Using Automator to mount other computer's drives on desktop

[swindmill]

I'd like to make a Finder shortcut that uses automator to mount the shared folders from other computers in my LAN on my desktop. I get tired of opening Finder/network/workgroup/computer --> mount.

I've messed around with Automator but I haven't been able to make this work.

 

[freiheit]

That would be pretty sweet

I, too, would like to be able to do this, but more importantly to be able to run this Automator script at every startup. If anyone's got ideas how, please let us know. Thanks!

 

[freiheit]

On the networking side, I've gotten as far as creating an Automator workflow that connects to my PC and prompts me for which shared drive to mount -- but this is the part that I want to automate during system startup. I can't find any way in Automator to reference the shared drive itself.

 

[live4ever]

I've done this with an AppleScript - I'll try to find the post with the code.

Edit - here's the thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/95545/

 

[freiheit]

Success!!

Thanks for that, but after a bit more tweaking (and a look at an old post at macosxhints.com) I figured it out.

1) Start Automator
2) Under "Library" click on "Finder"
3) Under "Action" drag "Get Specified Servers" to the workflow
4) Click the + (add) and select your workgroup name
5) In the dropdown list for "Show" select "File Servers"
6) In the middle column, select the server (the other computer that you want to connect to)
7) Down in the field for Address, just add a slash (/) and the name of the shared folder to the end of the address already shown.

This works for me at least for connecting to a Windows 2000 shared drive. You can then save this workflow and (I suspect -- I haven't had time to try this yet) add it to your user login options so it runs every time you boot the computer.

 

[swindmill]

Thanks for that, but after a bit more tweaking (and a look at an old post at macosxhints.com) I figured it out.

1) Start Automator
2) Under "Library" click on "Finder"
3) Under "Action" drag "Get Specified Servers" to the workflow
4) Click the + (add) and select your workgroup name
5) In the dropdown list for "Show" select "File Servers"
6) In the middle column, select the server (the other computer that you want to connect to)
7) Down in the field for Address, just add a slash (/) and the name of the shared folder to the end of the address already shown.

This works for me at least for connecting to a Windows 2000 shared drive. You can then save this workflow and (I suspect -- I haven't had time to try this yet) add it to your user login options so it runs every time you boot the computer.

I couldn't get this to work. The workflow runs fine, but nothing happens. If anyone has any tips, please share.

 

[bzollinger]

I couldn't get this to work. The workflow runs fine, but nothing happens. If anyone has any tips, please share.

I couldn't get this to work either. It's logical and seems like it should work.....Anyone???

Thanks,
Ben

 

[freiheit]

This should work -- step 8

Hmm, I missed the final step. After you've setup the "Get Specified Servers" action then also add "Connect to Servers" as the second action in the workflow.

 

[bzollinger]

I finally got this to work by using the "accounts" under preferences, and I dropped the SMB alias in the "login items" area. Now the shares map at login.

 

[topicolo]

How about skipping all of that and just making an alias to the remote computer's shares and putting them on your desktop? The mac will automatically mount the shares when you double click on the aliases pointing to them. Works for me