File and folder names are converted between their native format and a shared resource locator format. To send information on a file or folder, the file or folder name is parsed into various components and those components are converted to components in the shared resource locator. Sufficient information is provided in the shared resource locator to allow receiving software to develop the proper full native file or folder name, irrelevant of the receiving system, be it having different native formats, different drive letters and the like. A user need only click on a file or folder and a shared resource locator string is provided for pasting into emails or documents. Clicking on a shared resource locator results in the operating system automatically opening the file or folder from its shared location without manual conversions and the like.