TurboLaw Tutorials

Help and Technical Definitions

Dedicated File Server

A dedicated file server is simply a computer that is dedicated to the task of sharing files with other users and computers in your office. Typically, a file server is not actually "used" by anyone (that is to say, no one sits in front of it and works on it every day).

A server could be just a spare computer that is not used by anyone, or it could be an expensive, high-end machine designed just for use as a server.

TurboLaw doesn't care what kind of server you have, as long as it can be accessed in a uniform way by all workstations.

Common Shared Network Drive

A common, shared network drive is simply a network drive that each workstation has that is mapped to the same drive letter (for consistency). For example, you might have a drive called Z: that points to a shared folder on your server. Each workstation has a Z: drive mapped, so that everyone can access the files at that location without having to browse to "My Network Places" or remember what the name of the server is.

If you don't have a shared network drive, you will need to create one before you can network TurboLaw. Fortunately, the tools needed to create a shared network drive are built into every version of Windows.

Shared Folder

A "shared folder" is simply a folder on a computer that has been configured in such a way that network users can access it. In the context of TurboLaw, a shared folder is used to reference what used to be called "File and Printer Sharing" under earlier version of Windows. It is the capability, built into every version of windows, to "share" a folder with other Windows users on the same network.

Mapped Network Drive

A "mapped" network drive in Windows functions much like a shortcut or alias to a unique folder (or location) on your network. It allows you to address a folder on your network as if it were a physical drive in your own computer. This is useful because computer names can change, and browsing through the "My Network Places" icon can take some time. TurboLaw requires the use of a mapped network drive - if you attempt to browse for a folder through the "My Network Places" icon, you will receive an error message.