Alias folder connections

You can give folder connections an alias. An alias is a display name that appears in the Catalog pane, catalog views, and browse dialog boxes. You can use an alias, for example, to tell apart folders that have the same names but different paths. An alias doesn't change folder or path names in the operating system—it is different from renaming an item. A folder connection alias appears with a unique icon .

In this example, aliases distinguish folder connections that have the same name but are located on different drives.

Only folder connections can have aliases. You can't give aliases to subfolders under a folder connection, to folders in portal collections, or to other types of item connections, such as database or toolbox connections. Also, you can't give an alias to a folder connection in your project favorites collection. If you add a folder connection that has an alias to your favorites collection, the alias does not appear.

An alias is specific to the project in which it is used. For example, a folder connection to C:\MyData\Iceland\Heimaey can have an alias in one project but no alias, or a different alias, in another project.

Certain special characters aren't allowed in aliases. If you use one of these characters, an error message appears when you press Enter.

In this example, the alias is not accepted because it includes quotation marks.

Note:

If a folder connection has an alias, you can't rename the folder in the Catalog pane or the Contents pane of a catalog view. However, you can rename the folder in a catalog view or browse dialog box, which maintain the Name and Alias properties in separate columns.

Give a folder connection an alias

Use the Change Alias command to give an alias to a folder connection or to change an alias. You can give a folder connection an alias in the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or a browse dialog box.

1. Access the Change Alias command in any of the following ways:

   In the Catalog pane or the Contents pane of a catalog view	Right-click a folder connection, point to Alias , and click Change Alias . Click a folder connection to select it and press Shift+F2.
   In a catalog view	Right-click a folder connection, point to Alias , and click Change Alias . Click a folder connection to select it. Press Shift+F2. In the Column display , click a folder connection to select it. Click once in the Alias column.
   On a browse dialog box	In the contents list, right-click a folder connection, point to Alias , and click Change Alias . In the contents list, click a folder connection to select it and press Shift+F2. In the contents list, click a folder connection to select it. Click once in the Alias column. Click the Organize drop-down arrow, point to Alias , and click Change Alias .

   An editable text box appears.

2. In the text box, type the alias you want and press the Enter key.

   The alias appears wherever the folder connection is displayed.

   

   In a catalog view or on a browse dialog box, you see both the folder name and its alias. In the Catalog pane, only the alias is displayed; however, the folder name appears in the item pop-up.

   Tip:

   Press the Esc key to cancel changing an alias or if an alias is not accepted.

Remove an alias

You can remove an alias from a folder connection in the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or on a browse dialog box.

1. Right-click a folder connection and point to Alias .
2. Click Remove Alias .