Alias links in OS X vs. Ubuntu

Question

I use both Mac OS X an Ubuntu on two different, synced computers. On my Mac I often use aliases (not in the bash sense, in the Command-L sense) to link to files on my computer. Is there a way to do this compatibly with Ubuntu?

Very specifically, I would like some way (outside of a terminal) to make a link to another file (that I can click on) which works in Mac OS X and Ubuntu, that I can make in either system.

Answer 1

Use the bash sense (ln -s). You create a unix symbolic link, handled as such in Ubuntu and displayed in Finder as a Mac alias.

You will have to use Terminal though.

Answer 2

Finder creates aliases, "ln -s" creates symbolic links; this are different concepts (for example if the original is moved the alias will follow but the symbolic link does not.

However there are ways to create a symbolic link via the Finder, too. One would be an Apple Script (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20061201041424401), another would be a tool called SymbolicLinker (htttp://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10433)

I haven't tested these solutions myself, so be careful and check for yourself.

Answer 3

In Ubuntu, start dragging something from the destination, hold Alt, drop it on the destination. A menu comes up, choose link. This will make a symbolic link (just like ln -s would). These are slightly different from Aliases (ext3 lacks the feature that allows OSX's aliases to follow moved files, for example) but should do what you want.