MacOS – Quick way to “link” to location on a shared SMB server

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I work at a small office where everyone uses Macs. We have a shared SMB server for storing files, which often contain spaces and other special characters.

Let's say that I have a folder containing important data for a coworker. Our current workflow is:

  1. I take a screenshot of the folder path in Finder: 1]
  2. I attach this screenshot to an email and send it to my coworker.
  3. My coworker uses the screenshot to manually navigate to the correct directory in Finder.

We do this many times each day, and it adds up. Step 3 in particular is quite annoying for the recipient.

Is there a technique we could use, or some software we could install, that would expedite this process? Ideally, I'd like the ability to email a "link" that, when clicked, would automatically open the directory in Finder.

Again, this method must be compatible with special characters, and should be easy to explain to less technically savvy users.

Best Answer

  1. Right-click the file or folder in Finder > Services > Copy full path
  2. Paste the path into the email (I used Apple Mail)
  3. The recipient just has to choose the whole path in the email and right-click it > Reveal in Finder

You don't have to escape spaces in the path with backslashes! The share has to be mounted already.

If you don't find a service like "Copy Path" or "Copy full Path" you can simply create it yourself:

  1. Launch Automator
  2. Create a new service
  3. Search for “Copy to Clipboard” and drag that into the rightside panel of the Service
  4. Set ‘Service receives selected’ to “files or folders” and ‘in’ to “Finder” at the top of the service.
  5. Save the service as "Copy Path"
  6. Depending on your system you can copy the path either by right-clicking an item > Copy Path or Services > Copy Path.
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