Ok to use an aliases for everything in home folder?

[rockinrocker]

So I can put all the actual content on another drive?

Would anything new that saves stuff to home folder by default just be automatically routed to original folders in their new location?

Thanks

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Should be fine, but you need to 'Link' your new directories to your Home folder directories. Just using aliases won't work. Mac OS will most likely remove the aliases and put in a new folder if you just use aliases. I haven't done this before but will give it a go, let me know what you come up with.

EDIT: I just mapped my Downloads and Documents folders into my Dropbox and everything is working ok.

 

[rockinrocker]

Ok, thanks.

How do l link the new directories to the home folder directories? Don't see anything in the help menu...

Thanks

----------

Sorry, just saw your edit- did you have to 'link' them then?

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Yeah, my steps
1. Remove the old directory, just make sure you move everything out of the folder first. Once you do this, it. is. gone.

sudo rm <directory>

2. Link the new directory within your Home folder

ln -s <new directory> <home directory>

So for example, linking my Dropbox Documents to my Home folder:

sudo rm ~/Documents
ln -s ~/Dropbox/Documents ~/Documents

 

[rockinrocker]

I actually came across and app/service (whatever you call it) that will maybe symlinks without having to use terminal.

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/10433/symboliclinker

 

[Dalton63841]

Wouldn't it just be easier to make a note in the /etc/fstab file to mount the other drive/partition as /Users?

The link in my signature leads to a tutorial to do so. I have the OS on the primary hard drive, and the /Users directory is on the separate hard drive. Everything works like normal except that the /Users directory has a drive icon instead of a folder icon(which can be changed).

 

[rockinrocker]

Yeah, that sounds handy. I'll have a look.

Thanks

 

[benwiggy]

Right-click on the user in System Prefs > Users & Groups, and click on "Advanced".
There you can set the location of the user account.

Bear in mind that you need to make sure the location exists, and has all your stuff in it before you reboot, otherwise, you'll get an "empty" default user account.