How do I share a folder in os X?

On my home network I can view other peoples folders that they have shared. The other computers are all running windows xp. How do I share a folder so they can take files off of me?

It is mainly for sharing microsoft word documents, but if they could view my pictures and videos that would be nice to.

 

System Preferences -> Sharing.

It will share any public folder. Just go to a folder -> Get Info.
I think you change the Others permission....
But now, I'm not really sure come to think of it. I think thats how it works.
I know there is a folder under users called Shared, which may be the folder that ends up being shared by default.

But it's easy to turn that and FTP server on.

I'm not sure what the real differences are between Windows sharing and Personal File Sharing. Personal File Sharing may only work for other macs or other *Nix based OS's (unix/linux). I know PFS uses Samba... so that works for any OS...

 

I also want to make sure they can't change my files. Just share them.

 

I haven't figured out how to get my mac onto the workgroup mshome to work that great yet. I can look at files and folders other people have shared, but I'm not sure what my workgroup is on the macbook.

 

I think you mixed them up there Personal File Sharing uses AFP (an Apple-created format that has been used on Macs for a long time) whereas Windows Sharing uses samba, which is what Apple also has been moving towards compatibility with (which works with just about any system nowadays), moving away from AFP but still using it for some things.

As for the original poster, not sure what workgroup it is either, but that shouldn't matter these days? I thought workgroups were an outdated concept? I can see and access any workgroup on my network at least (from a Windows machine also).

 

Yah, I wasn't sure what method PFS uses to share files.
If I had a windows machine here, I'd try sharing, but I don't. Only linux and mac here (unless we're talking Parallels and boot camp).

but I would also like an answer to this as well.

 

if you turn on windows file sharing you can log into your home folder by inputting the network address shown on the sharing page. then you simply log in with your username/password. thats the way i know of for sharing with windows that i use from time to time on the windows side. usually i send the stuff from the mac to windows. usually easier. then you don't get the thumbnail files that windows creates appearing in every folder you browse on the mac from windows.

i don't use it too often, so not sure if shared files (set under 'get info>permissions') will show up like other windows shared folders will. I think its supposed to, but not sure.

 

On my windows machine it asks for a username and password. What user name and password am I susposed to enter? I tried the windows machines user name and password it uses to log into windows. But that does not seem to work.

 

No, you use a user name/pass from your mac.

 

how do I assign a user name and password to a folder for others to view? I dont want to give them my password for my system.

 

Isn't there a "guest" option? If not, create a guest user for others to use.

You can't share individual folders as such, it has to be in the Shared folder to be accessible to all. Something I haven't tried but imagine would work, however, is to make an alias to the folder you want to share in the Shared folder.

 

Heh, you do know that OS X comes with comprehensive online help, don't you?

 

Yup, what starlight said. Put all sharable files in that shared folder under users, and anyone with that guest account information that you created can get that info.
But for security, dont' name the account guest

 

ok I can now see the macbook on the network in MSHOME, but I have another problem.

I can see these folders. desktop, documents, library, movies, music, pictures, public, sites, and the file send registration.

on the mac I saw the public folder and inside there was another folder called drop box. so i put some .mp3's in there. I right clicked the folder and clicked show info about it and i set the file to these permissions.

user/read and write.
group/ read
everyone else read only

I then clicked apply to all files on the bottom. rechecked the padlock so the settings should be saved. In windows the drop box is still blank and I can't see any of the shared files.

 

The drop box is only readable by the person whose account it is on, it's a special folder that another Mac on a network can see and "drop" files to you through - but they can't read or edit what is there.

As for what you did to the folder and your samba sharing issues, it's too late for me to get into that right now so I'll let someone else field that - time to sleep

 

Why can't I figure the mac out but it's easy in windows lol

 

because you're used to Windows... and didn't read the documentation

the F1 key is your friend...

 

I entered the user name and password of my guest account and I can delete the files from my windows machines over the network! How do I stop this from happening?

The user name and password I used on the windows machine was the user name and password I use for my account on the macbook for everyday use.