Quick Symlink - a Finder extension which provides a contextual menu item for the symbolic links creation on macOS

Alexander Kropotin

Last update: Dec 20, 2022

Related tags

Menu macos open-source mac tool symbolic-links finder symlink macosx macos-app macos-application macosx-app finder-extension macos-applications contextual-menu

Overview

Quick Symlink

The Quick Symlink is a Finder extension which provides a contextual menu item for the symbolic links (and other links) creation on macOS.

📖 About

The Quick Symlink is a Finder Extension which allows to create symbolic links of selected folders or files. It could be called by right-clicking on selected folders or files and selecting Quick Symlink from the contextual menu. It is a remaster of the other project - create-symlink; for more details see https://github.com/ololx/create-symlink.

Motivation

For me the symbolic links is a useful feature of macOS. They can be especially useful when it's needed to store the Documents folder on a hard drive or SD card, but on the ssd to create a just link to this folder. Of course, creating symbolic links via the terminal is very easy and convenient. But this does not negate the fact that it could be even easier and more comfortable through interaction with the GUI.

📸 Demo

This GIF demonstrates how the Quick Symlink allows quite simple to select files or folders and paste symlink in the current directory.

This GIF demonstrates how the Quick Symlink allows quite simple to copy files or folders and paste symlink somewhere.

This GIF demonstrates how the Quick Symlink allows quite simple to copy files or folders, paste them somewhere, and replace them with symlinks.

These GIFs demonstrate the `Quick Symlink` localization.

🎚 Features

Create a symbolic links in a several clicks via the context menu instead of the terminal promt:
- Select files or folders and create symlinks for them.
- Copy files or folders and paste symlinks somewhere.
- Copy files or folders, paste them somewhere, and replace them with symlinks.
Create a hard links in a several clicks via the context menu instead of the terminal promt:
- Select files or folders and create hard links for them.
- Copy files or folders and paste hard links somewhere.

To Do

For more information on an upcoming development, please read the todo list.

Changelog

For more information on releases, features and changes, please read the changelog notes.

🚦 Getting Started

These instructions allow to get a copy of this project and run it on a local machine.

Prerequisites

Before using it, make sure that follows software are installed on the local machine:

OS X 10.10+ - the operating system under which the extention is executing.

If any of the listed programs is not installed, then it can be installed by instruction as described below.

OS X 10.10+
- Install macOS 10.10+ by this instruction.

Installing

In order to install it is quite simple to:

Download executable file from releases (or compile it from the sources).
Go to the directory where you download this tool (optionally):
- via Finder.
- via Terminal prompt.
```
cd /{path to parent dir with this tool}/
```
Launch the tool in macOS (optionally):
- via double-click on quick-symlink.app.
- via Terminal prompt.
```
open quick-symlink.app
```
Open up System Preferences > Extensions and enable the follows extensions: 4.1. quick-symlink-extension - for the symlink actions. 4.2. hard-link-actions-extension - for the hard link actions.

Otherwise, it's possible to install and remove the extention using the actual extension bundled into the app.

To install and approve the extension, run this:

pluginkit -a quick-symlink.app/Contents/PlugIns/quick-symlink-extension.appex/
pluginkit -a quick-symlink.app/Contents/PlugIns/hard-link-action-extension.appex/

To remove it, run this:

pluginkit -r quick-symlink.app/Contents/PlugIns/quick-symlink-extension.appex/
pluginkit -r quick-symlink.app/Contents/PlugIns/hard-link-action-extension.appex/

[OPTIONAL] Check/Uncheck the checkbox on the Application window "Use relative path for symlink" to use the relative path instead absolute path for the creating symlinks. By default it's enabled

Downloading

For the downloading executable file or sources to a local machine, just use the follows link and choose a required release:

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/releases/

Cloning

For the cloning this repository to a local machine, just use the follows link:

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink.git

Using

This tool allows to:

Create symlinks in the current directory

1. Select folders or files for which a symbolic link is needed.
2. Call the contextual menu by the right-clicking on selected.
3. Select menu item `Symlink actions --> Create symlink for`.

Create symlinks in another directory

1. Select folders or files for which a symbolic link is needed.
2. Call the contextual menu by the right-clicking on selected.
3. Select menu item `Symlink actions --> Copy path from here`.
4. Go to a destination folder.
5. Call the contextual menu by right-clicking on the filder.
6. Select menu item `Symlink actions --> Paste to here`.

