file storage noob question

[jszei]

We are looking into Sharepoint for our business. Currently, as with most businesses without Sharepoint, our files are stored in a directory structure. Is there any way to keep the files in the same location within the existing directory but use Sharepoint to access them? From what I have read, to use Sharepoint, all documents will be stored in the database and can only be accessed through Sharepoint. This does away with the current file/folder system. The concern here is learning curve for the masses. People are used to file access so changing the fundamental way this is done will cause some problems. This makes it a hard sell to upper execs who are "comfortable" with the current method. Am I missing something with Sharepoint? Is there a bridge between the two methods?

Thanks,
John

 

[wolvie3421]

Depending on how many files and file sizes you could basically dump your whole current directory into a document library with subfolders where the structure would be very similar to what you're used to.

 

[Thomas2000]

You can also use webfolders to access your files and folders in SharePoint, which means you can add a location to your networkplaces. I would recommend that you however work through the SharePoint webinterface, which makes it a bit easier to handle documents (regarding check-in, check-out etc).

Cheers,
Thomas

http://www.thompa.se

 

[SPSAdmin]

Hello,

If ur requirement is to keep the files on the network share but make the sharepoint users search & locate the information present in those files from the sharepoint site.

Then create a content source to the file share & make the sharepoint portal site crawl the content source. Users would be able to search & also open the files from the sharepoint portal site.

NOTE: Creating a content source feature is only available in portal server & not windows sharepoint services