{"id":"finder-location.do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts","url":"/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"shortcuts","title":"The shortcut left behind"},"question":"Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved?","alt_questions":["Will my build tools still find a relocated folder?","Does Terminal follow Storage Studio shortcuts?","relocated project folder still works in VS Code?","Can scripts read files that were moved to the external drive?","Will git work in a relocated folder?"],"short_answer":"Yes, while the drive is connected. The link at the original location is understood system-wide, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools find files at the same paths. With the drive unplugged those paths lead nowhere until it's back.","answer_markdown":"Yes, while the drive is connected. The link left at the original location is one the whole system understands, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools reach the files at the same paths as before.\n\nData Parking's **Relocate** action goes further for project-style folders: it keeps the folder structure in place on your Mac and replaces each file with a shortcut, so anything that walks through the folder still sees the same layout and file names.\n\nTwo things to keep in mind:\n\n- With the drive unplugged, those paths lead nowhere until you reconnect it.\n- A tool that deliberately refuses to follow links may treat the shortcut differently — that's rare, and **Move back** undoes the move.\n\nSee [the Data Parking window](/manual/tier).","answer_html":"

Yes, while the drive is connected. The link left at the original location is one the whole system understands, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools reach the files at the same paths as before.

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Data Parking's Relocate action goes further for project-style folders: it keeps the folder structure in place on your Mac and replaces each file with a shortcut, so anything that walks through the folder still sees the same layout and file names.

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Two things to keep in mind:

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See the Data Parking window.

","answer_text":"Yes, while the drive is connected. The link left at the original location is one the whole system understands, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools reach the files at the same paths as before.\n\nData Parking's Relocate action goes further for project-style folders: it keeps the folder structure in place on your Mac and replaces each file with a shortcut, so anything that walks through the folder still sees the same layout and file names.\n\nTwo things to keep in mind:\n\n- With the drive unplugged, those paths lead nowhere until you reconnect it.\n- A tool that deliberately refuses to follow links may treat the shortcut differently — that's rare, and Move back undoes the move.\n\nSee the Data Parking window.","tags":["developer","terminal","shortcut","data parking"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.is-a-storage-studio-shortcut-the-same-as-a-finder-alias","question":"Is Storage Studio's shortcut the same as a Finder alias?","url":"/faq/finder-location/is-a-storage-studio-shortcut-the-same-as-a-finder-alias"},{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What do moved files look like in Finder when my external drive is unplugged?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"},{"id":"moving-folders.what-is-the-shortcut-left-behind-after-a-move","question":"What is the shortcut Storage Studio leaves behind after a move?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-shortcut-left-behind-after-a-move"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes, while the drive is connected. The link at the original location is understood system-wide, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools find files at the same paths. With the drive unplugged those paths lead nowhere until it's back.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved?","path":"/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved?","alternateName":["Will my build tools still find a relocated folder?","Does Terminal follow Storage Studio shortcuts?","relocated project folder still works in VS Code?","Can scripts read files that were moved to the external drive?","Will git work in a relocated folder?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, while the drive is connected. The link left at the original location is one the whole system understands, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools reach the files at the same paths as before.\n\nData Parking's Relocate action goes further for project-style folders: it keeps the folder structure in place on your Mac and replaces each file with a shortcut, so anything that walks through the folder still sees the same layout and file names.\n\nTwo things to keep in mind:\n\n- With the drive unplugged, those paths lead nowhere until you reconnect it.\n- A tool that deliberately refuses to follow links may treat the shortcut differently — that's rare, and Move back undoes the move.\n\nSee the Data Parking window.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · The shortcut left behind

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Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved?

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Short answer: Yes, while the drive is connected. The link at the original location is understood system-wide, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools find files at the same paths. With the drive unplugged those paths lead nowhere until it's back.

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Yes, while the drive is connected. The link left at the original location is one the whole system understands, so Terminal, scripts, editors and build tools reach the files at the same paths as before.

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Data Parking's Relocate action goes further for project-style folders: it keeps the folder structure in place on your Mac and replaces each file with a shortcut, so anything that walks through the folder still sees the same layout and file names.

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Two things to keep in mind:

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  • With the drive unplugged, those paths lead nowhere until you reconnect it.
  • A tool that deliberately refuses to follow links may treat the shortcut differently — that's rare, and Move back undoes the move.
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See the Data Parking window.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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