Storing a reference to a file on a network

[htack210]

I've created a DB for our school that stores student files. In order to keep the DB as streamlined as possible, I've stored the various student files as references. Here's the problem: the folder that contains the actual files is a shared folder on a network. When users log onto the DB I've created, and try to open the referenced file, they get a 'file not found error.' The only work around I've found is to tell the users to make sure they've logged onto the network and made a connection to the folder in question. Most of the people who will use the DB I've made aren't that computer savvy. Is there a way in FM Pro 7 that I can create script that will log onto that folder for them?

[Eric__s]

Is it logging onto the server that is the problem? That is what I have experienced with file references. If so, you can create an afp link with their username / password and set it as a startup item (If they are running OS X). The afp link goes something like this

afp://Username:Password@networkaddress/volume_to_mount

So if the username is Teacher and the password is Teach, and the volume you are mounting is the Student_Records folder on the network at 172.10.10.10, the link would look like this.

afp://Teacher:[email protected]/Student_Records/

To make this a link, open Textedit, stickies, or any other program that you can drag clippings out of, type in the link, and drag the text of the link to your desktop.

Hope that helps.

[htack210]

Thanks for the tip. I used what you gave me and turned it into an Applescript that the user can activate from inside the database. I left off the username and password for security reasons. (Users will have to enter that info themselves). It works like a charm. I wish I could do something similar for my Windows users.