Ahhhh ... I see.  Thanks, Timo.  You just saved a zillion hours of work.  Thank you.

BTW:  working with a DNN project over a year ago I did successfully use NTFS junctions.  Clear memories of that project are fuzzy, so I was reluctant to try explaining details about setting it up.  I do remember that project used Active Directory authentication.  I'm setting-up AD authentication for the project I'm working on now, but I won't be dealing with that step for at least several more days.

I did try junctions a few days ago, but same as normal folders they were not appearing.  Even though I gave OS file-system folders the same AD permissions used for DNN, I reasoned maybe the junctions were not appearing because AD authentication for DNN was not (yet) setup.

Your last response cleared-up the mystery.  Now there's a clear answer why normal folders or junctions were not appearing.  Wow.  The help is important.  Thank you sincerely. When my company finally hits the jackpot you deserve a trip to Hawaii and a new Cadillac!  :)

Windows/IIS also has restrictions on access. By default, the app pool account will not have access outside the web site root structure. You can, of course, change the security, but that has to be done from outside the application since the application doesn't have access outside the root structure.

Again by design and as a security issue. For all purposes, a DNN app should assume that all files are in the portal folders or the module folder structure. That's the way it's designed to work.

Jeff