Question:

I have a dot mac account with Apple. I have copied stuff onto my iDiski with no problem but I can’t figure out how to make the link. How do I link to files I put on my iDisk (like jpegs or Stuffit archives) in email messages and in on-line forums like Ebay?

Requirements:

Mac OSi X (10.2.x or newer recommended) and a valid dot mac account

Background:

All data posted on your iDisk has an absolute path or URL which describes it’s place on the internet. Depending on which folder the information is in, the path is different. There are some minor UNIX related nuances which come into play including the fact File and Folder Names are case sensitive.

I general, you can put files into folders or sub-folders you create anywhere on your iDisk. However, there some folders which are off limits:

• the Root Level / first level of the iDisk
• Software Folder (or any sub-folder therein)
• Backup Folder (reserved for use by the dot mac backup software)

If you try to put something in any of those places you’ll see an error dialog and the operation will fail.

The Documents Folder is the other unique condition in that you cannot link directly to content inside it. Since the Documents folder contains personal information not intended for public distribution, the information can ONLY be accessed by using the Master DotMacID and password and mounting the iDisk on your Desktop.

What to do:

We’ll give you an example for putting a file in ever folder on your dot.maci iDisk and for a file inside a nested folder. Remember to read the recommended paths carefully, there are nuances which can be easily missed.

Conventions, when we say:

• DotMacID - we mean your dot mac user name, it’s always lower case
• FileName.jpgi - we mean any file with an appropriate suffix
• FolderName - we mean a sub-folder you may have created on your iDisk inside one of the standard folders
• Case Sensitive - don’t forget file and folder names are case sensitive (example: BOB is NOT the same as Bob, BOb, bob, or boB)

Note: In most cases there is a dot before an iDisk folder name (example: Before the 'P’ in Public or 'M' in Movies), it’s a UNIX thing to specify a directory change applying to all folders EXCEPT the Sites folder. That is, the 'dot' before the folder name (e.g. .Public) tells unix to look 'up' one directory from the Sites directory. That's why you need the 'dot' before folder (aka directory) names except for the Sites folder as described in detail below.

Movies Folder:
For a File loose inside the Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Movies/FileName.mov

For a File nested in a Sub Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Movies/FolderName/FileName.mov

Music Folder:
For a File loose inside the Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Music/FileName.mp3

For a File nested in a Sub Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Music/FolderName/FileName.mp3

Pictures Folder:
For a File loose inside the Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Pictures/FileName.jpg

For a File nested in a Sub Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Pictures/FolderName/FileName.jpg

Public Folder:
For a File loose inside the Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Public/FileName.jpg

For a File nested in a Sub Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/.Public/FolderName/FileName.jpg

Sites Folder:
This one is special, notice there is no need to include the name Sites or .Sites in the path name.

For a File loose inside the Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/FileName.jpg

For a File nested in a Sub Folder:
http://homepage.mac.com/DotMacID/FolderName/FileName.jpg

With a little bit of planning, you can use these path naming conventions to link to any file, any where on your iDisk when sending an Email or linking to pictures or files on other web sites or on-line disucssion boards.

We hope that helps
caddpower.com

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