Replace objects with symbolic links

1. Select folders or files for which a symbolic link is needed.
2. Call the contextual menu by the right-clicking on selected.
3. Select menu item `Symlink actions --> Copy to clipboard`.
4. Go to a destination folder.
5. Call the contextual menu by right-clicking on the filder.
6. Select menu item `Symlink actions --> Move it here and replace with a link`.

Create hard links in the current directory

1. Select folders or files for which a symbolic link is needed.
2. Call the contextual menu by the right-clicking on selected.
3. Select menu item `Hard link actions --> Create symlink for`.

Create symlinks in another directory

1. Select folders or files for which a symbolic link is needed.
2. Call the contextual menu by the right-clicking on selected.
3. Select menu item `Hard link actions --> Copy path from here`.
4. Go to a destination folder.
5. Call the contextual menu by right-clicking on the filder.
6. Select menu item `Hard link actions --> Paste to here`.

🛠 Built With

Xcode - the IDE for the Finder Sync Extension development.

🎉 Contributing

If you want to contribute this project - you are welcome and have fun. Please visit the contributing section for details on this code of conduct, and the process for submitting pull requests.

📝 Code of Conduct

In order to ensure that all is welcoming, please review and abide by the code of conduct.

🗒 Versioning

For the versioning is used Semantic Versioning. For the versions available, see the changelog or the tags on this repository.

©️ Authors

Alexander A. Kropotin - Initial work - ololx.

🔏 Licensing

This project is licensed under the MIT license - see the lisence document for details.

Comments

Small wishes

Привет, будет здорово, если вы сможете добавить: английскую локализацию отображение иконок в контекстном меню возможность отключения именно контекстного меню. объединить контекстное меню для ссылок. сделать иконки(finder toolbar) более подходящими для Big Sur. С уважением.

opened by grylem 12

fatal: can not remove last element from an empty collection

Runtime error causing fatal crash when using finder extension toolbar actions

Error was present in prior versions as well

Steps to reproduce

Enable finder extension in settings

Add actions to finder toolbar

Select 'Create link for'

Attempts to use finder actions again will demonstrate proof of fatal crash, both finder actions and context actions will disappear until manually ending process and reopening application or log in/out or reboot.

Console crash report

Process:               quick-symlink-extension [56034]
Path:                  /Applications/Utilities/quick-symlink.app/Contents/PlugIns/quick-symlink-extension.appex/Contents/MacOS/quick-symlink-extension
Identifier:            org.ololx.quick-symlink.quick-symlink-extension
Version:               1.0 (1)
Code Type:             X86-64 (Native)
Parent Process:        ??? [1]
Responsible:           quick-symlink-extension [56034]
User ID:               ***

Date/Time:             2021-09-11 08:49:13.739 -0500
OS Version:            macOS 11.5.2 (20G95)
Report Version:        12
Anonymous UUID:        0704A1A4-9780-5E31-3D9F-AF8CB5C7572D

Sleep/Wake UUID:       D8D99E98-AA45-4CD3-AFE2-79B50E9B21EC

Time Awake Since Boot: 840000 seconds
Time Since Wake:       45000 seconds

System Integrity Protection: enabled

Crashed Thread:        2  Dispatch queue: com.apple.NSXPCConnection.user.endpoint

Exception Type:        EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION (SIGILL)
Exception Codes:       0x0000000000000001, 0x0000000000000000
Exception Note:        EXC_CORPSE_NOTIFY

Termination Signal:    Illegal instruction: 4
Termination Reason:    Namespace SIGNAL, Code 0x4
Terminating Process:   exc handler [56034]

Application Specific Information:
Fatal error: Can't remove last element from an empty collection
 

