Drag-copy files while using screen sharing via iChat

Sep 29, '09 07:30:04AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

I have recently been working with two Macs simultaneously -- a laptop and a desktop iMac -- and have been trying to solve the problems of browsing and copying files from one computer to the other. The usual advice is to use Snow Leopard's built-in Screen Sharing, which does not support dragging to copy files between computers, supplemented with an open-source program like teleport, which does. (Note that 10.5 and 10.6 support the dragging and copying of individual text selections; just not other data types or entire files.)

After finding teleport too unstable for daily use, I've arrived at this solution.

Unlike Screen Sharing in the Finder, iChat's screen sharing mode does support dragging and copying files between computers. To take advantage of this, create an additional AIM screen name for yourself. Sign into that new screen name, and out of your usual screen name, on one computer. If you do not have physical access to the other computer -- or simply enjoy halls of mirrors -- you can carry out this action remotely, using Snow Leopard's built-in Screen Sharing. Now ask to share the other computer's screen in iChat, and accept your own request on it (again, using built-in Screen Sharing to control the other computer as needed).

You are now ready to drag and drop files from one computer to the other through iChat to your heart's content, overcoming a frustrating limitation of Snow Leopard's built-in Screen Sharing.

[robg adds: I'm almost positive this same trick works in 10.5, too.]

Comments (7)


Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2009090914583481