Not sure what to do here...

[HelloWorl]

Situation - 2 small offices about 20 miles apart want to access files in a shared location. Presumably several people could work on a spreadsheet at different times during the day. Obviously they'll want to use the latest version of the spreadsheet when they access the file.

They need to avoid two people editing the same file at the same time, as they would obviously erase the other's changes when they re-upload the file to the server.

What is the easiest way to accomplish this? I thought about using an FTP for like $6 a month, but I don't think they keep track if a file is currently being worked on. What's the best option?


Please help! Thanks!

 

[minendo]

Store all the files on a shared drive on a server. Map said shared drive to each users computer.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Subversion?
http://subversion.tigris.org/

 

[guyver01]

put the file on a shared server.

when someone opens it, it will LOCK the file for editing.

This way if someone else tries to open it, it will tell you "User xyz has locked the file for editing, do you wish to be notified when the file is unlocked?"

 

[DaveSimmons]

Sharepoint hosting will do this. I think Microsoft Office Live Workspace is free for now but there are also hosting companies like http://www.sharepointsite.com/

 

[HelloWorl]

They don't have a server. How can I setup a shared drive?

 

[KLin]

You should call someone who knows what they're doing.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Subversion?
http://subversion.tigris.org/

This SVN is fun.

Or google docs does this doesn't it?

 

[Q]

Google docs? No wait I don't think that'll work

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: KLin
You should call someone who knows what they're doing.

This.

did you tell them you were an IT person? and are now trying to cover for your ineptitude?

 

[HelloWorl]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: KLin
You should call someone who knows what they're doing.

This.

did you tell them you were an IT person? and are now trying to cover for your ineptitude?

Not in the slightest. A friend asked, that's all.

Could a network drive be setup via a desktop? Mind you they've got two offices miles apart, so they're not on all on the same network.

 

[Colt45]

sure, but i'm assuming you want some security.

 

[HelloWorl]

Originally posted by: Colt45
sure, but i'm assuming you want some security.

ftp's can require a username /password. I'm sure that's good enough.

 

[l0cke]

Hookers & Blow

 

[XZeroII]

Get a small server and set up a VPN. Then set up mapped drives.

 

[HelloWorl]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
Get a small server and set up a VPN. Then set up mapped drives.

That was my original thinking, but it's probably more in depth than necessary for these small offices. I think just hosting an FTP might be cheapest and simplistic for these non-techie folks.

 

[mjrpes3]

I'm not a Microsoft fan but sharepoint services would work well in this situation. If your clients have at least Word 2002, they can edit documents directly in Word/Excel and don't have the pain of re-uploading documents. Dcuments can be stored in various workspaces where you can leaves notes and messages, which works better to organize things. I think previous versions (changes to documents) are also saved.

You can also map sharepoint as a web file server in windows, allowing you to browse folders/documents in a traditional file explorer view.

 

[Schloonce]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
Get a small server and set up a VPN. Then set up mapped drives.

This.

VPNs aren't that hard to set up. Hell, even on of those dumbasses from Geek Squad could probably manage it.

You can do it on the cheap with 2 Linksys routers and dd-wrt.