Thread 0:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x00007fff204a72ba mach_msg_trap + 10
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x00007fff204a762c mach_msg + 60
2   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d5b2f __CFRunLoopServiceMachPort + 316
3   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d420f __CFRunLoopRun + 1328
4   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d361c CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 563
5   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x00007fff28819a83 RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 292
6   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x00007fff288197e5 ReceiveNextEventCommon + 587
7   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x00007fff28819583 _BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInModeWithFilter + 70
8   com.apple.AppKit              	0x00007fff22ddb172 _DPSNextEvent + 864
9   com.apple.AppKit              	0x00007fff22dd9945 -[NSApplication(NSEvent) _nextEventMatchingEventMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 1364
10  com.apple.AppKit              	0x00007fff22dcbc69 -[NSApplication run] + 586
11  com.apple.AppKit              	0x00007fff22d9fe6c NSApplicationMain + 816
12  libxpc.dylib                  	0x00007fff2022b3eb _xpc_objc_main + 919
13  libxpc.dylib                  	0x00007fff2022acd3 xpc_main + 116
14  com.apple.Foundation          	0x00007fff21384986 -[NSXPCListener resume] + 262
15  com.apple.pluginkit.framework 	0x00007fff2b0e0c17 0x7fff2b0c5000 + 113687
16  com.apple.pluginkit.framework 	0x00007fff2b0e089f 0x7fff2b0c5000 + 112799
17  com.apple.pluginkit.framework 	0x00007fff2b0e0fdd 0x7fff2b0c5000 + 114653
18  com.apple.ExtensionKit        	0x00007fff318f803c EXExtensionMain + 70
19  com.apple.Foundation          	0x00007fff213f360f NSExtensionMain + 208
20  libdyld.dylib                 	0x00007fff204f7f3d start + 1

Thread 1:: com.apple.NSEventThread
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x00007fff204a72ba mach_msg_trap + 10
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x00007fff204a762c mach_msg + 60
2   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d5b2f __CFRunLoopServiceMachPort + 316
3   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d420f __CFRunLoopRun + 1328
4   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x00007fff205d361c CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 563
5   com.apple.AppKit              	0x00007fff22f6123a _NSEventThread + 124
6   libsystem_pthread.dylib       	0x00007fff204dc8fc _pthread_start + 224
7   libsystem_pthread.dylib       	0x00007fff204d8443 thread_start + 15

Thread 2 Crashed:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.NSXPCConnection.user.endpoint
0   libswiftCore.dylib            	0x0000000107f02170 specialized _fatalErrorMessage(_:_:file:line:flags:) + 96
1   libswiftCore.dylib            	0x0000000107d4b7ae RangeReplaceableCollection<A>.removeLast() + 590
2   org.ololx.quick-symlink.quick-symlink-extension	0x0000000107ca0c0b CopyPathAction.execute() + 699
3   org.ololx.quick-symlink.quick-symlink-extension	0x0000000107c983b7 FinderSync.copyPathToClipboard(_:) + 119
4   org.ololx.quick-symlink.quick-symlink-extension	0x0000000107c98408 @objc FinderSync.copyPathToClipboard(_:) + 56
5   com.apple.finder.FinderSync   	0x00007fff6ea3265e -[FIFinderSyncExtension executeCommandWithMenuItemDictionary:target:items:] + 298
6   com.apple.Foundation          	0x00007fff213c91be __NSXPCCONNECTION_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_EXPORTED_OBJECT_S3__ + 10
7   com.apple.Foundation          	0x00007fff2136db6f -[NSXPCConnection _decodeAndInvokeMessageWithEvent:flags:] + 2246
8   com.apple.Foundation          	0x00007fff21325039 message_handler + 206
9   libxpc.dylib                  	0x00007fff20222c24 _xpc_connection_call_event_handler + 56
10  libxpc.dylib                  	0x00007fff20221a9b _xpc_connection_mach_event + 938
11  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff203328a6 _dispatch_client_callout4 + 9
12  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff20349aa0 _dispatch_mach_msg_invoke + 444
13  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff20338493 _dispatch_lane_serial_drain + 263
14  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff2034a5e2 _dispatch_mach_invoke + 484
15  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff20338493 _dispatch_lane_serial_drain + 263
16  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff203390e0 _dispatch_lane_invoke + 417
17  libdispatch.dylib             	0x00007fff20342c0d _dispatch_workloop_worker_thread + 811
18  libsystem_pthread.dylib       	0x00007fff204d945d _pthread_wqthread + 314
19  libsystem_pthread.dylib       	0x00007fff204d842f start_wqthread + 15

Thread 2 crashed with X86 Thread State (64-bit):
  rax: 0x0000000000001e0b  rbx: 0x0000000108098680  rcx: 0x0000000000000000  rdx: 0x00000000000aea80
  rdi: 0x000000010842a080  rsi: 0x0000000108876e00  rbp: 0x0000700004967ba0  rsp: 0x0000700004967b70
   r8: 0x0000000000000030   r9: 0x0000000000000003  r10: 0x00007f8e0de00000  r11: 0x00007f8e0de46f40
  r12: 0x0000000108097b79  r13: 0x000000000000000b  r14: 0x0000000000000002  r15: 0x0000000000000032
  rip: 0x0000000107f02170  rfl: 0x0000000000010202  cr2: 0x00000001028f7000
  
Logical CPU:     3
Error Code:      0x00000000
Trap Number:     6

opened by zgover 4

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opened by fossabot 1
Bug fixes and some changes items
[0.10.4] - 2021-10-10

Fixed

Fix incorrect link location after creation.

