# Basic Usage

This page explains how to use SharePort Utility.

1. Starting SharePort Utility

2. Connecting/Disconnecting to/from a USB device

## 1. Starting SharePort Utility

How to start SharePort Utility:

1. Click in the task tray.

   If SharePort Utility is not running, click Start - All Programs - SharePort Utility - SharePort Utility.

2. The SharePort Utility's main window appears. The USB devices running on the network are displayed in the device list.

SharePort Utility can be set to automatically run at startup as a minimized application in the task tray by changing the optional settings. For details on optional settings, refer to SharePort Utility Optional Settings. When a new printer is found on your network, the message below will pop up, allowing you to configure the printer auto-connect setting. For details on this setting, refer to How to Use a Printer.

## 2. Connecting/Disconnecting to/from a USB device

Basic usage of a USB device:

1. Select the USB device in SharePort Utility's main window and connect to it.

2. When successfully connected to the USB device, Windows Plug and Play will run and the USB device will become ready to use.

3. When finished using the USB device, disconnect it using SharePort Utility.

How to connect:

Double-click | Double-click the USB device in SharePort Utility's main window.
Use a button | Select the USB device and click the Connect button in SharePort Utility's main window. If you select two or more USB devices, you can connect to them at once.
Right-click | Right-click on the USB device in SharePort Utility's main window and click Connect in the menu displayed. If you select two or more USB devices, you can connect to them at once.
Use a keyboard | Select the USB device using the up/down arrow keys and press Alt+C on your keyboard.

How to disconnect:

Double-click | Double-click the USB device in SharePort Utility's main window.
Use a button | Select the USB device and click the Disconnect button in SharePort Utility's main window.
Right-click | Right-click on the USB device in SharePort Utility's main window and click Disconnect in the menu displayed.
Use a keyboard | Select the USB device using the up/down arrow keys and press Alt+D on your keyboard.

If a USB device is shared among several users, make sure that each user disconnects from the USB device after they have finished using it. Otherwise, other users will not be able to connect to the USB device.

If you use a printer or USB device with a printing capability, you can utilize the printer auto-connect feature to skip the Connect/Disconnect process. For detail, refer to How to Use a Printer. It is impossible to connect to a USB device that is in use by another user. SharePort Utility has a feature allowing you to ask a user to disconnect from the USB device that you wish to use by sending a remote message, so that the right of use is passed down to you. For details, refer to How to Request for Disconnect. If you will be the only one using a particular USB device, it is recommended to set SharePort Utility to automatically connect to that USB device when it is detected. For details, refer to USB Device Operational Settings. SharePort Utility has a feature allowing you to automatically start a designated application when a USB device is connected. For details, refer to USB Device Operational Settings.

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