What does File Sharing do?
Personal File Sharing allows you share your disks or folders and the files they contain with other people on a network. Personal File Sharing is available to Macintosh computers using System 7 through Mac OS 9 that are connected to an AppleTalk or TCP/IP network. With your permission, others can view and even edit documents on your hard disk from their computer. You can control access to your information through passwords and setting access privileges (none, read, write, or read-write).
10 connected user limit
One way that Personal File Sharing differs from AppleShare IP server products and Mac OS X Server is that only ten users can be connected to the sharing computer at a given time. For more information, see technical document 45052: "
Mac OS 8 and 9: Personal File Sharing User Limits"
Mac OS X File Sharing
This document describes File Sharing as implemented in System 7, Mac OS 8, and Mac OS 9. For information on Mac OS X, stop here and go to technical document 106461: "
Mac OS X: File Sharing"
Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9 File Sharing
For more information on how to set up File Sharing in Mac OS 8 and Mac OS 9, stop here and go to technical document 106657: "
Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: File Sharing"
System 7 File Sharing
Create a network
Your computers must be physically connected on an Ethernet or AirPort network. For information on connecting two Macintosh computers together to share files, refer to article 106658: "
Macintosh: How to Create a Small Ethernet Network"
How to Turn on File Sharing1. Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and double-click the Sharing Setup control panel.
2. Make sure that you have identified your computer to the network. You have to give an Owner Name, an Owner Password, and a Macintosh Name.
3. Click the Start button. Its label changes to Cancel and the status line describes what is happening while file sharing is starting up. It may take a minute or so to complete. When the status line says file sharing is on and the button is labeled Stop, your computer is ready to share files. If you start file sharing when AppleTalk is not active, it will be automatically turned on for you.
4. Close the Sharing Setup control panel and the Control Panels folder.
How to Share a Folder
Follow these steps:
1. Select the folder.
2. Choose Sharing from the File menu.
3. Click Share This Item And Its Contents.
4. Close the Privileges Window.
5. When asked for confirmation, click Save.
How to Log on as Owner
As the owner or administrator of two Macintosh systems - a desktop and a portable model for example - file sharing can be even easier. An AppleTalk network can be as small as two Macintosh computers connected together with LocalTalk (or compatible) cabling. Once connected together, either Macintosh computer can turn on file sharing. There is no need to share folders, because the owner can access everything. From the other Macintosh, you can connect with the AppleShare workstation software as the owner. Follow these steps to connect remotely as the owner:
1. Open the Chooser.
2. Select AppleShare.
3. Select your Macintosh computer.
4. Type your name, as you typed it in Owner Name field in the Sharing Setup dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to.
5. Type your password, as you typed it in Owner Password field in the Sharing Setup dialog on the Macintosh you are connecting to. You will see all the disk resources connected to the remote Macintosh as if you are looking directly at its desktop. Make an alias of the volume for even easier future access.
For additional information on File Sharing, please see the following articles: