How to Access Files in iCloud Drive in Browser on Mac

[imacken]

Can someone tell me how to access files on iCloud Drive in the Studio One Files tab of the Browser? Works OK in the 'Files>Open...' dialogue as that uses a Finder type box.

 

[SwitchBack]

I don't think you can. You have to drag the files/directories from the iCloud drive to a local drive and access them from there. Probably safer too, should you unexpectedly lose internet contact.

An alternative could be SoundCloud. Can't really comment as I haven't used it myself.

 

[Lukas]

Not a fan of virtual drives (iCloud etc.) for music production work, but you can try dragging the folder into the Files tab (onto an existing tab). If it works, then this will create a new tab with the desired folder.

 

[imacken]

Thanks guys.

Firstly, the files are stored locally as well as on iCloud Drive, so not having an internet connection isn't an issue. There is always that option in services like OneDrive, iCloud Drive. You can either store them in the cloud, or store locally with syncing to the cloud. Works very well and integrates nicely in general, but not apparently in Studio One.

Some of the folders are accessible to S1 as you can see from the 2 screenshots, but not completely.

The first one is from the S1 Browser. In that, the Documents and Desktop folder showing are on iCloud Drive, as are 'Studio One' and 'Sound Sets'. But, the other folders in iCloud Drive, e.g. Downloads, are not showing. (BTW, the 'Music' folder showing the S1 browser is not the 'Music' folder on iCloud Drive).

However, if you look at the 2nd screenshot showing the main S1 'File>Open' dialogue, you can see all files are visible.

There must be a way of showing this in the Browser tab. I should add that when I was using OneDrive, this issue did not arise.

 

[Lukas]

Not sure if you read my post...

 

[imacken]

I read it, but couldn't get it to work. What I can't see is why everything is accessible from the File menu in S1, but not in the Browser.

 

[Lukas]

I read it, but couldn't get it to work.

What does this mean? What didn't work? Did you look into the "Volumes" folder?

What I can't see is why everything is accessible from the File menu in S1, but not in the Browser.

There can be 500 reasons for this. Depends on how the cloud desktop app works.

 

[imacken]

What I meant was I couldn't get your workaround method to work. I tried dragging folders from Finder, but no luck. I'm obviously doing something wrong.

Yes, I looked in Volumes. Can't see where the files would be located.

I'm sure there are a million technical reasons why the situation is what it is, but what I meant was why do we not have the ability to see all files in the Browser. Worked fine in OneDrive and works OK in the main File menu.

 

[Lukas]

and works OK in the main File menu.

That's the File Selector provided by macOS.

What I meant was I couldn't get your workaround method to work. I tried dragging folders from Finder, but no luck.

Sorry, can't help without more details.

 

[imacken]

OK, so I worked out that the path to all the folders/files is '.../Users/xxx/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.....'. I created a 'New Tab From here' in the Browser, renamed it 'iCloud Drive' and all is well.
Thanks for your help. Still think that the Browser file dialogue could be improved though, especailly as some iCloud Drive files are listed and some are not. Shouldn't really have to go through that to reach the user's main files.

 

[Lukas]

Still think that the Browser file dialogue could be improved though, especailly as some iCloud Drive files are listed and some are not.

This is a system issue, not a Studio One issue. Users/xxx/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/ is the correct location, technically, so that's where you find your files. That's why I said these virtual folders and drives created by cloud services are tricky.

Shouldn't really have to go through that to reach the user's main files.

You can also use the method I suggested right at the beginning.

 

[imacken]

You can also use the method I suggested right at the beginning.

I tried, but couldn't get it to work. I think I would have to have located the files to create a tab, and that was the issue in the first place. I also tried dragging from Finder, but that didn't work either. I was probably missing something obvious!

 

[Lukas]

As I said, it's hard to give any advice because you didn't provide any screenshots, videos, or details. Dragging folders into the tab bar inside the Files tab works fine here on Windows - I currently can't test on macOS.

 

[imacken]

Thanks. I'm afraid dragging folders from Finder into the tab bar does not work, for me anyway. Dragging folders from the S1 Browser onto the tab bar does work, but as I said, in order for that to have worked, I would have to have been able to locate the files, and that was the issue.
Thanks for all your help though. At least the problem has been - sort of - resolved. All good!