Create Alias of Applications Folder

[applemut]

I am using OS X 10.5.

I want to create an alias of my Applications folder within Finder somewhere.

However, when I right click or 'control' click, the menu list that pops up does not have a "Make Alias" option.

When I right click on a folder other than the applications folder (for example a folder I created) I do see the Make Alias option.

Note that I am able to drag the Applications folder to the blue bar on the left hand side of the Finder, and that effectively creates an Alias there. But when I drag this alias away from the blue bar, it simply disappears as when you remove something from the dock.

Can anybody tell me how to make an alias of my Applications folder and place it within Finder wherever I choose?

 

[WildCowboy]

You don't get "Make Alias" in your contextual menu when you right click on "Applications", but you do when you click on other folders? *scratches head* There's no reason why "Applications" should behave any differently than other folders.



As for the Sidebar to the left side of the Finder window, you are correct...it behaves almost exactly like the Dock. Dragging a file or folder there creates an alias of sorts, just like dragging it to the Dock. And dragging it away from the Sidebar causes it to disappear in a puff of smoke, just like dragging it away from the Dock.

 

[Darth.Titan]

Just hold down command+option as you drag a folder to create an alias of that folder wherever you drop it.

Strange that the 'Create Alias' option is gone from the contextual menu though...

 

[applemut]

That Works

Thanks gentlemen.

Holding down command and option and dragging to a different directory worked just fine.

Note that when I tried to do the same and drag it to the same directory as the Applications folder (this is the hard disk folder), I saw the circle with slash icon meaning I could not do this.

It seems that what is causing me not to be able to create an alias by right clicking is also preventing me from creating the alias next to the Applications directory even with the command and option method.

A guy I talked to at an Apple store yesterday said that this might have been a permissions issue, but that doesn't make sense as my Mac is more or less configured as it was out of the box.

Thanks again gentlemen.

 

[Relentlos]

Thank you guys very much. I also had a problem in OS X 10.4.11 where my "make Alias" option was gone. A quick fix with Disk Utility, and it has come back.

edit: I should make it clear that as pointed out above, it was a permissions issue.

 

[polocanada]

Admin user can create alias in app folder / normal user can't

This post helped me big time. I must admit - I am new in mac world and I was already looking for ways to create a service item to make exactly same thing for "Make Alias" from an app in app folder.

Coming from win world I am sometimes scratching my head.. Anyway... just for completeness-sake ... the reason why applemut had problems with creating alias/shortcut could be because he is running with normal user privileges. There is no issue creating alias if running as admin, it allows creating alias to programs in app folder as one desires.... Unless of course there is possibility of a permission corruption issue which was outlined in another response from Relentlos above.