Accessing Network Resources Without Mapping a Drive or Port

ID: Q141941

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use Universal Naming Convention (UNC) names with Network Neighborhood to access network resources without mapping a drive or port.


MORE INFORMATION

You can access a file on a shared network resource by entering the file's location in UNC format, or by browsing Network Neighborhood.

To specify a file using UNC format, use the following syntax:

\\computername\sharename\path\filename

For example, to access a file named Report.xls in the Current\Month folder on a share named Documents on a computer named Sales, you would use the following syntax:
\\sales\documents\current\month\report.xls

You can also use UNC names with NetWare servers. The NetWare syntax
Server/volume:folder

translates to the following UNC name:
\\server\volume\folder

If you know a file's UNC name, you can use the following steps to open it:
  1. In the program you are currently running, click Open on the File menu.


  2. In the Open box, type the file's UNC name.


To open a file whose UNC name you do not know, follow these steps:
  1. In the program you are currently running, click Open on the File menu.


  2. In the Look In box, click Network Neighborhood.


  3. Double-click the computer you want to access. If the computer is out- side your work group, double-click Entire Network and then double- click the appropriate workgroup. Then, double-click the computer you want to access.


  4. Double-click the folder you want to access, and then double-click the file.


Keywords : kbnetwork win95 win98
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: January 26, 1999
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