HT4847 How can I store files on iCloud?

Question

How can I store files on iCloud?

Answer 1

Actually, I have found that this is very possible, combining several other tips from around the web, though perhaps not easy.  I am using Moutain Lion.  I am assuming that you have already activated and signed into iCloud previously.  Here are the steps for creating a cloud storage location that you can drage any file into, and access from any of your Macs:
1) Create a new folder in the directory that is synced with iCloud.  Start by opening a Finder window, and going to the ~/Library/ directory.  Do this by typing Shift-Command-G while the Finder is open, and typing ~/Library in the goto window.  Next, open the directory "Mobile Documents".  Finally, Control-Click inside the Finder and select the "New Folder" option, naming it whatever you like -- I chose "iCloud".
2) Step two is about creating a shortcut to this iCloud folder in the Finder.  You cannot directly drag the iCloud folder into the Favorites section of the Finder, but you can do this:  Control-Click on your new folder, and select "Make Alias".  Now, drag this alias over to your Favories panel in the finder.  You will be prompted whether you really want to move the Alias out of iCloud: Say "Yes".  Now, delete the Alias -- you don't need the original instance of it any more. (Alternatively, you can skip to the end of step 3 and drag the symbolic link into the Finder Favorites)
3) Step three is about being able to access this iCloud folder from the Unix command line, and from the Desktop GUI.  Open a Terminal window (Launchpad => Other => Terminal).  By the way, I recommend putting the Terminal into your Taskbar, if it isn't already.  You should be in your home directory ... to verify, type "cd" and press Enter.  Now, create a Unix symbolic link (an Alias won't work for this) to the actual location of the iCloud folder:
Type "ln -s ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents/iCloud/ iCloud" and press enter.  The command should be entered precisely, I recommend cut and paste.  The first character is a lower case "L" and there is a space after the backslash between "Mobile" and "Documents".  You should now have a symbolic link to the iCloud folder created.  To view it in the Finder, go to your home directory: Shift-Command-G, and then enter "~/" into the window.  You should see a folder called "iCloud" there, with a little arrow animation in the corner.  You can drag this into the Taskbar to have a permanent clickable shortcut.  You can also access the contents of this folder through the terminal.  From your home directory, just type "cd iCloud" and press Enter.  You are now in the iCloud folder (or more properly, your local version of it), and can use the usual Unix tricks ... "ls" to list contents, "mkdir ABCD" to make a new directory called "ABCD", "mv a.txt b.txt" to rename a file "a.txt" into "b.txt", etc.
4) Step four is about accessing this folder on other machines.  On a second Mac, repeat all of the steps above *EXCEPT* for creating the New Folder in step 1 ... it already exists, but you can get it into your finder bar, and create sym-links in the same way from there.
The great thing about this is that when you work, you are editing a *local* copy of the file, so you can work offline if you like.  Then, whenever you have internet access, the *actual remote* cloud copy of any new or modified files is uploaded.  Likewise, updated files are downloaded from the cloud to get your local files into sync.  You have the benefit/safety of a local hard copy, AND the portability (and extra safety) of cloud storage.  It's exactly what I wanted, and it works like a dream.  Plus, time machine can back up your *local* copies, to maintain version history.  I'm not quite sure what happens if you try to simultaneously edit a file from two places, but don't do that.
Hope that helps you!
JWSpaceman