Check out a file from a server running SharePoint Portal Server

Before completing the steps below, consult your network administrator for the URL of the server running Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server and name of the folder with the file that you want to check out.

1. Open the Microsoft Office program that was used to create the file.
2. Click File, and then click Open.
3. To open your list of shortcuts to Web servers, do one of the following:

   In Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition, click My Network Places.

   In Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 98, click Web Folders.

4. If you have already created a shortcut to the folder on the server with the file you want to open, double-click it.
   
   If you haven't created a shortcut to the server, you must create a shortcut. 

   How?

   Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition

   1. Double-click Add Network Place.
   2. Click Create a shortcut to an existing Network Place, and then click Next.

   3. Type the URL of the server.

   4. Type a name for the shortcut to the server, and then click Finish.

   Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 98

   1. Double-click Add Web Folder.
   2. Click Create a shortcut to an existing Web Folder, and then click Next.

   3. Type the URL of the server. 

   4. Type a name for the shortcut to the server, and then click Finish.

5. Double-click the folder that contains the file you want to open, and then double-click the file.
6. Click Check Out.
7. When you are finished editing the file, click File, and then click Check in.
8. Depending upon how the folder is set up, you may be prompted for information about the file and asked whether or not you want to publish the file to make it available to others viewing that shared folder.

Notes

• Once you check in a file, a read-only copy remains open in your Office program. To make further changes to the file, click File, and then click Check Out.
• If you try to close a file without checking in your changes, you'll be asked if you want to check in the changes, discard the changes, or keep the file checked out.
• If you try to close the file without saving, you'll be asked if you want to save the changes and check them in, save the changes and keep the file checked out, discard the changes and undo the checkout, or discard the changes and keep the file checked out.