Change Location of Documents Folder?

[thriii]

Is there any way I can change the location of the Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public, and Sites folder thats in the home folder? I have these exact folder names on another drive (my data drive) but was wondering if there is a way i can get the official folders on the other hd so i can have my boot drive and data drive separate

[calderone]

This may interest you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_link

[thriii]

Originally Posted by calderone

This may interest you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_link

[RogersDA]

System Preferences - Accounts - Right-click on the username (after making sure the lock at the bottom of this dialog box is "unlocked") - Advanced Options - Home Directory - Choose

[thriii]

Originally Posted by RogersDA

System Preferences - Accounts - Right-click on the username (after making sure the lock at the bottom of this dialog box is "unlocked") - Advanced Options - Home Directory - Choose

is there any other way without movin the home directory?

[calderone]

Originally Posted by thriii

is there any other way without movin the home directory?

Yes, the link I offered explains one possible solution.

You don't have to move your home folder by using symbolic links.

Both symbolic links and moving the home folder have the same downfall: If the location you are writing to or reading from is not available, you might run into problems including but not limited to data loss.

An example of a symbolic link:

ln -s /Volumes/Drive/Documents Documents

You would do this in Terminal. It will create a symbolic link in your current directory pointing to a directory somewhere else. In this case Documents points to /Volumes/Drive/Documents

You could even do a symbolic link for your entire home folder, avoiding the use of the Advanced option in System Preferences/Accounts.

[thriii]

Originally Posted by calderone

Yes, the link I offered explains one possible solution.

You don't have to move your home folder by using symbolic links.

Both symbolic links and moving the home folder have the same downfall: If the location you are writing to or reading from is not available, you might run into problems including but not limited to data loss.

An example of a symbolic link:

ln -s /Volumes/Drive/Documents Documents

You would do this in Terminal. It will create a symbolic link in your current directory pointing to a directory somewhere else. In this case Documents points to /Volumes/Drive/Documents

You could even do a symbolic link for your entire home folder, avoiding the use of the Advanced option in System Preferences/Accounts.

Dont want to cause any possible problems.. I just want the Documents,Downloads,Music,Movies folders under "Places" in finder to goto the right folder.. If I drag the folders there from my data drive it shows the plain folder icon.. i want the same kinda icons that are in the left sidebar after places if possible

[jMc]

Originally Posted by thriii

Dont want to cause any possible problems.. I just want the Documents,Downloads,Music,Movies folders under "Places" in finder to goto the right folder.. If I drag the folders there from my data drive it shows the plain folder icon.. i want the same kinda icons that are in the left sidebar after places if possible

So you just want the icons? You're not worried about about getting rid of those folder from your Home directory?

Ok, try this..

Highlight one of the folders in your local Home directory and Get Info (cmd-I). At the very top of the Get Info window, below the title bar and above Spotlight Comments should be the folder icon with the folder name and date modified to the right of it. Click on this icon and it should highlight. Cmd-C to copy it. Now go find the folder you want to replace the icon on, Get Info on it, highlight the icon as before and then cmd-V to paste the icon on to it.

jx

[thriii]

Originally Posted by jMc

So you just want the icons? You're not worried about about getting rid of those folder from your Home directory?

Ok, try this..

Highlight one of the folders in your local Home directory and Get Info (cmd-I). At the very top of the Get Info window, below the title bar and above Spotlight Comments should be the folder icon with the folder name and date modified to the right of it. Click on this icon and it should highlight. Cmd-C to copy it. Now go find the folder you want to replace the icon on, Get Info on it, highlight the icon as before and then cmd-V to paste the icon on to it.

jx

it works if I were to goto the data drive and look at the folders, but if you open the finder and you look at somethin like the "Downloads" folder you see a white down arrow and a green circle.. but if you goto the home folder you dont see that same arrow/green circle.. im tryin to have the icons from under "Places" show up the same as they r so i can replace the folders there with the 1s from my Data drive.. leaving the folder sin the Home Dir is fine since i dont plan on using them.. helpful tip tho! never knew u could paste icons like that

[jMc]

Originally Posted by thriii

it works if I were to goto the data drive and look at the folders, but if you open the finder and you look at somethin like the "Downloads" folder you see a white down arrow and a green circle.. but if you goto the home folder you dont see that same arrow/green circle.. im tryin to have the icons from under "Places" show up the same as they r so i can replace the folders there with the 1s from my Data drive.. leaving the folder sin the Home Dir is fine since i dont plan on using them.. helpful tip tho! never knew u could paste icons like that

You mean the coloured icons in the sidebar? Sorry, can't help you with those. But those icons must be available in the system somewhere, so it might just be a case of locating them and doing the old copy and paste thing (although these icons would then also be seen in standard finder windows as well as the side bar). Maybe that some lovely MacRumors member already knows where those assets are...

jx