I have figured out how to send email hyperlink files to both Windows and Macs users at work. These files comes off a linux file server; the Windows users are using 2003 Exchange servers, and we have various Mac users. The hyperlink file in the email that you send to Mac users is different than the hyperlink file that you would send to a Windows users. In the end, however, both Windows and Mac users are able to click on a hyperlink to open a file off the server.
DISCLAIMER: Even though this works for me, it doesn't necessary mean that it will work for you. Success depends on the file server, Exchange server, ports and privileges, syntax, etc. This hint provides clues on how to set up hyperlinked file such that you may be able to send them to both Macs and Windows users via email. You will probably have to experiment a little (or a lot) to get this to work for you.
Here are the details of how I was able to get this to work. First, make sure that your email is formatted in plain text; it doesn't work for me with my email formatted in HTML. The format is as follows:
To send to Mac users: First, make sure that the server is mounted, and then use the following format:
file://localhost/Volumes/name_of_Volume/path_to_name_of_file
If the filename and/or path contains spaces, replace them with %20:
file://localhost/Volumes/name_of_Volume/path%20to%20name%20of%20file
To send to Windows users: Since their server drives are automatically automounted, you can skip that step for them. Use the following link format:
file://domain_name/path_to_name_of_file
And again, if the filename and/or path contains spaces, replace them with %20:
file://domain_name/Documents/path%20to%20name%20of%20file
Whenever I send a link to a file now, I include both formats so the end user can click on the appropriate hyperlink. Using my Mac at work has just gotten a little easier.
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20050820014340799