Group Policy - Folder Redirection for Windows Server 2003

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Folder Redirection is one of the undiscovered gems amongst the myriad of Microsoft Group Policies. Firstly, configure the file locations of saved files and secondly, master folder redirection, the result will be greater efficiency for both you and your users.
Let us remind ourselves of where Microsoft Office programs save their files. By default, all Word and Excel files are directed to the My Documents folder. What do people do? In Word or Excel, they change the paths under Tools Menu, amend File Locations to point to their home directory. To complete the circle, the administrator must map a network drive to the user's home directory on the server. Perhaps now you can see what I mean by saving time? In one fell swoop, you can configure a Group Policy which redirects the My Documents to the server and forget about mapping network drives for home directories.
Windows Server 2003 Group Policy Topics
User Configuration
Windows Settings
Folder Redirection
Application Data
Desktop
My Documents
Start Menu
Application Data
What we are configuring here is client side caching. My view is that normally, clients can adequately cache their own programs locally. This Application Data setting is different from the Folder Redirection for the 'My Documents'. Perhaps caching is one of those Group Policies that you only need for laptops.
Let us move on to more important policies: Desktop and My Documents.
Troubleshooting Group Policies is tricky. As an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly recommend TrainSignal because they provide practical hands on training. In particular, I like the way TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material. You can either take one module, for example Group Policy or go for a combination of modules. See more about Group Policy training here
Desktop
There is a knack to configuring all these 4 redirection settings. At first, it seems at first as though there are no policies in the container. However, if you right click one of the yellow folders, for example 'Desktop' and select Properties, then a rich selection of settings comes into view.
From the first menu, select Target, now drop down the Settings box and choose: 'Advanced' - Specify Location for various user groups'. Choose 'Advanced' where you want all people to whom this policy applies to have their own desktop. In real life the 'Basic' setting may be better for the Desktop, while 'Advanced is more appropriate for the 'My Documents' folder.
If you are organized, then you would have shared out the redirect folder on the server. However even if you haven't, you can still choose the group you intend to redirect. As you share out the folder on the server, so the path changes to the famous %UserName%. Permissions permitting, the subfolders are created automatically thanks to %UserName%.
My Documents
Whilst the 'My Documents' folder is probably the most import redirection setting, the principles are much the same as the previous folders. What I would like to concentrate on here is the Settings Tab.
Once again, in Windows Server 2003, Microsoft have thought of everything. What I particularly like is the control you have over moving the files, and there are even options for what do to if the policy is removed.
Finally, at the bottom you have decisions on what do about the My Pictures sub folder.
Start Menu
The start menu uses the same technology as the other folders. However, your strategy for the Start Menu is likely to be different from the strategy for Folder Redirection. Therefore, I suggest that for Start Menu settings that you point everyone in the group to the SAME folder on the Windows server. The tactic is then to fill this folder with Start Menu icons. There is no need for the %UserName% variable, instead why not give all the users in the group, the same Start Menu experience.
Where you have subfolders off the Start Menu, no worries, like well behaved children, they follow their parent folders automatically!