Showing posts with label google drive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google drive. Show all posts

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Storing Mac primary data storage folders within cloud storage folders

One of my favorite methods of backup is redirecting the primary data storage folders to a cloud service (like Dropbox or Google Drive).  On a Mac, the process is not intuitive.  Here's my process.

You need to perform the steps once for each folder you want to move.  So if you want to move three folders (desktop, documents, pictures), you'll need to perform the steps three times.  The steps involved two commends.

First, you move the data to the new location.  Then you create a symbolic link to the new location.  In the examples below are a series of commands for desktop, documents, pictures, music, and movies.  The commands with %username% and %Company% would be altered to match the real world situation.

iMac:~ username$ sudo mv ~/Documents "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Documents"
iMac:~ username$ sudo rm -rf ~/Documents/
iMac:~ username$ ln -s "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Documents" ~
iMac:~ username$ sudo mv ~/Desktop "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Desktop"
iMac:~ username$ sudo rm -rf ~/Desktop/
iMac:~ username$ ln -s "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Desktop" ~
iMac:~ username$ sudo mv ~/Movies "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Movies"
iMac:~ username$ sudo rm -rf ~/Movies/
iMac:~ username$ ln -s "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Movies" ~
iMac:~ username$ sudo mv ~/Pictures "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Pictures"
iMac:~ username$ sudo rm -rf ~/Pictures/
iMac:~ username$ ln -s "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Pictures" ~
iMac:~ username$ sudo mv ~/Music "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Music"
iMac:~ username$ sudo rm -rf ~/Music/
iMac:~ username$ ln -s "/Users/%username%/Dropbox (%Company%)/laptopdata/Music" ~

Friday, July 7, 2017

Storing Mac data storage folders (desktop, documents, etc) in a cloud syncing folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc)

This page talks about methods for moving data storage locations to cloud syncing folders which allows for real time backup of those data storage locations.  I use this process often for smaller clients who need/want backup on the cheap.  This is particularly easy if they're already using Dropbox or Google Drive or have an Office365 account with OneDrive storage.

https://www.howtogeek.com/204595/how-to-move-special-folders-on-os-x-to-cloud-storage/


Friday, August 21, 2015

Setting up Automator to back up Mac on startup to Google Drive

I've written about using Automator to back up a Mac here.  I've had trouble getting that to work, so I now do this.

Open Automator
Create a new Application

In your Google Drive, create a folder called Backup
In the Backup folder, create a folder Desktop, Documents, etc for each folder you want to back up.

Create these processes:

Get Specified Finder Items
(choose all the folders in the Backup folder - not the Backup folder itself)
Move Folder Items to Trash
Get Specified Finder Items
(choose Documents)
Get Folder Contents
Copy Finder Items
(copy to the Documents backup folder location and choose replace existing files)
Get Specified Finder Items
(choose Desktop and click options and choose Ignore this action's input)
Get Folder Contents
Copy Finder Items
(copy to the Desktop backup folder location and choose replace existing files)

Repeat these steps for each folder you want to back up

Get Specified Finder Items
(choose FolderToBackup and click options and choose Ignore this action's input)
Get Folder Contents
Copy Finder Items
(copy to the FolderToBackup backup folder location and choose replace existing files)

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Save the Automator application to the Applications folder
Go to System Preferences -> Users & Groups
Click Login Items
Add the application you created in Login Items





Thursday, July 4, 2013

backing up a Mac to Google Drive

I was setting up a Mac for a client and looking for a super cheap method for backing it up.  With a 30 GB quota for Google Drive, it seems logical to use Google Drive.  I can simply create a startup batch script on a PC to copy desktop, documents, and other important folders to c:\username\google drive on a PC.

On a Mac, I found a good method using "Automator," which is much easier than using AppleScript.  As far as the method I used, I basically followed option 8 here:

http://mac.tutsplus.com/tutorials/automation/10-awesome-uses-for-automator-explained/

The nice thing about the above steps is that it sets up an automated running of the script on dates/times.