Opening files from Windows WM on Mac

[JMprod]

Hello,

I'm able to open files that are stored on my Desktop and Documents from Windows to my macOS application, but not files stored at other Windows locations. VMware mention sharing options, but I have absolutely no idea about how to share folders to my macOS, and I can't find any documentation on this when searching.

-JM

[ColoradoMarmot]

So you can share files from the mac with windows via VMWare sharing.  To share windows files with the mac, you need to use windows sharing in the guest, then mount that as a network drive on the mac.

[scott28tt]

Same issue as before?

Not able to open files/Mac application from VMware

[JMprod]

No - that was an issue related to an undocumented problem/bug when importing a virtual machine from Parallels.

Now I'm looking for how to enable Windows to open files on macOS from other locations than the typical shared folders like Desktop and Documents.

[scott28tt]

So you can do that via network sharing, as if the Mac and Windows systems were both physical.

On Windows, share a folder: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4092694/windows-10-file-sharing-over-a-network

Then connect your Mac to that shared folder: Connect to a Windows computer from a Mac - Apple Support

[JMprod]

Unfortunately it does not work, even if sharing to 'everyone' the Folder; the virtual computer don't show up when I browse the network.

[scott28tt]

Try the smb:// option, and if that doesn’t work make sure the Windows firewall is allowing connections from the network that the Mac is on.

[wila]

Hi,

In addition to what has been said, you can also used VMware shared folders.

In that scenario you are saving your files directly to a folder at the host, not in the guest file system.

Depending on some requirements this can work either pretty well or -in the case of some heavier use- not exactly satisfactory.

For me it normally falls in the "pretty well" scenario, but I do not run databases on there nor do I use folders with thousands of files in those shares.

In order to setup shared folders, you go to menu "Virtual Machine" -> Sharing -> Sharing Settings.

Make sure the "Enable Shared Folders" is already checked (I think it is from your original post) and then add new shares via the "+" button.

With that button you can add folders at your host, to become accessible to your guest. Either "read&write" or "read only".

These shared folders will then show up in your guest, Windows Explorer -> This PC -> Network locations

Normally I would exclude those folders from antivirus products in the guest (as it can seriously slow things down)

Hope this helps,

--

Wil

[ColoradoMarmot]

FWIW, that's exactly the method I use, because it 'just works'.  Windows file sharing over networks with mac's can be a challenge, even without a VM involved.

[JMprod]

I wonder why this is so complex. On Parallels; it just works. Even the VMware documentations is quite un-intuitive imho.

May the developers make a visual guide on how to enable files til be opened in macOS from 'random' folders in a Windows10 vm?

More details:

I have a program installed in a Dropbox folder in Windows, and need to run it from there, but I'm not able to open any of the files the program store in it's program folder after moving to VMware, generally - a lot of functions that worked in Parallels is not working at all any more. Not that I understand why, but the program is even not able to access an FTP-server that are needed for some functionality, also; works perfectly in Parallels without any special configuration.