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Friday, November 16, 2007

Can I Map a Document Library as a Mapped Drive?

Chris Quick and I had this discussion this morning about mapping a document library as a mapped drive:

Chris:
“If you go to the library you wish to link and choose Actions -> Open in Windows Explorer you will see something like a network share path for the URI (ie. \\sharepoint\sites\teamsite\documents). Copy this to the clipboard and then open My Computer. Choose Tools -> Map Network Drive. Select the drive letter you wish to use and then paste the path copied earlier. Choose the other options depending on your personal preferences or need. Click OK and you will now have a mapped drive to a document library.


“This is useful when you are using applications that are not SharePoint aware. For example, I use MindJet MindManager frequently, but there is no way to open or save documents directly to SharePoint in version 6.2. This allows me to do so easily! 

“Caveat: You will not be prompted for any required metadata, so the document will remain checked-out to you until this data is provided.”

Mark:
“Good tip if you are residing on the network. People who have external SharePoint implementations, such as I do, will not be able to use it because they won’t be able to map across an http/https connection… unless you know something I don’t (which in most cases is probably true).”

 

Please Join the Discussion

67 Responses to “Can I Map a Document Library as a Mapped Drive?”
  1. dat0 says:

    Hi,

    can you/somebody explain what exactly is neccesary to allow copying/creating files on mapped folders? What is “profile directory of system account Network Service”?

  2. bobcat says:

    Hi,
    I need to use WebDAV to map a local drive letter that will be used in Adobe FrameMaker 7.1.

    SharePoint site is located in Microsoft Cloud services. I can connect from all clients, XP, Vista and 2003 R2, using Add Network Place Wizard using https://sharepoint……./folder/

    MY XP client with SP3 can map SharePoint folder to drive letter – it does ask for authentication and then connects – tried using different XP clients and different users, all Admin – so far only I work – testing with ghosted image of my laptop – something changed on my laptop but don’t know what.
    Error is
    Map Network Drive
    Attempting to connect to \\sharepoint….\folder
    then another Windows box
    the mapped network drive could not be created because the following error has occurred:
    A device attached to the system is not functioning

    Vista clients can map to same SharePoint folder

    Windows 2003 R2 SP2 Servers seem to connect but fails when authenticating – using the same authentication that works on my XP client – domain\username and pw – tried different W2k servers and different usernames – no luck

    WebClient service is started automatically
    thanks

  3. AutoSponge says:

    @bobcat

    What auth are you using for the web app?
    If you log into the site then try to map does it work?

  4. bobcat says:

    Hi Autosponge – I am admin – my login works on my XP laptop and Vista workstations – 2003 R2 servers prompt for usercode/pw but will not accept the same usercode/pw what worked on my XP laptop and vista workstations- If I connect to the sharepoint site from my laptop, there is no login required – hope that helps and thanks

  5. bobcat says:

    Solution was to upgrade IE 6 to IE 7 – I could then map drive letter to a sharepoint folder using \\sharepoint server\folder – thanks

  6. Pradeepti says:

    Hi,

    Can we have a mapping of local folder (say d:\testfoler) to Sharepoint document library folder.
    This create same directory structure of the local folder in the Sharepoint site.

    Thanks in Advance

  7. Fernando Vargas says:

    I am dealing with this drive mapping to sharepoint library issue as well and while I don’t have all the answers yet (cannot get it to work with SSL) I want to warn people who think they are actually mapping a drive using SSL.

    “A” reason it may seem to work is that the site while enabled for SSL (https:) may not be set to “Require secure channel (SSL)”.

    There is a simple test: If you can access the site both ways: http://server/site and https://server/site, then your drive mapping is working because it is using port 80 and not 443.

    Hope this helps.

  8. No problemo? says:

    Anyone managed to map a sharepoint 3.0 (2008 server) document library to a drive letter? the site is not running on port 443 or port 80. it is running on a high port like 23343. Anyone?

  9. @59 — what happens when you open \\server@23343 in Explorer?

  10. No Problemo? says:

    #60 – Hi Michael,
    Sorry but your tip does not work.
    We decided to go with this client software: http://www.webdrive.com/products/webdrive/WebDAVClient.html
    Thanks for your help.

  11. Chetan says:

    So, can the document library of a web app running on a “non 80 port” be accessed using the explorer view? Some blogs indicate webDAV is not supported, but FPRPC is, any pointers? Thanks.

  12. #64 — Yes. In Explorer try \\host:port\folder or \\host@port\folder.

    I do this all the time for my sites.

  13. Raj Bulsara says:

    Hi

    I have been searching for steps to map a Document Library in SharePoint Site or MySite. After much googling around and understanding the net command here’s how it works.

    Prerequisite : Web Client service should be running

    Steps :
    1. Browse to the document library you intend to map using IE

    2. When in the document library interface, select Actions–>Opens With Windows Explorer from document library’s tool menu. This will open your document library in windows explorer with unc link displayed in the address.

    3. Copy the unc link.

    4. Open command window and type following command.
    c:>net use z: “PASTE THE UNC LINK HERE”

    If the command completes successfully you will see a mapped network drive in windows explorer.

    This command can now be used in logon scripts for auto mapping.

    Hope this is helpful.

    Regards

    Raj

  14. Suhail says:

    I can map a sharepoint document library on Windows 2003 however when i try to create a new text document in the folder it gives error

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