Pier Rodelon

Q: I want to love iCloud

I'm new to using iCloud, though not new to using DropBox and other cloud-based systems. But right now iCloud has me baffled. I want to keep my Documents and Download folders on all my machines updated with iCloud. But, I also want to have my machines have the files on them (as opposed to JUST in the cloud).

 

In other words, I want to have these folders DUPLICATED and SYNCED and existing literally on a minimum of 2 computers.

 

From my reading I get the impression this is NOT possible with iCloud, that if one uses iCloud there is one REAL copy of all files (online), and only what amounts to LINKS to those files on the computers. Thus if something happens to the online copies (crash/loss/etc) there is no backup copy on my computers or even on my BACKBLAZE backup of my computers.

 

If this is misunderstood, please set me straight. I would much appreciated it.

 

Pier

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 18, 2015 3:54 PM

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Q: I want to love iCloud

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  • Helpful answers

  • by FoxFifth,Helpful

    FoxFifth FoxFifth Oct 18, 2015 11:14 PM in response to Pier Rodelon
    Level 7 (26,761 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 18, 2015 11:14 PM in response to Pier Rodelon

    You have misunderstood. If you use iCloud Drive on your Mac then anything you save to iCloud Drive has a local copy on your Mac and there is no way to prevent that. In fact it is a fairly common complaint from people who want to keep a file on iCloud and not have a copy on their Mac.

     

    If you still have any doubt, turn off the wi-fi or disconnect the ethernet cable from your Mac and then use Finder to open a file in iCloud Drive. It will open it locally with no problem.

  • by Pier Rodelon,

    Pier Rodelon Pier Rodelon Oct 18, 2015 11:23 PM in response to FoxFifth
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 18, 2015 11:23 PM in response to FoxFifth

    VERY happy to hear that, but could you (or someone) answer these additional questions:

     

    1) Do I have to MOVE my Documents and Downloads files into the iCloud directory to get this to work?

     

    2) And, can I use MacDropAny to leave a symbolic link to the usual Documents and Downloads directories?

     

    • Regarding this, I have read that instead of putting the symbolic link in iCLoud, as MacDropAny does with DropBox (it leaves the directories where they are and puts symbolic links in the DropBox directory), when setting up iCloud, MacDropAny MOVES the directories to iCloud Directory, and puts sympolic links (essentially, aliases) where the original folders were.

     

    3) Also, are there other programs with the same function as MacDropAny, and are they preferred?

     

    Thanks again to all who are listening--

     

    Pier

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Oct 19, 2015 10:28 PM in response to Pier Rodelon
    Level 10 (107,801 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 19, 2015 10:28 PM in response to Pier Rodelon

    1) Do I have to MOVE my Documents and Downloads files into the iCloud directory to get this to work?

    Yes. move or copy documents to the  iCloud Drive folder, that you want to be stored in iCloud and synced to your other devices. You will see an iCloud icon in the Favorites section of the Finder sidebar. Click it to open a Finder window showing you your iCloud documents.

    Drag any document there. It will be stored in iCloud and a hidden shadow copy will be kept on your Mac. You can work with the documents in this folder, even when you are offline.

    Screen Shot 2015-10-19 at 08.31.51GMT.png

    There are predefined application collection folders for applications, that can open documents on iCloud Drive, Pages, preview, etc, but you can create additional folders or drag any folder with documents there, if it is not larger than 15GB. Basically, I just use iCloud Drive, like I would on an external drive, that is always mounted. See:   iCloud Drive FAQ

     

    I don't use any external tools like MacDropAny. It is not necessary for my needs, so I can't answer that part of the question.

  • by Pier Rodelon,

    Pier Rodelon Pier Rodelon Oct 19, 2015 10:34 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 19, 2015 10:34 PM in response to léonie

    OK, got that, thanks.

     

    Got this set up on my rMBPro 13 and seems to work fine.

     

    QUESTION 1: Now, how do I get my Macbook 12" linked/synced to the same pair of folders in iCloud. I have only two folders in iCloud: my DOCUMENTS folder, and my DOWNLOADS folder.  I want both of these linked to both computers, so if I change something on the12" it is automatically changed on the MBPro.

     

    QUESTION 2: And could you say WHERE the hidden copies on the local HD are hidden? Does this mean they are unavailable? Or might it mean that when not online those files are used for editing, which edits would then be propagated to the iCloud version when next online?

     

    Many thanks for your help.

     

    Pier

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Oct 19, 2015 11:38 PM in response to Pier Rodelon
    Level 10 (107,801 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 19, 2015 11:38 PM in response to Pier Rodelon
    QUESTION 1: Now, how do I get my Macbook 12" linked/synced to the same pair of folders in iCloud. I have only two folders in iCloud: my DOCUMENTS folder, and my DOWNLOADS folder.  I want both of these linked to both computers, so if I change something on the12" it is automatically changed on the MBPro.

    That will be automatic, if you enable iCloud Drive in the System Preferences iCloud on both macs. You only need to use the same AppleID.

    QUESTION 2: And could you say WHERE the hidden copies on the local HD are hidden? Does this mean they are unavailable? Or might it mean that when not online those files are used for editing, which edits would then be propagated to the iCloud version when next online?

    The Finder folder "iCloud" in the Finder sidebar is showing you the local copies. It cannot show you any documents, if it does not download them from iCloud. What you are seeing in the sidebar is actually a folder in your library folder in your home folder. For your convenience it is accessible  from the favorites in the sidebar.

    The path to the folder is ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents

    You can list it with the Terminal command

    ls  ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents

  • by Pier Rodelon,

    Pier Rodelon Pier Rodelon Oct 20, 2015 12:41 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 20, 2015 12:41 AM in response to léonie

    Well, they do not sync. I can go to iCloud.com and I'm getting the same iCloud Drive online from both computers. If I del a file on my MBPro in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com, it is del on my Macbook 12" in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com.

     

    However, the content of the Documents folder on the 12" Macbook is MUCH DIFFERENT than the content of the Documents folder on the MBPro.  Ditto the Downloads folders.

     

    Since my MBPro is the main computer and the 12" Macbook is the new computer, I need to have the content of the Pro downloaded to the 12"

     

    Would it help if I deleted the Documents and downloads folders on the 12 inch? Or deleted the CONTENTS of those folders?

     

    I only have one Apple iD (with an alternate -- one is a .mac and one is a .me).  This is driving me k-nuts.

     

    Pier

  • by FoxFifth,

    FoxFifth FoxFifth Oct 20, 2015 7:28 AM in response to Pier Rodelon
    Level 7 (26,761 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 20, 2015 7:28 AM in response to Pier Rodelon

    Pier Rodelon wrote:

     

    ...

     

    However, the content of the Documents folder on the 12" Macbook is MUCH DIFFERENT than the content of the Documents folder on the MBPro.  Ditto the Downloads folders.

     

    ...

     

    I may be misunderstanding what you are saying -- but just to be sure, note that the only things synced between your Macs are things that are in the iCloud Drive folder. The Documents folder and the Downloads folder normally are not.