Windows 8.1中许多新的企业友好功能之一被命名为工作文件夹(Work Folders)。文件夹？工作？听起来很无聊，不是吗？🙂 但是，对于某些人来说，此功能将非常有用。特别是对于拥有许多设备并且还需要在个人 PC 和设备上工作的人。以下是如何在客户端(client side)设置工作文件夹(Work Folders)以及如何使用它们来完成您的工作并使其与您公司的服务器同步。
什么是工作文件夹？
工作文件夹(Work Folders)允许用户将文件夹及其内容从公司网络同步到他们的个人设备。本地创建的文件将同步回公司环境中的文件服务器(file server)。使用工作文件夹(Work Folders)，用户可以将工作文件的本地副本保存在个人设备上，并自动同步到公司数据中心。
听起来很复杂？让我们举一个例子，说明信息工作者(information worker)Julian如何使用工作文件夹(Work Folders)将他的工作数据与他的个人数据分开，同时能够在任何设备上工作：
当 Julian 将文档保存在他的工作计算机(work computer)上的工作文件夹(Work Folders)目录中时，该文档将同步到由其公司IT 部门(IT department)控制的文件服务器(file server)。朱利安回到家后，可以拿起他的Surface 2，因为他之前已经在该设备上设置了工作文件夹(Work Folders)，所以文档已经同步，然后前往咖啡店(coffee shop)。他可以离线处理文档(document offline)，当他回到家并且互联网连接(Internet connection)再次可用时，文档会与文件服务器同步回来(file server)第二天，当他回到办公室时，他可以在他的工作计算机(work computer)上使用所有更改。听起来不错不是吗？
如何在Windows 8.1中设置工作文件夹(Work Folders)
我假设您有一个由IT 管理员创建的(IT administrator)公司帐户(company account)。如果您这样做并且您知道其详细信息，请转到Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders。
单击或点击设置工作文件夹(Set up Work Folders)。如果您的计算机尚未加入公司域(company domain)（个人设备就是这种情况），系统会要求您提供您的电子邮件地址(email address)和公司域的凭据。
输入(Enter)您的工作电子邮件地址，然后单击(work email address and click)或点击下一步(Next)。
显示Windows 安全(Windows Security window)性窗口。系统会要求您输入公司网络上使用的用户名和密码。(username and password)这样做并单击或点击OK。
然后，系统会要求您确认工作文件夹的位置。如果您对默认文件夹(default folder)不满意并且想要使用另一个文件夹，请单击或点击(click or tap) 更改(Change)。
如果单击更改(Change)按钮，将显示一个对话框(dialog box)，提示您选择一个新文件夹。浏览您的计算机并选择您要使用的新文件夹。然后，单击或点击选择文件夹(Select Folder)按钮。
完成后，单击或点击“确认工作文件夹位置”(Confirm Work Folders location)窗口中的下一步。(Next)
然后，系统会询问您是否同意贵公司的工作文件夹(Work Folders)安全策略。为了帮助保护您的工作文件，您的公司可以加密您的工作文件夹，要求输入密码才能登录您的 PC 并自动锁定您的屏幕，并擦除您的工作文件夹(Work Folders)中的所有文件，以防 PC 丢失。
选中“我在我的 PC 上接受这些策略”("I accept these policies on my PC")复选框，然后单击或点击设置工作文件夹(Set up Work Folders)。
Windows 8.1 需要一些时间来进行设置。等待(Wait)该过程完成。
完成后，系统会通知您工作文件夹(Work Folders)已开始与您的 PC 同步。单击(Click)或点击关闭(Close)按钮。
工作文件夹(Work Folders)现在已在您的 PC 上配置。单击或点击关闭(Close)后，您将进入工作文件夹(Work Folders)控制面板。
从控制面板管理工作文件夹(Control Panel)
在您进入Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders后(Work Folders)，您可以访问其所有管理功能和选项。
您可以查看服务器上有多少可用空间、上次同步执行的时间，并且您可以开始手动同步。
要通过计量连接启用文件同步，请选中“通过计量连接同步文件”("Sync files over metered connections") 复选框(check box)。如果您还想在漫游时同步文件，请选中“即使我在漫游时也同步”("Sync even when I'm roaming")复选框，如下图所示。
如果您遇到问题，您可以通过单击“电子邮件技术支持”("Email tech support")链接向您的IT 管理员(IT administrator)寻求帮助。这将打开您的默认电子邮件客户端，您可以使用它来发送消息。
如果Windows 8.1显示“找到您的工作文件夹(Folders)服务器时出现问题”该怎么办
设置工作文件夹(Work Folders)时，您可能会遇到以下错误：“查找工作文件夹服务器时出现问题”。("There was a problem finding your Work Folders server".)