[0.10.3] - 2021-10-07

Added

Add the checkbox item on the contextual menu of the soft link extention to switch on/off the relative path use to create a symbolic link.

for more details see #12
opened by ololx 0
Incorrect link location after creation
When using the "create a symlink" or "create a hard link" function, the symlink or hard link is created in the wrong directory.

To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

Go to some folder (for instance - home directory of user)

Right click on the some place in the finder window (do not select any folders or files)

Choose the follows items (optionally):

Symlink actions -> create link

Hard link actions -> create link

Actual behavior Links (symlinks or hard links) are created in the parent of the current directory

Expected behavior Links (symlinks or hard links) are created in the current directory

Desktop:

OS: macOS Mojave Version: 10.14.6
bug
opened by ololx 0
Switch on/off the relative path use to create a symbolic link
[0.10.0] - 2021-09-18

Added

Add the checkbox button on the application view to switch on/off the relative path use to create a symbolic link.

Implement the strategy for create new symlink with relative or absolute path.
opened by ololx 0
Fix fatal error: Can not remove last element from an empty collection
[0.8.1] - 2021-09-13

Fixed

Fix a bug that led to fatal error: Can't remove last element from an empty collection.

Added

Added the ability to create links from the Finder menu without selected objects.

See #6 for more details
opened by ololx 0
Add the relative path usage instead absolute path in symlink target URL
[0.7.0] - 2021-08-22

Added

Added new classes Path for working with path's and creating relative path from specified directory.

Add unit-tests cases for the Path class.

Changed

Change soft link creation using relative instead absolute path.

See #3 for more details

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/issues/3#issuecomment-903063014

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/issues/3#issuecomment-903069360
opened by ololx 0
feat(action): additional options to specify link guidelines
Request of additional actions

Ability to specify hard vs soft symbolic link type

Option to use relative or absolute paths or combination of for target/destination

Enables support for cross-device file systems

Action panel for existing symbolic links

(if broken) process to browse finder for 'Find/fix missing target'

Modify existing paths and symbolic link features

Thoughts or reservations?
opened by zgover 8

Releases(v0.10.4)

v0.10.4(Oct 10, 2021)
[0.10.4] - 2021-10-10

Fixed

Fix incorrect link location after creation.

[0.10.3] - 2021-10-07

Added

Add the checkbox item on the contextual menu of the soft link extention to switch on/off the relative path use to create a symbolic link.

For more details see #12
Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.72 MB)
v0.10.2(Oct 5, 2021)
[0.10.2] - 2021-10-05

Changed

Change the menu item names for hard link actions - replace alias to hard link.

See #9 for more details
Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.72 MB)
v0.10.1(Oct 5, 2021)
[0.10.1] - 2021-10-05

Fixed

Fix the localization bug - only Russian localization in for all system languages.

See #9 for more details
Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.72 MB)
v0.10.0(Sep 18, 2021)
[0.10.0] - 2021-09-18

Added

Add the checkbox button on the application view to switch on/off the relative path use to create a symbolic link.

Implement the strategy for create new symlink with relative or absolute path.

[0.9.0] - 2021-09-17

Changed

Change the extention boubdle name from quick-symlink-extention tosymlink actions`.

Change the module name quick-symlink-extention tosoft-link-actions-name`.

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.78 MB)
v0.8.1(Sep 13, 2021)
[0.8.1] - 2021-09-13

Fixed

Fix a bug that led to fatal error: Can't remove last element from an empty collection.

Added

Added the ability to create links from the Finder menu without selected objects.

See #6 for more details
Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.69 MB)
v0.8.0(Sep 2, 2021)
[0.8.0] - 2021-09-02

Added

Develop additional Finder extension which allows to create a hard links for selected folders and files via contextual menu.

