How can i create a hard link that allows windows users to navigate?

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MattJayC Author

Level 1

14 points

How can i create a hard link that allows windows users to navigate?

The situation is that I work on a Mac OSX 10.9.5 I have to upload images to a network drive.

On this drive I want to create a link to an image, but use a different filename.

As far as I am aware if I use a hardlink it is like the file is actually there?

I would never need to access these shortcuts, only those on a windows machine would need to use them.

I would only use the mac to create them.

I did find this https://github.com/selkhateeb/hardlink but appears not to work, could be that I use mavericks. or it won't do what I need it to do.

This is the file location

/Volumes/GEN/Brands/Zoom/Brand\ -\ Zoom/Upload\ Photos/INHOUSECODE/GT55BW00356GO1PL.jpg

Then I hope to place a Hardlink here

/Volumes/GEN/Brands/Zoom/Brand\ -\ Zoom/Upload\ Photos/OUTHOUSECODE/yourImage.jpg

Is this possible?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Sep 26, 2014 6:01 AM

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Answer 1

MattJayC Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 6, 2014 5:33 AM in response to MattJayC

Anyone got any ideas please?

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

56,927 points

Oct 6, 2014 6:16 AM in response to MattJayC

Hardlinks must be be in directories on the same file system as the file. The file CANNOT exist on a different file system.

If the file and the directory(s) where the hardlink is going to be created are on the same file system, then the only thing that would stop the creation of a hardlink is permissions on the directory where the hardlink is being created.

A Symlink DOES allow the file to exist on a different file system. BUT, the file system has to support Symlinks, which mostly restricts them to Unix based file systems. If you want to create this link on a Windows file system, they do not support Symlinks. It is possible Window supports something that is similar to a Symlink, but I'm not a WIndows person, so I do not know what they do or do not support.

I'm sure there are GUI utilities out there that can create a Symlink, but I grew up at the command line, and get paid professional to use that command line, so I'm perfectly happy creating Symlinks the old fashion way

Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal

ln -s /path/to/the/REAL/file /path/to/where/Symlink/should/Live/file.name.of.your.choosing

ls -l /path/to/where/Symlink/should/Live/file.name.of.your.choosing

should display the /path/to/the/REAL/file

IF the REAL file and the Symlink are residing on your Mac file system, and Windows just has access to the file system, you should be all set.

NOTE: The difference in creating a Symlink and Hardlink is the Symlink has the -s option, and the Hardlink does not.

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Answer 3

MattJayC Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 7, 2014 1:24 AM in response to BobHarris

Thanks for you response, looks like I can leave this alone as they would be access the links on windows machines on a windows server, no doubt I could probably send script to the server to run a command line, but the IT dept are unlikely to give me that access anyway. I shall look for another solution.

Many Thanks still

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Answer 4

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Oct 7, 2014 1:08 PM in response to MattJayC

Well, if your into playing around...

You could get a copy of the Windows symbolic link file and dissect it. Figure out the windows link format ( might be documented somewhere ), modify file to make your link.

If I could remember what Windows symbolic links are called, I would do a goggle search to see if there is a mac app.

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