Most Windows programs allow you to browse the "Network Neighborhood" in the File-Open-dialog:

However, some older program converted from 16-bit code (as used on Windows 3.1) have not been updated to use the new Win32 File-Open and continue to use their old customer-design File-Open dialogs. Because of that, they are unable to browse the Network-Neighborhood.

DOS-programs also are not able to support the Network-Neighborhood. This because they are also written in 16-bit code, which can only handle short filenames with the 8+3 limitation, and they can not use the universal naming convention (UNC) names (as required when accessing files via Network Neighborhood)

To allow such old programs to work with Network-files, Windows networking offers a feature called "Mapping": the network resource is made available as a simulated disk-drive, also called a virtual disk-drive or a network drive.

	Via the "Network Neighborhood" on the desktop, select a shared disk-resource on the network, then right-click on the resource and select from the context menu to "Map Network Drive" Note: On a Microsoft network, you can only define a Mapping for a shared resource, not for any directory inside the shared resource (that is possible on Novell Networks).
	Select the drive character to be used (windows will show the first available drive character) and define, whether this drive should be reconnected automatically on rebooting your system.
	The system will then display the content of the network drive. Note the symbol used to represent this drive: a disk with a connected Network cable
	Look in "My Computer" on your desktop, where the network drive is now listed like all other local resources (=on your local computer) drives.
	In the File-Open dialog, the network drive is displayed as part of "My Computer". Old programs can now access it using the drive character.