Using Office with a Web Server

Using the Office Server Extensions Start Page

By using the Microsoft Office Server Extensions (OSE) Start Page, users can work with OSE features from within a Web browser. Users open the OSE Start Page at the following address:

http://computer_name/msoffice/

where computer_name is the name of an OSE-extended web.

The OSE Start Page is located in the Default.asp file in the MSOffice virtual directory, which the OSE Configuration Wizard creates.

From the OSE Start Page, users can perform the following tasks:

• Open a document for browsing and discussions.
• Turn on the frame-based Collaboration toolbar (Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0, or Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or later).
• View a list of all folders on the OSE-extended web.
• Add shortcuts to Web Folders.
• View or delete Web Subscriptions.
• Start online Help, or start the OSE Quick Start guide.
• Connect to the Microsoft Office 2000 Web site at Microsoft.com.
• Search for documents on the Web server.

Note   Search criteria include text, date and time, document properties, and location. The Search Web Folders option is available only for Internet Information Server (IIS) servers. If your Web server is not an IIS server, users do not see a Search Web Folders option on the OSE Start Page.

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Browsing Web folders

By using the Browse Web Folders option on the OSE Start Page, users can explore the files and folders on an OSE-extended web by using a Web browser. Users can view the contents of a Web folder as easily as they browse a Web site.

To browse a Web file or folder from the OSE Start Page

1. In the Address box, type the following address:
2. http://computer_name/msoffice/
3. where computer_name is the name of an OSE-extended web.
4. Click Browse Web Folders.

When the content of a Web folder changes, underlying ASP scripts automatically update the file and folder lists, and the hyperlinks displayed on the page. This automatic update simplifies administration of the site.

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Customizing the OSE Start Page

As the Web server administrator, you can use a standard authoring tool such as Microsoft FrontPage or Microsoft Word to modify the appearance and functionality of the OSE Start Page. If you know HTML source code, you can change the OSE Start Page with a text editor such as Notepad.

To enhance the OSE Start Page, you can add a company logo, links to other pages on your intranet, or additional text to help your users get the most out of OSE.

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See also

You can use the Custom Installation Wizard to add Web features to your Office installation, and even have Office Setup create a Favorites entry, desktop shortcut, or Start menu item for the OSE Start Page. For more information about using the wizard to modify your Office installation, see Office Custom Installation Wizard.

You can customize the page displayed by using the Browse Web Folders option with themes, annotations on folders and files, or additional hyperlinks. For more information, see Advanced Administration of Office Server Extensions.