Open IE and select the Tool/Internet Options menu item:


9/20

b. Select the Connections tab; you will see the Dial-up and Virtual PrivateNetwork settings box as shown below. Highlight you VPN connectionentry and click the Settings button to the right of the box.


10/20

c. Note the Proxy server section shown below: Make sure you have thesame entries as show below.


11/20

d. Next, click the Advanced button to see the following screen:


12/20

e. Note the entry in the Exceptions box. This entry provides direct internalaccess to the CompanyWeb site.

f. OK out of the windows to complete the process

Internet Security Settings

The SharePoint WEB site uses authentication security to allow access to the site and to

various documents in Libraries. You can avoid the need to enter you user name andpassword repeatedly by making the following settings to the Security settings in IE.

1. Select the Tools/Internet Options menu item as shown below:


13/20

2. Select the Security tab and Tusted sites item. Click the Sites button.


14/20

3. Enter the https://Companyweb.alleycat.org address as shown below and click theAdd button:


15/20

4. Click OK to return to the previous screen. Next click the Custom level buttonto see the following screen:


16/20

5. Scroll to the bottom of the list of options to the User Authentication/Logonsection. Make sure the third Logon option is selected: Automatic logon withcurrent username and password.

a.

Note: This assumes that you have used your domain user name andpassword for your local system profile.

WEB Client (WEBDev) Service

The WEB Client service provides the support necessary for mapping SharePoint WEB

sites and libraries. Occasionally, this service may become disabled. If you obtain

network cannot be found messages when trying to map SharePoint resources, check tosee if the WEB Client service has been disabled as follows:

1. Open Control Panel from the Start menu and double-click the AdministrationTools item.


17/20

2. From the Administrative Tools screen; double-click the Services entry:


18/20

3. Scroll down the services list and find the WebClient entry:


19/20

4. Its Status should be Started. If it is not, double-click the entry and set theStartup Type: to Automatic. You can then click the Start button to start theservice.


20/20

5. Close all the Windows and try the Mapping procedure again.