Windows Vista : Work with Offline Files (part 1) - Turn On the Offline Files Feature, Select Offline Files

1. Understand Offline Files

Offline files let you access data stored on a shared network folder even when the network share is not available. You can’t always be connected to the network share, for instance, when you’re on an airplane or simply away from a broadband or wireless Internet connection.

When you enable offline files, you choose the folders to make available when you’re not connected to the network. You select specific folders (and their subfolders), and a copy of the data is saved automatically to your mobile computer. You can then work on the files even if you aren’t connected to the network. When you reconnect, the files are synced so that what’s on the network share matches what is on your local hard disk. Additionally, syncing files automatically redirects any open files to the online copy of them.

Tip

Offline files also let you continue working if your network becomes disabled or your connection to it fails. Just continue to work as usual, and when you can connect again, your files will automatically be synced.

2. Turn On the Offline Files Feature

To use offline files, you must turn on the feature and select the folders to copy and sync. You must also decide what to do when sync conflicts occur and create sync partnerships between computers. Let’s start by turning on the offline files feature.

To locate offline files settings and turn the feature on, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, and in the Start Search box, type Offline Files.
2.	In the Start menu results, under Programs, select Offline Files.
3.	On the General tab, shown in Figure 1, click Enable Offline Files. Figure 1. Click Enable Offline Files to get started.
4.	Click Continue.
5.	Click OK.
6.	Click Yes to restart your computer.

3. Select Offline Files

To be able to work with a file offline, you must make that file available by copying it to your own hard drive. To select files and folders for offline use, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, Network.
2.	Select the network computer that stores the shared file or folder you want to make available offline. The computer you choose does not need to be running Windows Vista.
3.	Right-click the file or folder, and click Always Available Offline. See Figure 2. Figure 2. Make files available offline.
4.	Wait while the files are prepared, shown in Figure 3. When the process finishes, click Close. Figure 3. Wait while the files are prepared.

To verify the files have been prepared correctly, right-click the file or folder again, and make sure there’s a check mark beside Always Available Offline. You’ll also see an icon like the one shown in Figure 4 beside the folder you enabled.

Figure 4. This icon indicates a shared offline folder.