Searching Microsoft SharePoint Server via WebDav

Searching the content of a Microsoft SharePoint Server is most effectively accomplished by accessing the site as a Website using the SharePoint/Website Search Module. 

It is also possible to search the site as a mapped network drive.  This article details the steps necessary to create a mapped network drive to the SharePoint server via WebDav.  Once the drive is mapped, it can be searched as any other folder via the Custom Folder list.

Creating a WebDav connection

The first step is to create a WebDav connection to the SharePoint server.  For Windows 7, the instructions are as below.  For other versions of Windows, modify the steps as necessary.

1. Right click on, "Computer" and choose, "Map Network Drive"
2. Select, "Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and picture"
3. As the response to "Where do you want to create this network location", choose, "Choose a custom network location"
4. In the network address field, provide the URL to the SharePoint server.  For example:

   https://company.shareserver.com

5. Provide any name for the network location
6. Provide any necessary credentials

Windows will create a shortcut with the name specified in step 5 within, "Computer" - in the same place that local hard drives are displayed.

Creating a Mapped Network Drive

The next step is to create a drive letter for the WebDav connection

1. Open, "Computer" and find the shortcut that was created and named as specified in step 5 above.
2. Right click on the shortcut and choose, "Properties"
3. Copy the value of "Target" into the clipboard.  For example:

   \\company.shareserver.com@SSL\DavWWWRoot

4. Right click on, "Computer", choose, "Map Network Drive", and paste the value into the, "Folder" field
5. Select the desired drive letter
6. Click Finish

Windows will create a new drive letter that provides direct access to the specified SharePoint server.

Searching the Mapped Network Drive

As with any other custom folder, the root of the new drive or any subfolder of that drive can be specified as a location to search via the Custom Folder list.