How to move the Movies folder?

[RatHat]

Is there a way that I can move the Movies folder to another location, and still have the Users\Username\Movies path point to it?

The reason why I ask is that I have over 3/4 of my iMac 1TB hard disk taken up by movies, and I want to put them on an external drive, but still have the default save go to the Movies folder in the new external drive.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Fallinangel]

Symlinks are the way to go. Just create the Movies folder on your external HDD and symlink it to the user directory!

Here's the tool that you need, if you prefer a WYSIWYG approach over messing with Terminal.

 

[RatHat]

That is great, thank you very much. Will see if I can get it working with Mountain Lion.

 

[RatHat]

Got Symlink working without problem, but still cannot get the result I want.

I copied theMovies folder to the external drive, and can create a Symlink using the Symlink software, but I cannot remove the original Movies folder, or get it to point the new Movies folder on the external drive.

If I try to remove the original folder, I get the following message:

“Movies” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by Mac OS X.

 

[colourfastt]

Make a folder on your external called Movies ED or somesuch and drag the folder onto your dock. You'll have a direct alias to your movie folder on your external then.

 

[RatHat]

Make a folder on your external called Movies ED or somesuch and drag the folder onto your dock. You'll have a direct alias to your movie folder on your external then.

This is not what I am trying to achieve. What I want is for the default path to point to the new location.

As yet I have not been able to manage it.

 

[arjen92]

Probably not the solution you want, but you can change the directory of all folders in the homefolder at once. (so not an individual folder).

I have a HDD and an SSD. On one is Mac OS X and the programs folder, on the HDD is my home directory. To do this you go to "system preferences" "Accounts". In case the lock is closed click on it and unlock it.

Now right click (or control click) on your account, choose "advanced options". A pop up screen should appear. There should be a field with "homefolder" in front. Click the button "choose" next to it. Now you can set your hard drive as your homefolder.

I know it's probably not want you want. But say you have a 2 TB hard drive and your biggest concern are the videos, you could put all your files on the external.

 

[RatHat]

Not what I am looking for. I have a 1TB internal HD, and a 1TB external. My movies folder was taking up a lot of space, hence moving it to the external.

Not to worry though, I am learning some things I would not have learned otherwise, so thanks for the reply.

 

[Fallinangel]

Not what I am looking for. I have a 1TB internal HD, and a 1TB external. My movies folder was taking up a lot of space, hence moving it to the external.

Not to worry though, I am learning some things I would not have learned otherwise, so thanks for the reply.

Has symlinking worked out for you?

 

[Dave Braine]

With the Movies file on the external drive, create an alias. Move that alias back to your Home Folder and re-name it Movies. Anything now looking for the Movies folder in your Home Folder will be re-directed to the Movies folder on the external.