FileCenter on a Network

This topic addresses common questions about installing and using FileCenter on a network. More help is available in FileCenter's help under Setup > FileCenter on a Network.

Do I need to install FileCenter on the server?

You don't usually need to run FileCenter on the server itself. If the server is just hosting shared FileCenter cabinets, FileCenter doesn't need to be installed. But if a user will actually log in to the server and use FileCenter there, you'll obviously need to install it.

How does network licensing work?

Each workstation that runs FileCenter needs its own license. If you want to take advantage of sharing settings between workstations for easier administration, each workstation will need FileCenter Professional.

How does Terminal Services licensing work?

Each Terminal Services user who uses FileCenter must have their own license.

I've been using FileCenter on my own computer. Now I want to give my assistant access. How do I go about this?

This is described in the FileCenter Help/User Guide under the topic Setup > FileCenter on a Network > Enable Network Sharing

I've been using FileCenter on my own computer. Now I want to move it to a server so I can share files with my assistant. How do I go about this?

Here's a quick overview of how to make the change:

First, move the cabinets you want to share over to the new server. To find out where your cabinets are, click the FileCenter "Cabinets" button. This shows the path for each cabinet. These cabinet paths are just folders in the Windows file system, so locate and move each cabinet folder to the new server.

The cabinet locations have now changed to a network drive, so you'll have to change the cabinet settings on your workstation. From that same "Cabinets" dialog, select each cabinet you moved and click "Edit". Change the "Cabinet Path" to the new network path.

When you're ready to set up the new workstation, exporting the cabinet setup is easy. On your workstation, go to FileCenter's "File" menu > "Export cabinet settings". This saves the cabinet settings to a temporary file. Put it somewhere that can be seen from the new workstation: a network drive, thumb drive, floppy disk, etc.

Now install FileCenter on the new workstation. After the installation, go to the "File" menu > "Import cabinet settings". Browse to the temporary file you created in the last step and select it. This will import the cabinet setup.

You may have to delete some of the cabinets from the workstation if you don't want the workstation to have access to them. Delete these cabinets in FileCenter from the "Cabinets" button. Be sure to select the option to delete the cabinet mapping only (don't delete cabinet contents).

How do I make a cabinet private?

If you have some private cabinets you don't want to expose on the network, you have two options.

The easiest option is to just keep private cabinets on your personal computer. No-one else will be able to access them (as long as you're not sharing your drive on the network). Each FileCenter user can set up as many personal cabinets as they want. No-one else will be able to see those cabinets.

The other option is to have a personal cabinet on the file server, but have your IT person set up permissions on those folders that will only let you access them.

If you put a personal cabinet on the network, you'll want to delete the cabinet from any other workstations. On those workstations, go to the "Cabinets" dialog and delete each cabinet you don't want them to see. Be sure to select the option to delete the cabinet mapping only (don't delete cabinet contents).

How do I make a specific drawer/folder private?

FileCenter honors all Windows file permissions. So if your IT person restricts access to a specific folder, FileCenter will inherit those restrictions.