Changing the "My Documents" Target File location

[capa112]

I'd like to get some info on this please. I tried implementing this where i changed the Target path to a users My Documents folder to the H:\drive and made it available offline. Now here's what happened. The user unbeknownest to me changed back the Target path to her C:\ drive. Apparently, not all files were moved back. My question can those files still be recovered? are they located on some Cache file on the local drive? If so, where? Am I correct by saying when you enabled the H:\ drive the ability to work offline, when viewing off the network are you viewing a cached version or copy of the actual H:\Drive? My other question also. if you copied back the contents back to your C:\ Drive was that cached file eliminated? Thanks for your time

 

[traycee]

Actually, they don't even need to change the target to save to the c drive...all they have to do is 'save as' and choose the c drive and the my documents folder or anywhere else they want if you haven't taken away that ability. Are the files still on her hard drive? I'm guessing not since that would be as easy as copy and paste. As far as I know...if the user deleted the items on the hard drive, then they are gone. There are special programs that could mine them...but that's cost prohibitive. We don't allow anything to be saved on our users hard drive. There 'my document' folder is mapped to their home directory. There c: drive is hidden and unable to be written to, hence, the user can't make changes.

 

[capa112]

i dont think she was trying to copy back to her C:\drive per say. What she had told me was a certain file hadn't synch'd up (which is what i assumed was the error she got but doesnt remember what it was) so she decided on her own accord to change the path back. the files are no where to be found on the local drive if you do a search. But my question was - for example in Outlook when you create an offline folder it creates an .OST file. Does that also happen when you enable the H:\drive to be viewed offline? if so, where is that offline file located (if one is created).

 

[cyberspace]

The files will surely still be on where ever the H:\ drive was mapped to

'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[geeve]

I've had too much exposure lately to the whole synchronization thing with one of my own clients. She also likes to dabble when I'm not there. I'm pretty sure that because she(your client) was initially using the files offline that there is a copy on the local hard drive. Try doing a search for one of the files she no longer has access to. I know its somewhere in the C:/Documents and Settings/"her user name" location. Make sure you do the search in her profile. You also might try a search on the server where the H:\ drive is.
The default for synchronized files is NOT to allow database files(.mdb) to be used offline and this will produce error messages. I'm thinking that might be the file(s) that did not synch up. For me it is always those outlook express files as they are actually access files. You can change the default behavior but it is deeply buried and not a good thing to do. I always tell people to just click by those error messages.
I think Tracee's situation is different because all files are on the server. I would guess Tracee is not synchronizing or allowing offline files and so there is nothing on the local hard drives. However if the user looses their network connection then they loose access to their files.
Probably more than you wanted to know...

 

[capa112]

Hey Geeve - thanks a lot for the extensive answer. Well, i tried doing a search for those files initially in both locations and they're nowhere to be found. Somehow when she "moved" back the My Docs to the default location "C:\documents and Settings\etc.. and I believe they were Excel files - it somehow didnt move everything back. Here's the thing when you change the Target path on the My Docs it actually "Moves" contents and not just "Copy's" it. So obviously you dont have the luxory of having 2 copies in both locations. I wanted to know how it is the H:\drive is available offline. Is it actually a Cache file that it creates? like an image of the H:? Kind've like Outlook with its .OST file. Thanks everyone for your help. My opinion - i think its lost for good unfortunately.

 

[traycee]

Hi Geeve,
You are correct that I don't use synchronization...except for our mobile laptop users. Knock on wood....we really haven't had any issues with our server in the last 5 years. A couple of upgrades that took a little longer than anticipated, but nothing critical, and sychronization would prohibit my locking down the hard drive as I do. On the plus, side...it also means no viruses, spyware or adware issues to deal with.