New to iCloud Drive - How to Manage Workflow?

[Hog Milanese]

I'm trying to be more intentional about using cloud storage to backup my working files (mostly design files related to web design), so that I can access them from different devices at home or on the go.

What's the best way to go about doing this with iCloud drive?

Are there any services or scripts out there that automatically save all working files to iCloud? Anything like that?

Total newbie, and looking for some good ways to get started.

 

[santaliqueur]

I'm trying to be more intentional about using cloud storage to backup my working files (mostly design files related to web design), so that I can access them from different devices at home or on the go.

What's the best way to go about doing this with iCloud drive?

Are there any services or scripts out there that automatically save all working files to iCloud? Anything like that?

Total newbie, and looking for some good ways to get started.

Hazel is a great tool for automation, you could easily automatically copy files saved in one directory (or multiple) to your iCloud Drive, if that would help. Keyboard Maestro is also a great tool if you wish to be an automation wizard.

 

[Hog Milanese]

Hazel is a great tool for automation, you could easily automatically copy files saved in one directory (or multiple) to your iCloud Drive, if that would help. Keyboard Maestro is also a great tool if you wish to be an automation wizard.

Very interesting. So with Hazel, everything I modify in "Documents" locally could be copied to iCloud's copy of "Documents" (as an example)?

 

[santaliqueur]

Very interesting. So with Hazel, everything I modify in "Documents" locally could be copied to iCloud's copy of "Documents" (as an example)?

Yes, that would be very simple for Hazel to do. And once you set it up it's totally hands-off. It's really a wonderful tool, and they have a free trial.

 

[iConnected]

I'm trying to be more intentional about using cloud storage to backup my working files (mostly design files related to web design), so that I can access them from different devices at home or on the go <cont...>

I hate to say this, as I love all things

However, I was recently (late last year) in the same boat as you.

I planned to use iCloud Drive as a repository for key files that I wanted to work on during the day on an iMac and in the evening on an MBP.

What happened, in practice, was that I found myself presented with file conflict notifications - ie there are two different versions of this file - which do you want to keep? This one, that one or both?

This was of no use to me whatsoever.

It's not like I'd saved my files, rushed into another room, picked up the other device and tried to carry on working. There was ample time for files to have been synched. Yet they weren't.

The solution, for me, was to use Dropbox. When files are in the process of being synched, you get a timer countdown - so you know for sure when everything is up to date.

Frankly, I wish that Apple would buy Dropbox and make this part of the iCloud Drive experience. But that hasn't happened yet - so I reluctantly have to recommend Dropbox.

If I'm allowed to include a referral link, it's this: Dropbox

 

[Hog Milanese]

I hate to say this, as I love all things

However, I was recently (late last year) in the same boat as you.

I planned to use iCloud Drive as a repository for key files that I wanted to work on during the day on an iMac and in the evening on an MBP.

What happened, in practice, was that I found myself presented with file conflict notifications - ie there are two different versions of this file - which do you want to keep? This one, that one or both?

This was of no use to me whatsoever.

It's not like I'd saved my files, rushed into another room, picked up the other device and tried to carry on working. There was ample time for files to have been synched. Yet they weren't.

The solution, for me, was to use Dropbox. When files are in the process of being synched, you get a timer countdown - so you know for sure when everything is up to date.

Frankly, I wish that Apple would buy Dropbox and make this part of the iCloud Drive experience. But that hasn't happened yet - so I reluctantly have to recommend Dropbox.

If I'm allowed to include a referral link, it's this: Dropbox

And how is Dropbox's integration within OS X Yosemite?

 

[iConnected]

And how is Dropbox's integration within OS X Yosemite?

Seamless, really.

The app runs in the background, with an icon in the menu bar that shows when any items in the Dropbox folder are synching. You can mouseover it for a time remaining update or click on it to see a list of files (recently changed or currently synching, with time remaining).

The Dropbox folder is listed under Favorites in Finder and has a green tick showing against each file to show that it's been synched up to date.

I've been using it for a few months now and have had no cause for complaint.

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If you're an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber (and that last word seriously sticks in my throat), they also offer a cloud storage / synching feature. As long as you keep paying...

 

[Coltaine]

I am relying on Dropbox and Boxcryptor Classic for my Cloud files.
It works like a charm under OS X and I've never experienced any problems in the three years, I've been using this setup now.

I can access my files at work, save them and start where I left off, when I get home. Perfect.
Plus, I am using the Packrat Function in Dropbox, which gives me unlimited past versions of all my files (old Packrat Plan).

 

[Shirasaki]

My plan is using office 365 to sync everything over OneDrive for Business.

Microsoft Office document workflow is really great.

For other applications, I simply create my own version backup. For example if I have a document named "Project", then for version 1 this will be 'Project ver1", and for 2 it will be "Project ver2", and so on.

iCloud desktop client is not available under Windows server OS.