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Since Mac OS and DOS systems store and maintain files differently, you should understand the differences to avoid problems. This article reviews some important guidelines when you're sharing files with Windows clients. This information can also be found in the AppleShare IP (ASIP) Help files.
DISCUSSION The general Windows file sharing guidelines are as follows: Separate Shared Folders: Create separate shared folders for Windows users and ask them to use only these folders. Windows users can damage Macintosh files (especially applications) by opening or moving them. Keeping the two types of files in separate folders minimizes accidental damage. Use access privileges to prevent Windows users from inadvertently making changes to Mac-only files. Some Mac OS file information, such as the resource fork of files and applications, is lost when a file is taken from a Mac OS computer to a Windows computer. Don't allow Windows users access to folders containing Mac OS-only files. Use correct application when modifying files. When users are modifying files, they should use the same application which created the file, to open and change it. Although many files can be opened by applications other than those that were used to create them, using a different application to make changes can permanently damage a file. Use DOS file-naming conventions. Whenever possible, use the DOS file-naming convention for naming shared files. The DOS file system supports file names of eight or fewer characters with an optional extension consisting of a period and three or fewer characters. Most special characters (spaces, asterisks, brackets, and so forth) are not allowed. DOS file names are not case-sensitive. Use Short Name Command. The Web & File Server processes names of files that do not conform to DOS naming conventions so that Windows users can see them. To see the name of a Macintosh file as it would appear to a Windows user, use the Web & File Admin program's Short Name command. Remember 31-character length limitation. The Web & File Server truncates Windows 95 file names that are longer than 31 characters to 31 characters. |
| Document Information | |
| Product Area: | Apple Software; Communications-Networking |
| Category: | AppleShare |
| Sub Category: | AppleShare for Mac OS |
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