如果您遇到这种情况，请在“输入工作电子邮件(Enter work email)”窗口中单击或点击(click or tap) “输入工作文件夹 URL ”。(Enter a Work Folders URL)
然后，输入您公司的IT 管理员(IT administrator)提供的工作文件夹 URL ，(Work Folders URL)然后单击(company and click)或点击下一步(Next)。
从这里开始，您需要提供您的电子邮件和密码(email and password)，如本文前面所述。按照上面共享的步骤完成工作文件夹(Work Folders)的配置。
如何在Windows 8.1中使用(Windows 8.1)工作文件夹(Work Folders)
要访问您的工作文件夹(Work Folders)，请打开文件资源管理器(File Explorer)并转到此 PC(This PC)。在那里，您将看到Work Folders的快捷方式。
在多个设备上配置工作文件夹(Work Folders)后，您可以从任何这些设备访问文档，并且它们将通过工作文件夹(Work Folders)保持同步。从现在开始，您可以像处理普通文件一样处理工作文件夹(Work Folders)中的文件。
同步(Sync)工作文件夹(Work Folders)- 它是如何工作的？
要测试您的工作文件夹(Work Folders)是否正确同步，请在您的一台计算机上创建一个文档并将该文档保存在工作文件夹(Work Folders)位置。
然后，在另一台设备上创建另一个文档，并将其保存在您的工作文件夹(Work Folders)中。片刻之后，您应该会在两台设备上的Work Folders中看到两个可用的文档。(Work Folders)
在状态栏中(status bar)您可以查看同步状态(sync status)。
通常，文件会自动同步，但如果要执行手动同步，您可以在“工作文件夹”窗口内右键单击（或(Work Folders)按住(press and hold)），然后单击或点击立即同步(Sync Now)。
您的文件将立即同步。
您还可以通过单击或点击“工作文件夹”(Work Folders)控制面板中的“立即同步”(Sync Now)链接来启动手动同步。
然后，控制面板(Control Panel)会通知您文件正在同步，如下图所示(image below)。
我的文件以绿色(Green)显示。这是什么意思(Mean)？
最有可能的是，您的工作文件夹(Work Folders)中的所有文件都显示为绿色，这种颜色不用于显示其他文件夹中的文件。
没有什么可担心的。您的IT 管理员(IT administrator)已设置加密您的工作文件夹(Work Folder)文件的策略，以便未经授权的人无法访问它们。
如果您的 PC 被盗，管理员可以撤销对这些文件的访问权限并远程删除它们，这样敏感数据就不会落入坏人之手。
如何停止使用工作文件夹
如果您想停止在其中一台个人计算机上使用工作文件夹(Work Folders)，可以轻松完成。
转到Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders。然后，单击或点击停止使用工作文件夹(Stop using Work Folders)链接。
将显示一个对话框(dialog box)，要求您确认是否要停止使用工作文件夹(Work Folders)。
如果您想停止使用工作文件夹(Work Folders)，请单击或点击(click or tap) 是(Yes)。否则，按否(No)。
如果管理员更改(Administrator Changes)您的帐户密码(Account)该怎么办(Password)
商业网络有政策，因此您被迫定期更改您的帐户密码。或者，可能会发生您忘记密码和管理员更改密码等情况。
无论出于何种原因，在更改您的企业帐户(business account)密码时，您都必须重新输入新凭据，以便工作文件夹(Work Folders)继续正常工作。
在更改密码后的某个时间点，当工作文件夹(Work Folders)尝试同步您的文件时，会显示一条通知，提示“您的工作文件夹登录信息无效”("Your Work Folders sign-in info didn't work")。
此外，当您转到“Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders”时，您将看到“同步已停止。需要密码”("Sync stopped. Password needed")。
要更新您的凭据，请单击或点击左栏中的管理凭据链接。(Manage credentials)
将显示Windows 安全(Windows Security)窗口，要求输入新的用户名和密码(username and password)。
键入它们并单击或点击OK。工作文件夹(Work Folders)成功通过您公司的服务器进行身份验证后，它会继续同步您的文件。
结论
正如您从本指南中看到的那样，工作文件夹(Work Folders)很有用，而且设置起来并不难。至少不在客户端(client side)。如果您的公司正在使用这项新服务，您可以在任何Windows 8.1 PC 或设备(PC or device)上进行设置，即使您不在工作时也能完成工作。
How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1
Оne of the many new enterprise-friendly features in Windows 8.1 is named Work Folders. Folders? Work? Sounds boring, doesn't it? 🙂 But, to some people this feature will be very useful. Especially to people that have many devices and need to work also on their personal PCs and devices. Here's how to set up Work Folders on the client side and how to use them to do your work and have it synchronized with your company's servers.
What are Work Folders?
Work Folders allows a user to sync a folder and its content, from the corporate network to their personal device. Files created locally will sync back to the file server in the corporate environment. With Work Folders, users can keep local copies of their work files on their personal devices, with automatic synchronization to the company data center.
Sounds complicated? Let's take an example of how an information worker, Julian, might use Work Folders to separate his work data from his personal data, while having the ability to work from any device:
When Julian saves a document on his work computer in the Work Folders directory, the document is synced to a file server controlled by the IT department of his company. When Julian returns home, he can pick up his Surface 2, where the document is already synced, because he had previously set up Work Folders on that device, and head to the coffee shop. He can work on the document offline, and when he returns home and an Internet connection is available again, the document is synced back with the file server and all of the changes are available to him the next day when he returns to the office, on his work computer. Sounds good doesn't it?
