This document explains how to access your WorkgroupShare data (email, calendar and contacts) over the Internet using Softalk Organizer.

It is assumed that the WorkgroupShare software and client software have already been installed.

Softalk Organizer was specifically designed to integrate with WorkgroupShare providing you with web based access to your email, calendar and contacts. You can use Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome, wherever you are in the world.

You will need a computer with "Internet Information Server" (IIS) installed which comes with Windows Server 2000, 2003 and 2008 as well as Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro and some Windows Vista editions. You may need to make sure it is installed as it is not installed automatically on all systems.

You will also need to install the .NET Framework from Microsoft. This application needs v1.1 which you can get from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en. There is also a service pack for v1.1 at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A8F5654F-088E-40B2-BBDB-A83353618B38&displaylang=en .

Now that you have IIS and .NET installed you can download Softalk Organizer from http://www.softalkltd.com/products/download_form.asp?product=so and install.

On completion of the installation you will be asked if you would like to go to Softalk Organizer. If you choose to, it will take you to http://localhost/organizer/default.aspx , but before you do we need to make sure this application is using the correct .NET version.

In Control panel, select "Administrative Tools" and run the Internet Information Services management console Expand the default web site, right click on the virtual directory "Organizer" and select Properties. Click on the ASP .NET tab, select the correct version of .NET and click OK.

This overrides whatever the current global setting is for the Softalk Organizer application.

You can access Softalk Organizer from other computers locally using an address such as http://computername/organizer/default.aspx , replacing "computername" with the name of the computer that is hosting Softalk Organizer.

Users log in to Softalk Organizer using their WorkgroupShare account details.

Once logged in you will find a familiar Outlook style interface.

Any changes you make here will also be reflected in Outlook as it is the same data.

If the Softalk Organizer host computer is running an SMTP service you can also send emails.

Any emails you do send will appear in your sent items folder in Outlook.

As it is web based you can log in wherever you are in the world. You just need to configure your router to port forward traffic on port 80 through to the Softalk Organizer host computer. You may need to consult your routers manual to find out how to do this.

If the Softalk Organizer host computer is running an SMTP service you can also send emails.

The address you would use would be something like http://ip-address/organizer/default.aspx where "ip-address" should be replaced with the external IP address or the fully qualified domain name of your router. If you have a dynamic IP address you may like to consider using a third party service such as DynDNS which provides a domain name that tracks your IP address. Please visit http://www.dyndns.com/ for further information. Your router may even directly support such services. For further information regarding Softalk Organizer you can download the user guide from http://www.softalkltd.com/products/organizer/userguide.zip.