Create Symbolic Link

With the external drive mounted, from terminal, can you reply back with these outputs?

1. "ls -al /Volumes"

2. The syntax of the shell extension you are using, and the output of running the command manually.

3 . Create a test folder outside of the "users" folder structure, create it also on the external drive and post your link command and its output if any

4. Post the output of "ls -al" on the parent directories of both test folders, assuming the link command works.I am assuming you are using the "ln" command rather than automating keystrokes in Finder; is that correct?

Those folders have restrictive access-control lists that will not allow you to remove them or replace them with a link. There is, as well, no need to replace them. Just move the contents to the external drive.

iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location

iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

Press the option and command keys while you drag the folder, this will create an alias in the new location.

Alternativly right click select make alias and move to the new location.

Have you looked at the previous discussions listed on the right side of this page under the heading "More Like This"? Ones with a green checkmark are solved.

I would need to manually copy each time, rather than it being the default place.

There's nothing special about the Documents folder, apart from the fact that you can't delete it. You can save files to any other folder just as easily, if you have access to it.

Plus the files don't show up in Finder either.

If you mean the sidebar, you can drag any folder you like into it.

I was avised that was a way to get around my issues.

You were misinformed.

Not without hacking. What are you trying to do that can't be accomplished just as well in the way I suggested?

That doesn't explain why you can't move whatever files you wish to move to the external drive, leaving your home folder as it is.