Controlling installation location, and other folders on Mac OS.

[matt.saxey]

Hi 

First post here...

On my Mac, I want Fusion F360 in the system Applications folder, not the one associated with my account. If I move them from the  "/Users/matts/Applications" folder, they reappear.

On launch F360 also creates "/Users/matts/Documents/Fusion 360", and some sub-folder. I want to manage the location of this folder.

Any suggestions? 

[jhackney1972]

Installation and use of Fusion 360 is linked to the User account folders and cannot be changed.  This is due to the fact it is a cloud based application and use a common install location for everyone.  

[matt.saxey]

Hi John,

Well, that's a shame.

I tend to think that the app location is more of a design decision than a requirement of the system. But, if it can't be changed, there's no point in complaining. 🙂

Any thoughts on the other folder? Can that be moved?

Matt

[jhackney1972]

All folders related to the installation and operation are controlled by Fusion 360.  You only have control where you export local files.

[GLOUPY]

Your answer doesn't make sens...

Google drive is cloud based and not in the user application folder.

Dropbox is cloud based and not in the user application folder.

Even messaging apps like facebook messenger or skype are not tied to the user application folder.

[jhackney1972]

That is the way it is, accept it or do not use Fusion 360.

[byronlevy]

I have this exact same complaint. Applications need to be accessible for all users on a computer. For example, I have an admin account and a general account. The general account is used by freelancers, but they aren't able to open the software unless it's installed on that general. The problem with that is revealed when switching back to the admin account and the program is rendered unusable by the double installation.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

You would have to explain that in more detail.
Fusion is tied to the account owner, but not to a computer.

günther

[bentwookie]

Unless the binaries themselves are signed to a specific user (and I don't believe that they are) the traditional way of deploying an app on the Mac is to put the executable in /Applications and any supporting goop in /Library/Application Support. Any data/caches/etc specific to the user goes in ~/Applications Support. It's been this way since NeXT.

That's a long way of saying the OS is built to support Byron's situation: Different OS users with different (or the same) Autodesk logins using the same executable. Couldn't tell you why Fusion doesn't do it. Most apps work this way.

[matt.saxey]

This definitely installs for a single user. There are lots of companies putting software on the Mac, but trying to preserve a style of function across a range of platforms (microsoft, adobe, google). Therefore dialogs and UI elements are not based around macOS. I can understand why software developers do this, but it makes the user experience nasty for people who like/understand the Apple version. 

[byronlevy]

Any time I install a piece of software whether that is Firefox, or chrome, or the Adobe Suite, or Apple compressor they all end up in the applications folder. This applications folder is accessible to all user accounts on an individual computer. A very common scenario for all Mac based businesses is to have one admin account and additional privilege restricted accounts. This is typical for freelancers coming to work on the other companies computers.

The admin account is typically the only account allowed to install software and or make changes to a variety of privileges for computer and hard drive access. As I have explained when Fusion 360 is installed its location ends up in the users application folder, which is inaccessible to other user accounts on the computer. However, as I mentioned every other piece of software I have installed goes to the correct place and it's not uncommon for a prompt to appear asking me where I would like to install a new package of software. This prompt does not appear during fusion 360 installation, it just automatically defaults to the wrong place.

[GLOUPY]

jhackney1972  in reply to: GLOUPY 

"That is the way it is, accept it or do not use Fusion 360."

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Does not change the fact that it is a really annoying way...

[byronlevy]

Or Maybe, making the developers aware of this issue will allow them to correct it. As it is a critical flaw in the installation process. I can say for certain any mac based business with a handful of employees most likely wouldn't consider this program just for this, seemingly easily corrected, error.