Setting Allowing Each User to Have Personal Default Directory (84122)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
This article was previously published under Q84122

SUMMARY

This article discusses how to use %VARIABLES% in Microsoft Windows version 3.1 so that one computer can be used by more than one person, yet can allow each person to have his/her own default data directory for the application he/she is working with when running Windows.

This can be done because both Windows 3.1's PIF editor and File, Properties fields can accept MS-DOS environment variables.

Note: Microsoft Office Manager does not support MS-DOS environment variables.

MORE INFORMATION

To configure a group of 15 diskless workstations to be used by 30 different people and set them up so that each person has his/her own data directory used by default when he/she logs onto any of the machines, do the following.

For MS-DOS Applications

Example: Using Novell NetWare and WordPerfect for MS-DOS.

  1. System Administrator maps drive Y:=SYS:DOSAPPS/WP51 using MAP ROOT command in the login script for all users. This sets up a false root for the WP51 directory:

    MAP ROOT Y:=SERVER/SYS:DOSAPPS/WP51

  2. System Administrator maps drive P:=SYS:DATA/WP51 using MAP ROOT command in the login script for all users. SYS:DATA\WP51 contains subdirectories for each user (such as \terri \gail \tom \carrie), where each user's own specific WordPerfect files reside.

    MAP ROOT P:=SERVER/SYS:DATA/WP51

  3. Each user who logs in, executes the following MS-DOS command

    SET USER=<username>

    either in his/her own personal login script or via a batch file, where <username> is a unique name that corresponds to the subdirectories in the DATA\WP51 directory (see step 2). For example:

    SET USER=terri

  4. The WordPerfect PIF should contain the following: 
          PROGRAM FILENAME:               Y:\WP.EXE
      Window Title:
      Optional Parameters:
      Start-up Directory:             P:\%user%
This allows any of the users who login, to choose the WordPerfect icon, and have WordPerfect start in the user's own specific WordPerfect data directory, which contains the user's own files.

For Windows Application

Example: Using Novell NetWare, and Excel for Windows.

  1. System Administrator maps X:=SYS:WINAPPS\EXCEL using MAP ROOT command in the login script for all users. This sets up a false root for the EXCEL directory:

    MAP ROOT X:=SERVER/SYS:WINAPPS/EXCEL

  2. System Administrator maps drive R:=SYS:DATA\EXCEL using MAP ROOT command in the login script for all users. SYS:DATA\EXCEL contains subdirectories for each user (such as \terri \gail \tom \carrie), where each user's own specific Excel files reside.

    MAP ROOT R:=SERVER/SYS:DATA/EXCEL

  3. Each user who logs in, executes the following MS-DOS command

    SET USER=<username>

    either in his/her own personal login script or via a batch file, where <username> is a unique name that corresponds to the subdirectories in the DATA\EXCEL directory (see step 2). For example:

    SET USER=terri

  4. Modify the properties of the Excel icon by choosing Properties from File menu in Program Manager. The properties should reflect the following: 
          Description:            Excel
      Command Line:           X:\EXCEL.EXE
      Working Directory:      R:\%user%
      Shortcut Key:
This allows any of the users who login, to choose the Excel icon, and have Excel start in their own specific Excel data directory, which contains their own files.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Windows User's Guide," version 3.1, pages 262-263
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/25/1999
Keywords:KB84122
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.