Network Shortcuts using Safari
This months MacUser had a neat little trick to create network shortcuts using Safari. The trick seems to be in the printed magazine only, so here’s a quick run-down...
The trick uses the same principle as dragging a URL from Safari’s Address bar to create a Web Internet Location file. By using the FTP and AFP protocols through Safari, you can use the technique to create shortcuts to networked volumes and remote locations.
To create a quick FTP shortcut, type the address and login details into the address bar of Safari e.g. ftp://username:password@www.xlab.co.uk (substituting in your sites details). Drag this address somewhere convenient (such as your Desktop or the Dock) and an FTP Internet Location file is created.
Rename it something useful and now, when double-clicked, it’ll automatically open your default FTP program (such as Transmit) and start an FTP session using these details.
Try the same using AFP e.g. afp://username:password@192.168.3.2/shared/ and you create a little shortcut which, when double-clicked, finds the volume 192.168.3.2 on your network, logs you in using username and password, and forwards you into the shared directory.
Kinda useful if you find yourself constantly logging into FTP and networked volumes, though there are obvious security concerns about where you store these shortcuts.
If you previously changed a lot of Safari’s settings when it had some security concerns, be aware that you may need to re-assign the AFP and FTP protocols for this to work.
Posted 4 years, 2 months ago on 26th July 2004.
- Omniweb 5 released
- Entropy PHP 5 package
- Color Tips
- iTunes gets mobile
- Network Shortcuts using Safari
- iPod Firmware Petition
- Indies join iTunes
- 4G iPod
- PHP 5 on Panther
Comments
How secure are these files? Opening one with BBEdit does not seem to reveal the username and password... but it seems like having a file lying around that will automatically conect whoever to a server with your privileges might not be a great idea.
Alex Taylor · 4 years, 2 months ago
Absolutely Alex.
Where you store the shortcuts is up to you. If you’re worried about security, taking the obvious measures (log out of your machine when you’re away, password-protected screensaver etc.) is probably sufficient.
If that’s not enough, then this feature might not be for you.
Just leave the passwords out of the url, the OS is smart enough to ask you for them.
Dave · 4 years, 1 month ago
For people using DHCP on their networks (which makes the IP numbers in URL shortcuts go out of date) is to use the *.local name provided by rendezvous. For example, if you have an afp volume on a machine named "photomap", then the url would look like:
afp://username:password@photomap.local/shared/
Trevor F. Smith · www · 4 years, 2 months ago