An alias functions in much the same way as a Windows shortcut. It provides an icon that points to the original file and this icon can be placed anywhere (in a stack on the dock, the desktop, etc) while requiring minimal storage space. Using the File –> Make Alias method takes a little more effort than I like, since not ony do you have to select the items from the menu, you have to clean up the alias name so that it no longer includes the word “alias.”
You can use a simple keyboard combination while dragging the icon to the desired location and have a quick and easy alias with minimal effort.
1. Find the application, file, etc. that you wish to create an alias for.
2. Use the keyboard combination of Option+Command Key while dragging the icon to the desired location will create a fully functional alias for that file. The bonus is that there is no need to clean up the name of the alias, it only contains the name of the target file.
