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How do I find I my ICloud in finder?

How do I finf my ICloud in my finder?

iMac, iOS 5.1

Posted on Apr 3, 2012 12:42 PM

15 replies

Aug 29, 2012 4:40 PM in response to pvonk

Pretty dissappointing. I think a lot of us are going to conclude that relying on iCloud for document syncing is not the best option. I really wanted it to be, but I believe the following are some serious drawbacks:

  1. You cannot see the status of documents stored in iCloud the way you can in finder.
  2. Once you use "move to" to upload a document to iCloud, it is removed from your hard drive and from your "recents", i.e., the next time you open the app to work on the document, you have to go find it in iCloud
  3. You can't create file/folder structures in iCloud, so with many files, you are left to simply search for it
  4. If you're like me, I've spent years building and relying file structures to quickly find what I'm looking for; yes, searchlight is great...if you have any clue what the filename is, but if you don't, good luck.

The DropBox alternative is what I have been using and it's clunky because apps like Keynote don't give you the option of opening a file from DropBox. Instead, you have to start the process from DropBox. Not ideal, but at least you don't have to abandon Finder and file structures. iCloud has a long way to go before it is useful to heavy users.

Aug 29, 2012 6:57 PM in response to walterfromhouston

Regarding 3, you can create a folder by dragging one doc in top of another, much like you create app folders on an iOS device. My feeling is that you wouldn't keep ALL your iWork files on iCloud, just those you are currently working on or need close by.


about Dropbox, it creates a folder on your Mac and when you need to open it from within keynote just go the that folder to access a file. Works just like any other file on the Mac. Perhaps you mean using keynote on an iOS device. That does require another app to access the file first.

Aug 30, 2012 7:53 AM in response to walterfromhouston

iOS apps are sandboxed - each app stores its data files within its storage space allocated to that app. Because of this security in iOS, you can't have one app browse about using a finder to find a file to open. To get app A to open a file that app B "owns", then as you know, you need to "open in.." app A from the app B menu.


I have a number of "file managers" on my iOS devices that can access Dropbox, as well as other computers, and download files. Then from the "file" app, I open it in the appropriate app to view the data file. Not as streamlined as using a computer, but then, iOS devices are not designed to be like "computers".

Aug 30, 2012 11:51 AM in response to Community User

Here's my solution:


1. In finder, go to your "Documents" folder and create a new folder labeled "iCloud". Drag it to the sidebar in Finder for quick access.


2. In finder, open the "Go" tab in the menu bar at the top of the screen and hold down the option button to reveal a tab called "Library" and click it.


3. While in "Library", navigate down to "Mobile Documents" and open it.


4. You'll see that there are folders for iWork ("com~apple~Keynote", "com~apple~Numbers", "com~apple~Pages"), Preview ("com~apple~Preview"), and TextEdit ("com~apple~TextEdit"). If you open each one, you'll also notice that each one has a "Documents" folder within it. This is where your iCloud documents are stored on your mac and automatically updated to iCloud whenever a new document is created or a synced document is altered.


5. Right click each "Documents" folder and create an alias folder. (Note: Think of this folder as a hyperlink that you can put anywhere and rename.) Then, move each alias to the "iCloud" folder you created in the sidebar and rename it as the application that uses it (e.g. Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Preview, TextEdit).


6. Viola! You just created a Dropbox-like interface in the finder sidebar for your iCloud which you can use to reorganize and open those documents on the fly. You can move any pre-existing iWork documents, PDF and text files to their respective application alias folders and iCloud will automatically sync those files for you. (Note: Due to filing limitations with iCloud, you can only go one folder deep with your filing system. If you create a filing system that has folders within folders, those inner folders will not upload with any iCloud application and you will not be able to access the files within them from your iWork iOS apps or the open file screen in iCloud capible OS X applications.)


Hope that helps!

Aug 31, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Neo5000lp

Very creative! That we even have to have this discussion is discouraging. There is a real lack of transparency to how Apple is handling iCloud that will prevent adoption by serious users. I'm probably hoping for too much, but I really wanted to take the leap from PowerPoint to Keynote and the ability to move seamlessly from my MacBook to my iPad (and back) was a great incentive. That robust file structures aren't supported is a real buzz kill, and suggests that Apple isn't really committed to this.

Aug 31, 2012 2:42 PM in response to walterfromhouston

I definitely agree with you on the transparency aspect to Apple and iCloud adoption. In fact, don't even get me started with iTunes in the Cloud or the lack of customization there. I think there's a good reason why a one file system works for the majority of people from Apple's perspective and I've attached an article about it below. With a little creativity, you can probably make it work for you too.


One folder level architecture forces you to examine how you name your documents and folders. Here's what I tried: With a little help from "Name Mangler," I was off and running with an artificial folder structure based on folder level prefixes that I added to the names of my documents. For example, say the folder was "School" and the sub folder was "FIN 300," I would just add the prefix "FIN 300" to all the documents and move them up a folder level ("Name Mangler" makes this project super easy). I'm fairly happy with it. I do less searching through sub-folders where it can be easy to get lost and spend just a little more time scrolling through broad sweeping main folders. Like-documents stay together based on common prefixes and it's almost impossible for me to forget where anything is from a folder perspective because everything is in one place. Maybe Apple will come around and start adding the functionality its users demand, but for now, I suggest this method as a alternative.


http://informationarchitects.net/blog/mountain-lions-new-file-system/

Aug 31, 2012 3:13 PM in response to Neo5000lp

Nice write-up! You have me seriously considering making the leap here. My problem is that I am really a hybrid of individual and team on the same computer. I run a biotech fund and have 5 or 6 companies at varying stages at all times. The notion of not segregating the data by portfolio company just seems unthinkable (although you have me questioning that). Once I commit to burning my one folder level on portfolio segregation, I no longer have the ability to segregate between levels of activity and permance as you did with "thoughts, drafts, archive, etc.". Thank you, however, for at least sharing the fundamental logic behind all of this. I made the move from PC to Mac about 5 years ago (which was scary and painful), and perhaps this is no bigger leap. Intuitively, it feels like not making the leap would be like still clinging to a BlackBerry (which I chuckle at whenever I see one). I hope others read your blog. It's extremely helpful.

May 21, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Community User

Here's a variation on Neo5000lp idea, using Mavricks OS May 2014:


1. In finder, open the "Go" tab in the menu bar at the top of the screen and hold down the option button to reveal a tab called "Library" and click it.


2. While in "Library", navigate down to "Mobile Documents" and highlight it (don't need to open it)


3. Look at the top of your Mac screen - click on the drop down menu labled "File".


4. Then look for "Add to Sidebar" and click it.


This worked for me.


How do I find I my ICloud in finder?

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