Off-line folders help

Hi All

Can anybody explain or forward me onto a dummy's guide web page on how the
off-line folders process works.

The reason is that I've created an app that stores the data file in my docs
of a user account and I need to make sure that when the user logs on and off
from the Win2K3 server system the data file is being managed correctly.

I'm just worried that this data file will go walkies and out of date
versions will be used if the off-line process isn't managed properly.

Thanks

Laphan <admin@DontSpam.com> wrote:
> Hi All
>
> Can anybody explain or forward me onto a dummy's guide web page on
> how the off-line folders process works.
>
> The reason is that I've created an app that stores the data file in
> my docs of a user account and I need to make sure that when the user
> logs on and off from the Win2K3 server system the data file is being
> managed correctly.
>
> I'm just worried that this data file will go walkies and out of date
> versions will be used if the off-line process isn't managed properly.
>
> Thanks

You're wise to be nervous about that. Use folder redirection for My
Documents (at least) and *disable* offline files via GPO. You don't have to
use offline files at all, but on LAN-connected workstations I've truly never
seen the point.

Hi Lanwench

My problem is that certain users, ie teachers, need to work from home so if
I turn off-line folders off then am I right in saying they can't use My Docs
or essentially the same My Docs that they would when they were connected to
the server?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatya hoo.com> wrote in message
news:OtNQRTnZIHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Laphan <admin@DontSpam.com> wrote:
> Hi All
>
> Can anybody explain or forward me onto a dummy's guide web page on
> how the off-line folders process works.
>
> The reason is that I've created an app that stores the data file in
> my docs of a user account and I need to make sure that when the user
> logs on and off from the Win2K3 server system the data file is being
> managed correctly.
>
> I'm just worried that this data file will go walkies and out of date
> versions will be used if the off-line process isn't managed properly.
>
> Thanks

You're wise to be nervous about that. Use folder redirection for My
Documents (at least) and *disable* offline files via GPO. You don't have to
use offline files at all, but on LAN-connected workstations I've truly never
seen the point.

Laphan <admin@DontSpam.com> wrote:
> Hi Lanwench
>
> My problem is that certain users, ie teachers, need to work from home
> so if I turn off-line folders off then am I right in saying they
> can't use My Docs or essentially the same My Docs that they would
> when they were connected to the server?

Yes, that's correct. I am not a fan of offline files - even for laptop
users. There are third party apps (such as SecondCopy) I prefer, but I would
rather the data stayed on the server all the time if I could. For remote
users, a Terminal Services box is a much better way for them to access the
network (of course, they need an Internet connection to use it).

You really have to choose your poison. Either you ensure you've got data
integrity & security on your LAN and make it slightly less convenient for
remote users, or you reverse the two. I've seen too much data loss due to
offline folders misbehaving, to ever want to go near that 'feature' again,
myself.

>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatya hoo.com> wrote in
> message news:OtNQRTnZIHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Laphan <admin@DontSpam.com> wrote:
>> Hi All
>>
>> Can anybody explain or forward me onto a dummy's guide web page on
>> how the off-line folders process works.
>>
>> The reason is that I've created an app that stores the data file in
>> my docs of a user account and I need to make sure that when the user
>> logs on and off from the Win2K3 server system the data file is being
>> managed correctly.
>>
>> I'm just worried that this data file will go walkies and out of date
>> versions will be used if the off-line process isn't managed properly.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> You're wise to be nervous about that. Use folder redirection for My
> Documents (at least) and *disable* offline files via GPO. You don't
> have to use offline files at all, but on LAN-connected workstations
> I've truly never seen the point.