Section 2.9. Aliases (Shortcuts)

2.9. Aliases (Shortcuts)

Highlighting an icon and then choosing File Make Alias (or pressing -L), generates an alias , a specially branded duplicate of the original icon (see Figure 2-15). It's the same idea as a file shortcut in Windows: When you double-click the alias, the original file opens. Since you can create as many aliases as you want of a single file, aliases let you, in effect, stash that file in many different folder locations simultaneously .


Tip: Another way to create an alias is by Control-clicking (or right-clicking) a normal icon and choosing Make Alias from the shortcut menu that appears. You can also create an alias by Option- -dragging the icon out of its window.

Figure 2-15. Top: You can identify an alias by the tiny arrow badge on the lower-left corner. Bottom: If the alias can't find the original file, you're offered the chance to hook it up to a different file.


An alias takes up virtually no disk spaceeven if the original file is enormousso you don't have to worry about filling up your hard drive. Aliases are smarter than Windows shortcuts, too: Even if you rename the alias, rename the original file, move the alias, and move the original, double-clicking the alias still opens the original icon.

That's just the beginning of alias intelligence. Suppose you make an alias of a file that's on a removable disk, such as an iPod. When you double-click the alias on your hard drive, the Mac requests that particular disk by name . And if you double-click the alias of a file that's stored on a different machine on your network, Mac OS X attempts to connect to the appropriate machine, prompting you for a passwordeven if the other machine is thousands of miles away and your Mac must dial the modem to connect.


Tip: Mac OS X makes it easy to find the file an alias "points" to without actually having to open it. Just highlight the alias and then choose File Show Original ( -R). Mac OS X immediately displays the actual, original file, sitting patiently in its folder, wherever that may be.And if for some reason your alias ever "breaks," you're offered the chance to connect it to a new file, as shown at the bottom of Figure 2-15.

Figure 2-16. Top: Use the File menu or Action menu (the gear menu shown here) to apply a label to one iconor even several at once.
Bottom: Instantly, the name takes on the selected shade. In a list or column view, the entire row takes on that shade , too, as shown in Figure 2-17. (If you choose the little X, you're removing any labels that you may have applied.)




Switching to the Mac[c] The Missing Manual
Switching to the Mac[c] The Missing Manual
ISBN: 1449398537
EAN: N/A
Year: 2006
Pages: 371

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