[topcat]

In OS X, is there a way to see Unix invisible files, for example ".login", in a Finder window? I realize you can find them through the Find function, but that's not the same thing.

[Neo.cmg]

Originally posted by topcat:
In OS X, is there a way to see Unix invisible files, for example ".login", in a Finder window? I realize you can find them through the Find function, but that's not the same thing.

No you can't see them in the finder. You can see them by listing them in your shell with ls -a

Neo.cmg

[Terri]

Install Tinker Tool, it's free.

Then you van use it to toggle invisibles on and off. You can force quit the Finder so that you don't need to log out and in to see them.

This is a real pain in the ass and there should be a setting per folder for this.

It's driving me crazy with my htaccess files.

[awaspaas]

you can access invisible folders like ~/.ssh and /var by using Go To Folder... in the Finder, too.

[megasad]

Originally posted by Terri:
This is a real pain in the ass and there should be a setting per folder for this.

It's driving me crazy with my htaccess files.

The solution that I use is to make an alias to each .htaccess file and store it in the same folder as the actual file, call the alias htaccess. Or you just keep all the aliases in the same folder, whichever suits your needs best.

[Terri]

Originally posted by megasad:
The solution that I use is to make an alias to each .htaccess file and store it in the same folder as the actual file, call the alias htaccess. Or you just keep all the aliases in the same folder, whichever suits your needs best.

That doesn't work if they are htaccess files on remote •nix boxes and you need to download them to edit them. Or when other people mail them to me. Also I get sites on removable discs from customers.

[Homer1946]

Originally posted by Terri:
That doesn't work if they are htaccess files on remote ?nix boxes and you need to download them to edit them. Or when other people mail them to me. Also I get sites on removable discs from customers.

I agree. Just use Tinker Tool. Its primary advantage is that, it doesn't actually do anything, it just activates an already existing capability within the finder that Apple just simply hasn't provided us an interface to.

(You can also create a different user in which the Finder pref is always set this way)

Change it, restart the Finder, and viola.

I also agree that is you are a CLI pro, or frequently need access to invisible files, there are probably better ways.

But the Tinker Tool way is simple, and pretty much idiot proof (which is why I like it)

(You can also toggle the Finder pref to hidden files/folders manually, either via a terminal command, or by editing the Finder .plist file).

-R

[megasad]

Originally posted by Terri:
That doesn't work if they are htaccess files on remote ?nix boxes and you need to download them to edit them. Or when other people mail them to me. Also I get sites on removable discs from customers.

Hoom. For editing .htaccess files on my server I use Transmit combined with BBEdit; work on the files and save them direct to the server. But with regards receiving them via email or on disks, I'd probably just use the Terminal.

[topcat]

Thanks to Terri for tipping me off to TinkerTool. It's exactly what I needed.

- topcat