A resource for storing information which is available for a computer program. Computer files can be considered as the modern counterpart of paper documents.
23
votes
2answers
556 views
How did this ominous file end up in my Application Support folder?
Deleting this file will break the whole internets, for the sake of our children don't do it!.
The above quotation is the content of a text file called STR8369805638PUB6932583035105 that I found ...
15
votes
4answers
12k views
Why are dot underscore ._ files created, and how can I avoid them?
I am using different operating systems on different machines on different locations. I am using a USB flash disk to keep my files (source codes etc.).
I am new to Mac OS X and now I realize there are ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I create a symbolic link to a directory with a space in it?
I was trying to create a symbolic link using the following command:
ln -s "~/Foo Bar/" Foo
... but it didn't work (i.e. when I go into finder and try double clicking it, it says that it's pointing ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Finder takes long time to load some folders
When opening some folders, the Finder takes a long time (30-60 seconds) to load all the files in it. Specifically, these folders typically contain 10-50 PHP files (which are text files), each about 10 ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Adding tags to files in OS X: How to use, where are tags stored, and will they work on a network?
I've heard it is possible to add tags to a file's meta data in OS X, and have Spotlight search through such tags.
In a nutshell, how would one access this feature in Finder – not Spotlight ...
5
votes
1answer
85 views
What does Apple want for the WWDC Scholarship application uploads?
Note: This is not a wall of text question. It looks long, but basically boils down to just a few choices. The pictures are nice and big.
Hello,
I am trying to submit my app for the 2013 Student ...
4
votes
2answers
379 views
With FileVault enabled, do I need to overwrite my hard drive with 0's before getting rid of it?
When I give up my laptop I like to securely delete the hard drive. I would assume that since it's full disk encrypted using file vault that I should be able to just delete the real key for boot ...
3
votes
4answers
84 views
Mass change a portion of a file name?
I have a whole bunch of files named as following (example):
ADVANTE 18''8.0 PCD5'114.3 ET45 CB73.1.jpg
ADVANTE 18x8.0 PCD6139.7 ET20 CB110.2.jpg
ADVANTE 'A MI576B 20''8.5 PCD6'139.7 ET25 CB110.2 ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Deleting undated files from Time Machine
I just bought a new MacBook Pro with Lion. I restored my files and apps from the MacBook with Snow Leopard, etc., from Time Machine. All seemed to have uploaded correctly, but after using several ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
Space in Volume Name; can you remove?
I have two drives in my machine:
An SSD with the OS on it
a HDD with all my data.
I have a symlink on the SSD for my home directory on the HDD so /Volumes/SSD/Users/Ross/ points to ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
Can the Date Created metadata be changed after the fact on OS X?
I have a movie file. It was taken back in October but the date created is from last week. How can I change the date created information in the file?
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What format and encoding does iPhone save video clips in?
Using the default Photo/Video application. Tried to find any info regarding this on Apple's web site with no success. Does anyone have the specs on this?
2
votes
1answer
438 views
How do I batch set the files “date modified” to the “date created”?
I have a folder with a bunch of photos taken by two different cameras, with one camera having been set to the wrong date. I managed to correct the EXIF date using Picasa (see photo.stackexchange), but ...
2
votes
1answer
239 views
Force a file to overwrite instead of appending
I've got an application that won't overwrite a file with the same filename. It will only append the filename with a 'space 1'. If I write a file more than once I get something like this:
...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
How to use Finder to find all files that do not match a certain criteria?
How can I use Finder's search feature to find all files that do not match a certain criteria?
For instance, all files that don't end in ".txt" in the current folder.
2
votes
2answers
47 views
What application is using a particular file?
I have some FileMaker databases being served for dev purposes and I keep bumping into occurrences where the database/file is locked and I can't make changes to it.
How can I determine what ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Find files created by program
Is there an app out there that lets you see what files were created by a program? Basically I need to figure out where a lock file for a Java program is.
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Find original filename after Data Rescue recovery
Recently, I lost 1,7TB on videofiles on my external hard drive. A terrible loss since it took me many evenings categorising all this data.
With a deep-scan with DataRescue 3, I was able to recover ...
2
votes
1answer
236 views
Copy contents of a smart folder to a new folder in Mountain Lion
I admit that my music collection is a royal mess. This is the result of merging many sources of music (external drive, old iPod sync, iTunes purchases, etc) into my iTunes account. iTunes Match has ...
2
votes
1answer
153 views
Teach Safari to ignore case if necessary when opening local html file
I'm using Safari to read the HTML documentation that came with something. Many of the .html files contain links to others amongst themselves where the case of the URL does not match the name of the ...
2
votes
3answers
83 views
How can I disassociate a single app (e.g., XCode) from all file types it's mapped to? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to Change File Type Associations?
Every time I get a machine that I install XCode on, it associates itself with all kinds of filetypes. E.g., .xml, .rb, even .java! ...
2
votes
0answers
199 views
Double-clicking file from Finder does not open it in application [closed]
I have installed an application that is associated with a particular file type. When I double click a file of that type in Finder, the application starts, but does not open the file that was clicked. ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Repeated applications under Open With Menu [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why does my Mac’s list of “Open with” applications start listing the apps twice and sometimes three times?
When I right-click on a file and select Open With option, I ...
2
votes
0answers
140 views
What determines a local file's MIME type?
When a local file is opened in Safari or -- more important to my situation -- a custom application that uses a WebView for display, what decides on the MIME type to associate with the resulting file ...
