Using a Laptop in a Networked Environment (Athena Only)
Document 4716
Revised 4/28/2006 LD1


Even though our popular Pocket TOTAL application is the preferred tool for gathering data in the field, many appraisers also use laptop computers to that they can work remotely from home or other offices. While there is no way to automatically synchronize your databases or network preferences, we do have an easy way to get your files from the local WinTOTAL installation on the C drive of your laptop to the shared server. This is accomplished using our File Cabinet’s “Attach Directory” feature.

 
 

 

First, you must map the physical drive letter of your network server onto the laptop. For example, F:\. If you need assistance with this step, contact your Network Administrator as this is outside of WinTOTAL.

Creating a "Laptop Share" Folder

While running From a network workstation, complete the following steps on your shared installation of WinTOTAL.

  1. From the File Cabinet, click Folder and select New.
  2. In the New Folder screen, enter the name of the folder you are adding. You may want to name it something similar to "Laptop Share."
  3. Click OK.
  4. The "Laptop Share" folder you created now displays in the Folders column.

Creating an Attached Directory

  1. From the File Cabinet, click Options and select Attach directory…. The Attach Directory screen displays.
  2. From the pull-down menu on the Attach Directory screen, select the server drive. Then, in the Selected Folder window, browse to the Win2000 folder. Then, browse to the Files folder, and finally to the "Laptop Share" folder. The file path should resemble the following path: F:\Win2000\FILES\LAPTOPSH.FLD if WinTOTAL was installed in a network folder of F:\WIN2000.

  3. Click OK. The Attach Folder screen displays.
  4. In the entry line of the Attach Folder screen, name the directory you're adding. Again, you may wish to name it something similar to "Laptop Share."  This is for you to remember it easily.   
  5. Click OK.

The report file, now located in the "Laptop Share" folder, is ready to be moved to the laptop.

Step 1: Get the Network File into the Shared Folder.

  1. From a workstation, open WinTOTAL.
  2. In the File Cabinet, click the folder containing the report you need to work on.
  3. Click to highlight the report, and select Move/Copy in the toolbar. The Move/Copy Files screen displays.
  4. Make sure the Move option is selected. Click to highlight the "Laptop Share" folder.
  5. Click OK.

Step 2:  Get the File onto the Laptop.

To move the report onto the laptop, complete the following steps.

  1. While connected to the network, open WinTOTAL on the laptop.
  2. From the File Cabinet, click to select the attached "Laptop Share" directory. The report you moved into this folder on the server displays.
  3. Click to highlight the report, and select Move/Copy in the toolbar. The Move/Copy Files screen displays.
  4. Click to highlight one of the folders in the File Cabinet to move the report into.
  5. Click OK.

You can now complete your work in the report from your laptop.

Step 3:  Copy the File Back to the Network.

To move the report back to the server, complete the following steps.

  1. Open WinTOTAL on the laptop.
  2. From the File Cabinet, click to select the folder containing the report to be moved to the server
  3. Click to highlight the report, and select Move/Copy in the toolbar. The Move/Copy Files screen displays.
  4. Click to highlight the attached "Laptop Share" directory.
  5. Click OK.

The report should now be reloaded to your server. Lastly, on the server move the report file back into the folder where you normally keep it.