Make Alias

[jparker402]

Need some expert advice on "Make Alias". Have/had a discussion going in the iCloud forum about missing folders, which led to thoughts of moving some things to OneDrive. Then, rather than making a copy which would soon go out of date, I thought of an alias. As I understand it, when you make an alias you are essentially copying the icon, and wherever it goes it will update as one updates the original (hope I understand that correctly). But I would also like to know what happens if the original, which I would have in iCloud, disappears. Is my data then lost?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

You seem to totally misunderstand how cloud services like OneDrive work. Rule #1 - the master copy of the data is in the cloud. Rule #2 - the master copy of the data is in the cloud.

You are probably thinking, "I have my master document on my desktop computer, I want to be able to access that master document from my laptop, make changes, and save it back to my desktop computer." You're thinking that, by putting an alias in OneDrive, that OneDrive will be able to connect to your desktop, retrieve the file, and pass it along to your laptop. It's not designed to do that. It just won't work.

Cloud services like OneDrive, iCloud, GoogleDocs, etc. are all designed to do one thing - store the master document in the cloud and allow multiple computers/mobile devices to access/edit that master document. The master is centrally stored, all computers/mobile devices that access that document are co-equal. To use the old terminology - the cloud is the server, all computers/mobile devices are clients.

These services are not meant for storing backup copies that may or may not get updated. Sure, you can use them that way, but you lose nearly all the benefits of using client/server architecture if you do.

 

[casperes1996]

Just to add a note on aliases; Think of them like shortcuts. They do not contain any data, really. They just point to where the original is.

 

[hobowankenobi]

But I would also like to know what happens if the original, which I would have in iCloud, disappears. Is my data then lost?

By disappear...I assume you mean you are disconnected. Your original data is still on the server...in the cloud. Regardless of whether you can connect and "see" your data, it is there. Typically (depending on the sync is setup), you would have a copy on your computer(s) that would sync with the server. Once you connect to the internet, the server side document would be updated (synchronized) with a newer version on your computer.

 

[jparker402]

You seem to totally misunderstand how cloud services like OneDrive work. Rule #1 - the master copy of the data is in the cloud. Rule #2 - the master copy of the data is in the cloud.

You are probably thinking, "I have my master document on my desktop computer, I want to be able to access that master document from my laptop, make changes, and save it back to my desktop computer." You're thinking that, by putting an alias in OneDrive, that OneDrive will be able to connect to your desktop, retrieve the file, and pass it along to your laptop. It's not designed to do that. It just won't work.

Cloud services like OneDrive, iCloud, GoogleDocs, etc. are all designed to do one thing - store the master document in the cloud and allow multiple computers/mobile devices to access/edit that master document. The master is centrally stored, all computers/mobile devices that access that document are co-equal. To use the old terminology - the cloud is the server, all computers/mobile devices are clients.

These services are not meant for storing backup copies that may or may not get updated. Sure, you can use them that way, but you lose nearly all the benefits of using client/server architecture if you do.

I will study tutorials on iCloud to try to get a better grasp on how this works.
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By disappear...I assume you mean you are disconnected. Your original data is still on the server...in the cloud. Regardless of whether you can connect and "see" your data, it is there. Typically (depending on the sync is setup), you would have a copy on your computer(s) that would sync with the server. Once you connect to the internet, the server side document would be updated (synchronized) with a newer version on your computer.

The fellow who had the problem (not me) said that his files disappeared; think evaporated was the exact word. And believe there were two people who responded with that problem. Just want to make sure that if it happens to me, I can retrieve the data. I do have TimeMachine going; that should help.

 

[hobowankenobi]

There is a known issue/confusion with Apple and iCloud Drive in that Apple doesn't make clear exactly what happens when you select the option to save space on your computer.

The default for iCloud Drive is that files are moved off your computer and on to iCloud Drive (servers) to save space on your device(s). Yes, that saves space; they get moved off the device(s). But if you are not connected to the internet, and your iCloud account...yes, they would be gone. Unavailable. Disappeared.

I could imagine a few ways of losing data to iCloud Drive several ways beyond being offline. Forgotten password, unpaid/canceled/closed iCloud Drive account before all files have been downloaded back to local devices.

A second potential problem with remote storage is...if there is any problem, where is your data? If it gets damaged or corrupted or is simply gone, what can you do? Without a backup in your physical possession, SOL.

Many cloud syncing tools sync the data, so it is on all the devices you set: The (Cloud) server, plus your local computer(s), phone(s), and iPads(s). This is much safer as you have physical control of your data....but it also means duplicates, and more space used. This does nothing to reduce space needs; if anything it makes things worse if you have several devices sync'd.

Most sync tools default to this (OneDrive, DropBox, Box, Mega, etc.): local redundancy, but "fat".

iCloud Drive and traditional file servers are the opposite: "skinny", but no local redundancy.

Check out this write up for iCloud Drive. Notice the bits about moving files to archive automatically if space is needed. Sound like a recipe for disappearing files to those unclear or unaware of how this works.

To remove the risk of losing your stuff:

#1 Pick a service and configure it to be sure you know where your data is all the time.
#2 Make sure you have local access to data 100% of the time.
#3 Keep at least one backup in your possession 100% of the time. More is better.

 

[jparker402]

There is a known issue/confusion with Apple and iCloud Drive in that Apple doesn't make clear exactly what happens when you select the option to save space on your computer.

The default for iCloud Drive is that files are moved off your computer and on to iCloud Drive (servers) to save space on your device(s). Yes, that saves space; they get moved off the device(s). But if you are not connected to the internet, and your iCloud account...yes, they would be gone. Unavailable. Disappeared.

I could imagine a few ways of losing data to iCloud Drive several ways beyond being offline. Forgotten password, unpaid/canceled/closed iCloud Drive account before all files have been downloaded back to local devices.

A second potential problem with remote storage is...if there is any problem, where is your data? If it gets damaged or corrupted or is simply gone, what can you do? Without a backup in your physical possession, SOL.

Many cloud syncing tools sync the data, so it is on all the devices you set: The (Cloud) server, plus your local computer(s), phone(s), and iPads(s). This is much safer as you have physical control of your data....but it also means duplicates, and more space used. This does nothing to reduce space needs; if anything it makes things worse if you have several devices sync'd.

Most sync tools default to this (OneDrive, DropBox, Box, Mega, etc.): local redundancy, but "fat".

iCloud Drive and traditional file servers are the opposite: "skinny", but no local redundancy.

Check out this write up for iCloud Drive. Notice the bits about moving files to archive automatically if space is needed. Sound like a recipe for disappearing files to those unclear or unaware of how this works.

To remove the risk of losing your stuff:

#1 Pick a service and configure it to be sure you know where your data is all the time.
#2 Make sure you have local access to data 100% of the time.
#3 Keep at least one backup in your possession 100% of the time. More is better.

Sounds like the wise thing to do!!

 

[ignatius345]

You seem to totally misunderstand how cloud services like OneDrive work.

Pretty sure he was asking because he needed clarification.