1
vote
2answers
163 views
Hiding emacs backup files in Finder
I would like to find a way to hide all the *~ files in Finder, which are used as backup files by Emacs. Is there a general approach to make Finder hide all the files with their names matching certain ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Reduce image file size to certain size
I have some tiff files of (scanned docs) which are too large than required.
I tried to export with Preview while applying filter "Reduce File Size". The new file came out to be quite small 36KB ...
1
vote
1answer
555 views
How can I enable search by filename in finder on Lion
Before switching to Lion (on Snow leopard) I used to open a directory (like my Downloads) and start searching using the search box at the top right of the finder window for a file and there was an ...
1
vote
1answer
14 views
Where VIM keep its recordings?
I was trying to use VIM and it kept blinking "recording" all the time. Now I know that it means VIM was recording what I was typing. Where does it keep these recordings? I would like to delete these.
1
vote
1answer
83 views
I've wiped my WiFi icons and don't know which file to restore
I've been playing around with theming OS X, and in changing my menu bar icons to be white (to contrast my now-black menu bar) I've overwritten the original icons (and forgot to back them up).
Can ...
1
vote
2answers
125 views
Does OS X enforce a maximum filename length or character restriction?
What is the maximum filename character length of files in OS X?
Of secondary importance is whether some characters are allowed/disallowed in addition to any overall length restrictions.
1
vote
2answers
403 views
In Lion Spotlight search results, how do I find which folder contains a specific file?
I recently upgraded to Lion. I also installed Microsoft Office 2011. In Spotlight, how do I now find in which folder a document is? It used to be that hovering the mouse over the doc would show the ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
How to create own filename extension?
I want to have an extension, named .content, to store all files in it that are linked to the filename. The extension ".content" should be recognized by the OS as a file extension rather than a regular ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
Does anyone know what the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.npvdata.client is for?
I had a heck of a time with the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.npvdata.client. Looked like it was some kind of cryptographic key file, and when I went to edit it, not only could I not change it, but ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
file transfer from 10.4.11 to Mtn Lion
Will Migration Assistant let me transfer my files from my old Mac running Tiger 10.4.11 to Mountain Lion? I've read that it does not support moving files from 10.4 to Mountain Lion and didn't know if ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Prevent TextEdit from opening for unknown file types that are plain text
TextEdit is used by the system so it can't be removed, but I have another text editor I use and it causes confusion when text files that don't have a suffix or don't have a suffix which I've already ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Post a file from pages.app to a Yahoo! group
My wife and I can't figure out how to post a file from the Pages.app on her iPad to a Yahoo! group. From Pages.app, she can email the file to herself, but can't post it to the file sharing section of ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Difference between saving and exporting
I have read several questions (here and elsewhere) that look for applications that can save in a format instead of export in a format. What is the difference between saving in a format, and exporting ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
/var file buildup
I'm a (semi-new) Mac developer. I've been working on a component to my app that - in order to function properly - needs to download a fairly large file from the internet. I thought this file would be ...
0
votes
2answers
207 views
Force simple UNIX path names for optimal us of command line apps?
I want to force myself to use folder/file names without spaces etc. so I'm 100% certain I can open and run them from the command line.
Some terminal apps which I use frequently hava a hard time ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Setting “open with” default app forever
There is a nice option in MacOS X that you can right-click on a particular file, select "open with", then select the app that you want to use to open the file type and check the mark "always open ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Bug in 'file' command on 10.5.8? (Or am I doin' it wrong?)
On my OS X 10.5.8 system, the man page for 'file' says:
-h, --no-dereference
option causes symlinks not to be followed (on systems that support symbolic
links). This is the default if ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
web sharing on lion - odd behavior
In my Lion local web sharing folder, I noticed that I cannot change any of the files without typing in my password.
I also noticed that there's a folder called postgresql there.
I don't remember ...
0
votes
2answers
283 views
Copy new files only - is this possible? Basically want to merge two folders
I have a folder on Drive 1 called Music, and it is 100GB. I have a folder on Drive 2 called Music, and it is 116GB. It's the most updated version. How do I copy the Music folder from Drive 2 to Drive ...
0
votes
1answer
402 views
Open .theme file in Mac OS X Snow Leopard
I've done a brilliant stupidity...
I have a Jailbroken iPhone and have iFile on that. I wanted to edit a Winterboard theme that I had downloaded, so I fired up iFile's inbuilt Web Server and ...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
Difference between “Plain Text” and “Plain Text Document” in Mountain Lion?
I'm new to Apple and Mountain Lion so please bear with me if this is a obvious question.
I have to files with the txt extension which has been created by a small program I've written.
The method for ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Is it possible to check which application has accessed a file last?
I can check when a file was accessed last with ls -lu path/to/file | awk '{print $6,$7,$8}' but can I also see what application accessed it?
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Make JSON files to have TextMate2 icon
I have all the JSON files on my system set to open with TextMate 2.
When I get Info on one of these .js files, I see the TextMate 2 icon on the corner. But, how do I make for the TextMate icon to ...
0
votes
0answers
71 views
Need Quicklookd file
I was messing with my iPhone 5's "quicklookd" file and it got deleted so now I cannot pull up email in any apps or picture messages when received through iMessage or regular text. Is it okay to copy ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Difference between du and Finder file sizes
I was having a look at the size of libBLAS.dylib at some location in my Mac and du showed it's file size as 572K while the allocated file size (showed by Finder) was 1.4MB. I've read that the lack of ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
How can I configure inclusive file access permissions?
Suppose that I have a particular folder. I want a new user to only have access to this folder and absolutely no other files or folders on the system.
Is this possible in Mountain Lion? If so, how?
...
