If response files get persisted on local server, you should provide means for persisted data packets to be visible to the outside clients. If you're using Internet Information Services (IIS), it is suggested that you use virtual directory for that purpose. Resulting file link, displayed in response e-mail message, points to prepared response data packet. Virtual directories is being managed by Internet Information System (IIS) Manager application.

Using Virtual Directories

A virtual directory is a friendly name, or alias, either for a physical directory on your server hard drive that does not reside in the home directory, or for the home directory on another computer. Because an alias is usually shorter than the path of the physical directory, it is more convenient for users to type. The use of aliases is also secure because users do not know where your files are physically located on the server and therefore cannot use that information to modify your files. Aliases also make it easier for you to move directories in your site. Rather than changing the URL for the directory, you change the mapping between the alias and the physical location of the directory.

Internet Information System (IIS) Manager

Please make distinction between following:

• Virtual directory - a publicly visible folder with customizable URL prefix ("Domain" property).
• Physical location - actual location, a root folder of files on your local disk or LAN ("Response folder" property).

For example, if response data packet file name is file.zip:

There are three ways to create or delete a virtual directory:

• Using IIS Manager; either using the Virtual Directory Creation Wizard or by importing a configuration file.
• Using Windows Explorer (this method requires that your hard drive is formatted with the NTFS file system).
• Using the Iisvdir.vbs administration script.

Create Virtual Directory Using Virtual Directory Creation Wizard

1. In IIS Manager, double-click the local computer, double-click the Web site or FTP site to which you want to add a virtual directory, right-click the Web Site or folder within which you want to create the virtual directory, point to New, and then click Virtual Directory.
2. Click Next.
3. In the Alias box, type a name for the virtual directory, and then click Next. The alias is the name that the user types, and it should be short and easy to type.
4. In the Directory box, type or browse to the physical directory in which the virtual directory resides, and then click Next.
5. In the Access Permissions dialog box, set the access permissions appropriate to your needs.
6. Click Next, and then click Finish.

Create Virtual Directory By Importing Configuration File

1. In IIS Manager, double-click the Web site or FTP site to which you want to add a virtual directory, right-click the Web Site or folder within which you want to create the virtual directory, point to New, then click Virtual Directory (from file).
2. Click Next.
3. In the Import configuration box, click Browse and navigate to the file containing the virtual directory configuration to import.
4. Click Read File, click the virtual directory configuration to import, and then click OK.

Create Virtual Directory Using Windows Explorer

1. In Windows Explorer, browse to the folder where to want to create a virtual directory for your site, right-click the directory, and click Sharing and Security.
2. Click the Web Sharing tab, and in the Share on list box, click the site for which you are creating a virtual directory, and click Share this folder.
3. In the Alias box, type an alias name for this virtual directory.
4. Set the Access permissions and Applications permissions by clicking the appropriate settings.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again. You can verify that the virtual directory was created by starting IIS Manager and double-clicking the Web site.

Create Virtual Directory Using Administration Script

1. From the Start menu, click Run.
2. In the Open box, type cscript iisvdir.vbs /create "SampleWebSite" VirtualDirectoryNamex:\path. Substitute your Web site name, virtual directory name, and path to the physical directory as appropriate.
3. Click OK.