How shared files appear to users

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

How shared files appear to users

Shared files appear as expected to users of x86-based computers and to Macintosh computer users. For example, when an MS-DOS user views these shared files, the file names follow the MS-DOS standard naming convention, whether or not they were created that way by a Macintosh user. When a Macintosh user views the files, they appear as Macintosh files on the Macintosh client itself or on Macintosh servers running AppleShare.

Within a folder that is both a shared folder and a Macintosh-accessible volume, users of networked x86-based computers see folders and files. In fact, this is what is actually stored on the server hard disk. To Macintosh users, the volume appears to contain Macintosh files and folders. When Macintosh users browse through the files available on the server, they see icons that represent each file and folder.

Macintosh files and folders can have Macintosh file names, including long names and names containing spaces and other characters. They are not limited to the 8.3 naming convention of the file allocation table (FAT) file system used with the MS-DOS system and some OS/2 computers. File Server for Macintosh and the NTFS file system translate the names so that users can see them.