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Shared Device in Dock

This Hint outlines a simple process to create a icon in the Dock to connect to a shared Drive/Folder. Most users connect to a shared device via the Finder's Go menu. This requires that the user selects the Connect to Server option, selects in the new window the folder/drive from the Favorite Servers list and clicks the Connect button. A total of 4 steps, by following the process outlined below this can be reduced to two simple click actions.

Before starting we need to check the Finder’s Preference Settings to make sure that the Show Connected servers on the Desktop option is selected:

Now, connect to your shared drive/folder via the Finder's Go menu. After being connected you should have a Shared Device icon on the desktop like this one:

Now all you have to do drag the GroupShare icon from the Desktop to the Dock below the Separator Bar:

You will notice that the icon changed from a Shared Device to a Folder once inside the Dock. That is because we mounted the folder via the Connect to Server command.

If we had not mounted the folder, such as just having logged in, the Dock would show the GroupShare as a Shared Device icon:

It is import to recognize the two different icon of the GroupShare as it will determine what a single click to it will do.

If in the unmounted (Device Share icon view) the first click will mount the folder resulting in icon changing to a folder which tells us that the device is available for further action, such as opening it in a Finder window or accessing from within an application.

If in the mounted mode (Folder icon view) a click on the folder icon will open a new window displaying the folder content:

You can now either open a real Finder window by clicking on the Open in Finder icon:

Or select on of the folder by clicking on it to open it in a Finder window, such as opening the Company Procedure & Policies folder:

You can now drop and drag files and folder between your own system drive and the shared folder, as well as creating and/or deleting new folders and files.