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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: Dr. T on Apr 13, '09 10:22:27AM

Moving all your applications to regain disk space is inefficient and usually unnecessary. Why not uninstall infrequently used applications, move older documents, or archive the iTunes songs you never play?

Another approach for regaining disk space is to remove the unneeded parts of universal binary applications and to remove the unneeded language and localization files. Numerous utlities can safely "slim" applications.



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: ghay on Apr 13, '09 11:00:23AM

I don't think you can say it's unnecessary or inefficient unless you know the workflow in use here.

If someone wants to do this because it is the way they work, and/or makes the most sense to them, I do not think anyone is qualified to tell them otherwise.

IMHO



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: Anonymous on Apr 14, '09 02:55:03PM

When you see someone fumbling around potentially causing future problems for themselves, I think it's perfectly fine to tell someone to stop it.

My advice? Buy a bigger disk. There's really no excuse at today's prices. Heck, buy two and an external case and get a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner (and donate while you're at it). Throw money and hardware at the problem. It'll save you headaches later on.



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: pub3abn on Apr 14, '09 06:32:37AM

I keep folders of apps elsewhere because I like them organized by purpose. For example, I have all my font apps in one folder, etc. The reason for not doing this in the Applications folder is because that folder is already cluttered. In my case, I have over 100 items in /Applications, and about 300 apps altogether.

I tend to do things the other way around: I put aliases to the apps that are in my /Applications folder, in the folders that are sorted by category.



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: Anonymous on Apr 14, '09 02:24:33PM

I install in default locations, because often (I'm sure you've found) Applications are so poorly written they don't work if they live anywhere else.

But like you, I like things grouped by purpose. So I have a Games folder inside Applications, containing Finder Aliases to the Games. I have a Fonts folder for font-manipulation programs. I have one called Graphics, another called Browsers, then Music and Movie.

Using aliases this way means I can have VLC appear in both Music and Movie.

It's the "Gmail" approach to applications. Tag, don't file.



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: pub3abn on Apr 15, '09 05:56:49AM

I've never had an app not work because I've installed it somewhere other than the default Applications folder. (But I should add that apps which have installers, I always use with the default install location. But the vast majority of apps are drag-and-drop install.)



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Create symbolic links for all items in a folder
Authored by: osxpounder on Apr 15, '09 02:49:26PM

That depends on what apps you use, and what apps I use. They differ, of course. Many of the apps I use insist on the /Applications folder. Many of them are not drag-and-drop installs. I wish all of them were drag-and-drop, and could run from any folder I choose. I prefer that and appreciate it as a useful, important feature. It's one of the things that tips the balance for me when comparing apps.



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