Take a load off finding download files with Mac OS X's "Folder Actions"
© B Y ..S T E V E ..W E L S H
Oregon MacPioneers User Group (Omug)
Foreword: This column teaches you how to apply a simple Folder Action, giving you time-saving and organizational benefits -- for Mac beginners and intermediate users of OS X Panther 10.3 and Tiger 10.4.
Here is a Mac trick I've used for a long time, and I use daily. It’s something you set up once and then let it “do its thing” automatically whenever it is needed. The trick is just taking advantage of one of OS X’s cool features, Folder Actions.
What we are going to do is create a folder to hold our files that we download using Safari or another browser, or most any application that downloads files for you when you are online. It may also give you ideas on how to use it in a variety of other ways.
 |
First, create a new folder on your Desktop, name it “All Downloads” (without the quote marks, of course). |
Next, hold down the CONTROL key and click ONCE on your new All Downloads folder. In the contextual menu, choose “Configure Folder Actions.” This will open the Folder Actions Setup application (never knew you had THAT before, did you?). Make sure the “Enable Folder Actions” box at the top is turned ON (with a check-mark). Now go to the menu bar and QUIT the Folder Actions Setup app.
Back to the Desktop.
Again, hold down the CONTROL key and click ONCE on your All Downloads folder. Choose the “Attach Folder Action” command. A window now appears, showing you the contents of the Folder Action Scripts folder. The window should open in Multiple Columns view, so at the far right column (which shows you all the scripts), find the script with this name:
add - new item alert.scpt
Double-click on that script (or, click on it ONCE to highlight it, then click on the CHOOSE button).
You are done, you did it!
“Er, uh, what? I don’t see any fireworks?” you say.
Well, you will once you add anything to this folder. Try it. If you have any other files or folders on your Desktop, drag ONE of them into your new All Downloads folder.
See what happened?
An alert window popped up telling you a new item was added to your folder (see screenshot). Not only that, but it asks you if you want to view it, too. Cool. If you click “Yes” then it opens your folder and highlights the newly added item. Waaaaay cool.
The last step we need to do is tell Safari (or your other downloading app) where to put your downloads.
Open Safari, and choose PREFERENCES under the word “Safari” in the menu bar. In the Preferences window, make sure you click on the “General” tab/icon at the top. Next, look for the “Save downloaded files to:” popup button. Click on it and choose “Other” so you can navigate and find your All Downloads folder (on the Desktop). Choose it. Now you can close the Preferences window and quit out of Safari.
The next time you download a file in Safari up will pop that alert window indicating the download is finished and telling you that you have a new item in the All Downloads folder. Awesome!
You can now leave your All Downloads folder on your Desktop, or drag it into your Documents folder, or put it anywhere you want.
This also is a great trick if you are on a network and have a Public Folder used as a “drop box” and want to be alerted anytime someone in your office or classroom drops a file into that folder.
The alert window, by the way, will go away after a certain amount of time if you don't click on the YES or NO button.
One side note: When I download in Safari, the alert window pops up immediately as the download BEGINS -- this is because Safari immediately puts a temporary Safari file in the folder, which indicates a download is currently underway. I usually click "no" at this time, because the alert window WILL pop up again once the download is complete. Then I click "yes" and the file I now see in the All Download folder is the fully downloaded file.
Remember, you can always turn Folder Actions off later for any individual folder you've applied a Folder Action to in the Folder Actions Setup application (by UNCHECKING the box next to the specific folder). Or, you can turn Folder Actions off completely, thus making any actions INACTIVE for all applied folders.
END
Mac OS X (Apple):
http://www.apple.com/macosx/
Please remember that the above non-Omug links may or may not be active soon or long after this column was originally published; they are provided for your exploration and are not an endorsement by Omug or this author.
|
|
| Digital Bark archives:
12-7-05 - The digital sound revolution comes full circle
22nd century publishing to archives of 100-year-old Edison cylinder recordings.
1-5-06 - Ten commandments for iPod owners
Thou shalt enjoy thy iPod; serious thought for just about any iPod user.
1-22-06 - Do tell, it's Apple and Intel at MacWorld Expo
A look at the big news from S.F. and the impacts the new products will bring to many of us.
2-12-06 - Apple's unfamiliar territory: dominance
Like a child who went barefoot all his life and then puts on a new pair of running shoes, there is a bit of discomfort in some ways -- in the beginning at least -- to Apple's new dominance in the digital music world. But these new pair of shoes are well-earned, and they fit.
3-3-06 - "Come together, right now, over me" - The story of 2 Apples
A legal tussle that has lasted for years, it's time Apple Records and Apple Computer put their fists down and make up, for the sake of fans of both and all music lovers.
4-28-06 - Taking a load off finding download files using Folder Actions
Never used Folder Actions in OSX? No problem. Here's a simple one to try: giving a folder an automatic alert capability anytime something is added to that folder.
|
|
Other info
|
OMUG USE NOTICE:
Contents copyright and reserved by Omug and the individual author/creator. Non-profit Macintosh User Groups may, with Omug's permission, use an article/review or interview for use in that group's newsletter or magazine with proper author/creator and Omug credit, with a reference link to the Omug website.
"Digital Bark" name is copyright and reserved by Omug and its author.
All rights and content of this site are reserved by the statewide Oregon MacPioneers User Group (Omug); Omug News Releases should be used/reprinted in their entirety when possible. Any photographs or images accompanying used on this stie are copyright each photographer credited. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without expressed written permission of the author or photographer and Omug is prohibited.
Omug does not represent any individual Oregon MUG. This and all Oregon MUGs are non-profit organizations unless otherwise stated. All images or logos of Apple, Macintosh are either copyright or trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., and all other logos or trademarks above by our event contributers are used here in the spirit and support of this organization as a Mac Users Group. Omug (formerly Oregon YDKM Statewide UG) established 1999. Content of this site © copyright and reserved by Omug.
|
|