Changed

Change build os version to 10.10.

Fixed

Fix soft link replace with function.

See #3 for more details

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/issues/3#issuecomment-902458347

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.69 MB)
v0.7.0(Aug 22, 2021)
[0.7.0] - 2021-08-22

Added

Added new classes Path for working with path's and creating relative path from specified directory.

Add unit-tests cases for the Path class.

Changed

Change soft link creation using relative instead absolute path.

See #3 for more details

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/issues/3#issuecomment-903063014

https://github.com/ololx/quick-symlink/issues/3#issuecomment-903069360

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.62 MB)
v0.6.0(Aug 7, 2021)
[0.6.0] - 2021-08-02

Changed

Changed the activity property of some menu items according to the rule:

if no object was copied, then the menu items "Paste link to here" an "Move it here and replace with a link" are not active.

if at least one object was not copied, then the menu items "Paste link to here" an "Move it here and replace with a link" are inactive.

Added

Added cleaning clipboard after inserting links.

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.57 MB)
v0.5.0(Aug 2, 2021)
[0.5.0] - 2021-08-02

Added

Add the new menu item for creating symlink in a parent directory (parent for target objects).

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.56 MB)
v0.4.1(Jul 15, 2021)
[0.4.1] - 2021-07-15

Changed

Implement the Command pattern for the Quick Symlink actions.

[0.4.0] - 2021-07-15

Added

Add the extension localization for English and Russian languages.

[0.0.4] - 2021-05-28

Added

The application icons.

Changed

The toolbar icons.

[0.0.3] - 2021-05-25

Added

The toolbar icon.

Changed

The language version from Swift 5.0 to Swift 4.0.

The project version from xcode 12.x to xCode 9.2.

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.55 MB)
v0.0.2(May 10, 2021)
[0.0.2] - 2021-05-10

Added

The Finder toolbar menu which allows to:

automate the symbolic links creation.

create symbolic links for the selected files or folders.

save symbolic links to the selected directory.

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.35 MB)
v0.0.1(May 8, 2021)
[1.0.0] - 2021-05-08]

Added

The Finder extension which allows to:

automate the symbolic links creation.

create symbolic links for the selected files or folders.

save symbolic links to the selected directory.

Source code(tar.gz)
Source code(zip)
quick-symlink.app.zip(3.33 MB)

Owner

Alexander Kropotin

PhD in physics and mathematics

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Quick Symlink - a Finder extension which provides a contextual menu item for the symbolic links creation on macOS

Related tags

Overview

Quick Symlink

📇 Table of Contents

📖 About

Motivation

📸 Demo

🎚 Features

To Do

Changelog

🚦 Getting Started

Prerequisites

OS X 10.10+

Installing

Downloading

Cloning

Using

🛠 Built With

🎉 Contributing

📝 Code of Conduct

🗒 Versioning

©️ Authors

🔏 Licensing

Comments

Runtime error causing fatal crash when using finder extension toolbar actions

Steps to reproduce

Console crash report

[0.10.4] - 2021-10-10

Fixed

[0.10.3] - 2021-10-07

Added

[0.10.0] - 2021-09-18

Added

[0.8.1] - 2021-09-13

Fixed

Added

[0.7.0] - 2021-08-22

Added

Changed

Request of additional actions

Releases(v0.10.4)

v0.10.4(Oct 10, 2021)

[0.10.4] - 2021-10-10

Fixed

[0.10.3] - 2021-10-07

Added

v0.10.2(Oct 5, 2021)

[0.10.2] - 2021-10-05

Changed

v0.10.1(Oct 5, 2021)

[0.10.1] - 2021-10-05

Fixed

v0.10.0(Sep 18, 2021)

[0.10.0] - 2021-09-18

Added

[0.9.0] - 2021-09-17

Changed

v0.8.1(Sep 13, 2021)

[0.8.1] - 2021-09-13

Fixed

Added

v0.8.0(Sep 2, 2021)

[0.8.0] - 2021-09-02

Added

Changed

Fixed

v0.7.0(Aug 22, 2021)

[0.7.0] - 2021-08-22

Added

Changed

v0.6.0(Aug 7, 2021)

[0.6.0] - 2021-08-02

Changed

Added

v0.5.0(Aug 2, 2021)

[0.5.0] - 2021-08-02

Added

v0.4.1(Jul 15, 2021)

[0.4.1] - 2021-07-15