In the previous post we talked about Folder Redirection which allows files and folders stored in My Documents and the Desktop to be redirected to a server. Now, you ask, what happens when the server is down or if you want to undock your laptop and use it away from the office? Well the answer is that you can still access those redirected folders, courtesy of Offline Files. Whilst the master version of the file is maintained in the shared folder, a local copy is cached on the client. This copy is synchronised back to the server at logon or logoff time or you can explicit request a synchronisation on a file.
This all happens by default with Folder Redirection, but that's not the only use for Offline Files. Rather, it can be applied to any shared network folder whether on a Domain or a Workgroup It's settings are controlled in the Offline Files tab in Folder Options in the Control Panel and it can also be switched on using Group Policy Management. Once Offline Files is switched on then you can make any shared folder or file available offline by right-clicking and selecting "Make Available Offline".
The information is provided 'as is'. It has worked for us,
but it may not work for you, so you use it at your own risk. We can't
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Geographical coverage: AlphaOne Computing Services
provides a range of small business computer support and I.T. services throughout Sussex, including
Brighton, Hove, Shoreham, Worthing, Steyning, Burgess Hill,
Haywards Heath, Crawley, Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, Uckfield and Eastbourne.