How to Set up Work Folders in Windows 8.1
I assume that you have a company account created by the IT administrator. If you do and you know its details, then go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders.
Click or tap Set up Work Folders. You are asked to provide your email address and the credentials to the company domain, if your computer has not joined it (which is the case with personal devices).
Enter your work email address and click or tap Next.
The Windows Security window is shown. You are asked to enter the username and password used on your company's network. Do so and click or tap OK.
Then, you are asked to confirm the location of your work folders. If you are not satisfied with the default folder and you want to use another one, click or tap Change.
If you click the Change button, a dialog box is shown, prompting you to select a new folder. Browse your computer and select the new folder you want to use. Then, click or tap the Select Folder button.
When done, click or tap Next in the Confirm Work Folders location window.
Then, you are asked if you agree with your company's security policies for Work Folders. To help protect your work files, your company can encrypt your work folders, require a password to sign in to your PC and automatically lock your screen, and erase all files in your Work Folders, in case the PC is lost.
Check the box that says "I accept these policies on my PC", then click or tap Set up Work Folders.
Windows 8.1 spends some time to set things up. Wait for the process to finish.
When done, you are informed that Work Folders has started syncing with your PC. Click or tap the Close button.
Work Folders is now configured on your PC. After you click or tap Close, you are taken to the Work Folders control panel.
Managing Work Folders from the Control Panel
After you have set up Work Folders when you go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders, you get access to all its management features and options.
You can see how much space is available on the server, when the last sync was performed, and you can start a manual synchronization.
To enable file syncing over metered connections, check the "Sync files over metered connections" check box. If you also want to sync files when you are roaming, check the "Sync even when I'm roaming" check box, as in the image below.
If you encounter problems, you can ask for help from your IT administrator by clicking the "Email tech support" link. This will open your default email client and you can use it to send your message.
What To Do If Windows 8.1 Says That "There was a problem finding your Work Folders server"
When setting up Work Folders, you may encounter the following error: "There was a problem finding your Work Folders server".
If that's the case for you, then click or tap Enter a Work Folders URL in the Enter work email window.
Then, enter the Work Folders URL that is provided by the IT administrator of your company and click or tap Next.
From here onwards you are asked to provide your email and password, as shared earlier in this article. Follow the steps shared above to finalize the configuration of your Work Folders.
How to Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1
To access your Work Folders, open File Explorer and go to This PC. There you will see the shortcut to Work Folders.
Once you have configured Work Folders on multiple devices, you can access documents from any of those devices, and they will be kept in sync by Work Folders. From now on, you can work with files in your Work Folders as you do with normal files.
Sync for Work Folders - How Does It Work?
To test if your Work Folders are synchronized correctly, create a document on one of your computers and save the document in the Work Folders location.
Then, create another document on another device, and save it in your Work Folders. In a few moments, you should see both documents available in your Work Folders, on both devices.
In the status bar you can view the sync status.
Usually, files are synchronized automatically but, if you want to perform a manual sync, you can right-click (or press and hold) inside the Work Folders window and then click or tap Sync Now.
Your files will be synchronized immediately.
You can also start a manual sync by clicking or tapping the Sync Now link found in the Work Folders control panel.
Then, the Control Panel will inform you that the files are syncing, as shown in the image below.
My Files are Displayed in Green. What Does It Mean?
Most probably, all the files in your Work Folders are displayed in green, a color that is not used to display the files in other folders.
There is nothing to worry about. Your IT administrator has set up a policy that encrypts your Work Folder files, so that unauthorized people cannot access them.
If your PC gets stolen, the administrator can revoke access to those files and remove them remotely, so that sensitive data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
How to Stop Using Work Folders
If you want to stop using Work Folders on one of your personal computers, that can be done with ease.
Go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders. Then, click or tap the Stop using Work Folders link.
A dialog box is shown, asking you to confirm whether you want to stop using Work Folders.
If you want to stop using Work Folders, click or tap Yes. Otherwise, press No.
What To Do If the Administrator Changes your Account's Password
Business networks have policies so that you are forced to change your account's password regularly. Or, it may happen that you have forgot your password and the administrator to change it, etc.
Whatever the reason, when changing your business account's password, you have to re-enter the new credentials so that Work Folders continues to work well.
At some point after your password gets changed, when Work Folders tries to sync your files, a notification is shown, saying that "Your Work Folders sign-in info didn't work".
Also, when you go to Go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Work Folders, you will see that "Sync stopped. Password needed".
To update your credentials, click or tap the Manage credentials link on the left-column.
The Windows Security window is shown, asking for the new username and password.
Type them and click or tap OK. After Work Folders authenticates successfully with your company's server, it resumes synchronizing your files.
Conclusion
As you can see from this guide, Work Folders is useful and not that hard to set up. At least not on the client side. If your company is using this new service, you can set it up on any Windows 8.1 PC or device to get your work done even when you are not at work.
