File Shares are a starter

We are used to people using file shares – eg \\csa-srv-01\team documents, however finding files can get difficult using this form, so Microsoft suggest people use the intranet web site.

Try going to your http://companyweb site and notice that you have a number if document stores. If you go to a store, you can upload a document to the store. This can now be searched if you are running SBS Premium edition, version control can be implemented as well as a limited flow control and check-in and check-out.

Some say file shares are very easy, but you can use the companyweb a bit like a file share in 2 ways. One, when you get a file save box, try typing in http://companyweb in the filename box. You wll see your companyweb site, but through the file dialog. You can even make it that to save a file in these locations the users have to fill in special meta data (information about the file) before they can save, to make it easier to categorise or find files later.

For some people, this is still too difficult, but fear not. Try connecting to \\companyweb and you will see the same things. While not perfect, you can get people to use file shares as they always did, but now they are also using WSS.

The benefits include the fact that anyone can find a document they are supposed to get access to and they always get the latest version too.

I will also be posting information on the following over the coming days:

• How do we keep everyone up to date – Document Workspaces and auto updates
• How do I tell people when an important document is updated – eg policy document? – more alerts
• How do I get feedback from my staff? – Surveys and analyzing the results using Excel
• Now I have lots of data, how do I keep track of it? – Search and Desktop Search
• Question - How do I share information with my customers? – Hosted Services

Ttfn

David