TOPIC This article describes file sharing, how to enable it, and how to use it for transferring files between two Macintosh computers.
DISCUSSION
Macintosh file sharing is a powerful feature of the Mac OS that lets you share your folders (and their files) with other people on a network. File sharing operates on any Macintosh that can run System 7 or above and is connected to an AppleTalk or TCP/IP network. With your permission, others can view and even edit documents on your hard drive from their computer. Macintosh file sharing works between two or more Macintosh computers and, you don't need to dedicate a Macintosh as a file server. Macintosh file sharing includes powerful security features, so you can control access to your information through passwords, and access privileges such as read or write privileges. Ten users can be connected to a shared volume at one time. You can share up to ten folders. Once a folder is shared the folders contained within the shared folder are automatically shared as well, and they do not get counted as part of the ten directly shared folders. Before you can share files, you must turn on file sharing. Once you turn it on, it stays on until you turn it off again, including when you restart your computer. For information on connecting two Macintosh computers together to share files, refer to article 43015: " Transferring Information Between Computers With Ethernet ".
System 8.x, 9.0 How to Turn on File Sharing 1. Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and double-click the File Sharing control panel. 2. Make sure that you have identified your computer to the network. You have to give an Owner Name, an Owner Password, and a Macintosh Name. 3. Click the Start button. Its label changes to Cancel and the status line describes what is happening while file sharing is starting up. It may take a minute or so to complete. When the status line says File sharing is on and the button is labeled Stop, your computer is ready to share files. If you start file sharing when AppleTalk is not active, it will be automatically turned on for you. 4. Close the File Sharing control panel and the Control Panels folder. How to Share a Folder Follow these steps: 1. Select the folder. 2. Choose Sharing from the File menu from the Get Info menu (you can also use the contextual menu). 3. Click Share This Item And Its Contents. 4. Close the Privileges Window. 5. When asked for confirmation, click Save. How to Log on as Owner As the owner or administrator of two Macintosh systems - a desktop and a portable model for example - file sharing can be even easier. An AppleTalk network can be as small as two Macintosh computers connected together with LocalTalk (or compatible) cabling. Once connected together, either Macintosh computer can turn on file sharing. There is no need to share folders, because the owner can access everything. From the other Macintosh, you can connect with the AppleShare workstation software as the owner. Follow these steps to connect remotely as the owner: 1. Open the Chooser. 2. Select AppleShare. 3. Select your Macintosh computer. 4. Type your name, as you typed it in Owner Name field in the Sharing Setup dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to. 5. Type your password, as you typed it in Owner Password field in the File Sharing dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to. You will see all the disk resources connected to the remote Macintosh as if you are looking directly at its desktop. Make an alias of the volume for even easier future access. System 7 How to Turn on File Sharing 1. Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and double-click the Sharing Setup control panel. 2. Make sure that you have identified your computer to the network. You have to give an Owner Name, an Owner Password, and a Macintosh Name. 3. Click the Start button. Its label changes to Cancel and the status line describes what is happening while file sharing is starting up. It may take a minute or so to complete. When the status line says file sharing is on and the button is labeled Stop, your computer is ready to share files. If you start file sharing when AppleTalk is not active, it will be automatically turned on for you. 4. Close the Sharing Setup control panel and the Control Panels folder. How to Share a Folder Follow these steps: 1. Select the folder. 2. Choose Sharing from the File menu. 3. Click Share This Item And Its Contents. 4. Close the Privileges Window. 5. When asked for confirmation, click Save. How to Log on as Owner As the owner or administrator of two Macintosh systems - a desktop and a portable model for example - file sharing can be even easier. An AppleTalk network can be as small as two Macintosh computers connected together with LocalTalk (or compatible) cabling. Once connected together, either Macintosh computer can turn on file sharing. There is no need to share folders, because the owner can access everything. From the other Macintosh, you can connect with the AppleShare workstation software as the owner. Follow these steps to connect remotely as the owner: 1. Open the Chooser. 2. Select AppleShare. 3. Select your Macintosh computer. 4. Type your name, as you typed it in Owner Name field in the Sharing Setup dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to. 5. Type your password, as you typed it in Owner Password field in the Sharing Setup dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to.You will see all the disk resources connected to the remote Macintosh as if you are looking directly at its desktop. Make an alias of the volume for even easier future access. For additonal information on File Sharing, please see the following articles: |
Document Information | |
Product Area: | Mac OS System Software |
Category: | General OS |
Sub Category: | Troubleshooting |
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