linking to files on a network. How can I get Contributeto NOT upload a copy?

[synterx]

This is killing me! In Dreamweaver, when I put in a crazy URL that goes to a
file on someones computer on my local network, and hit Upload, I get a nice
popup asking if I want to copy the file in question to the web server. I say
no, and all is well.

However, it appears Contribute doesn't give you this choice, and uploads every
single file you linked to automatically with no warning, no way to shut it off.

I might very well lose a client over this behaviour. Having never used
contribute for a intranet, this never came up in the past. I can not use 2
copies of all the files. The documents in question are Word and Excel files
that get updated daily and by a zillion different people.

Please, please, anyone, do you know a workaround for this? A plugin, a secret
method, anything?

I thought I had a workaround, but now don't. I was going to have all
Contribute users have a Role that does not let them publish, only send for
approval. Then the one person in the organization that has Dreamweaver and not
Contribute, would simply upload the info and hit the "no" button for uploading
files. But I'm sure that won't work.

HELP! I'm pleading with anyone!

[Kathy_OCNC]

So how do you want it to work? Do you want the URL to link to the file on the
network so that the data is "live"? Or are you wanting to have the file
uploaded only at certain points during the day (or night)? Just trying to
understand before I try to come up with a suggestion.

Kathy

[synterx]

Yes, I want the URL to the data file to be live. I just want Contribute to NOT
physically copy the file, then re-write it's own link. That's what Contribute
does, and it's absolutely insane. If I type in a URL to a file, then why can't
I leave the stupid URL alone? There is to be no uploading of the file at all,
period. It is to stay where it is at.

This is an Intranet, not a www site. I just don't see why Adobe/Macromedia
would choose to over-ride a simple URL to a file. It is such a major problem in
this case, that we will not be able to use Dreamweaver or Contribute at all
ever.

The only, and I mean ONLY work around Ive come up with is to somehow make a
Symbolic Link, or alias, of the file and go ahead and have it on the web server
so that Contribute sees it's already there and won't copy a new one over.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.