Assign default user directories

I have become the accidental IT manager for a Windows XP
network that is a mess. We have duplicate files all over
the network and no schema or protocol for storing files
other than 90% of them end up in My Documents, which of
course can be one of many possible locations depending
upon the user and the computer. I have established a
directory tree on the server where I want all office
files to be created and stored. How do I set up a
default directory for each user on the network so that
they all point to the same directory when saving
documents.

In other words, I want to eliminate any references to
Jane's Documents (folder) and Joe's Documents (folder)
and Mary's Documents (folder) because they all work on
the same stuff and I want that stuff stored in a central
directory called Main Documents (folder) that is the
default working directory for each user on the network.

TIA,
Sandra

If the server is XP, simply define the path to it by right clicking my
documents on each PC and typing the UNC path to the server. You'll be
allowed up to 10 connections to the 'server.'

"Sandra Grawunder" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:316801c428fb$6e0ffb60$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I have become the accidental IT manager for a Windows XP
> network that is a mess. We have duplicate files all over
> the network and no schema or protocol for storing files
> other than 90% of them end up in My Documents, which of
> course can be one of many possible locations depending
> upon the user and the computer. I have established a
> directory tree on the server where I want all office
> files to be created and stored. How do I set up a
> default directory for each user on the network so that
> they all point to the same directory when saving
> documents.
>
> In other words, I want to eliminate any references to
> Jane's Documents (folder) and Joe's Documents (folder)
> and Mary's Documents (folder) because they all work on
> the same stuff and I want that stuff stored in a central
> directory called Main Documents (folder) that is the
> default working directory for each user on the network.
>
> TIA,
> Sandra

Basically you need login scripts.

If you have a Windows 2000 or 2003 file server you can easily implement
these when you login to the domain.

A little less centralized, Windows XP also supports login scripts, see help
"login scripts"

your login script should have a "Net use q://servername/SharedDirectory"
q can be any unused drive letter, then just tell all your users to save to
Q:


Alternatively you can change the settings on "MyDocuments" on each machine
to point to the shared directory on the server. (for programs that use
MyDocuments default)
"Sandra Grawunder" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:316801c428fb$6e0ffb60$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I have become the accidental IT manager for a Windows XP
> network that is a mess. We have duplicate files all over
> the network and no schema or protocol for storing files
> other than 90% of them end up in My Documents, which of
> course can be one of many possible locations depending
> upon the user and the computer. I have established a
> directory tree on the server where I want all office
> files to be created and stored. How do I set up a
> default directory for each user on the network so that
> they all point to the same directory when saving
> documents.
>
> In other words, I want to eliminate any references to
> Jane's Documents (folder) and Joe's Documents (folder)
> and Mary's Documents (folder) because they all work on
> the same stuff and I want that stuff stored in a central
> directory called Main Documents (folder) that is the
> default working directory for each user on the network.
>
> TIA,
> Sandra