[eduberaldo]

How do I do to see hidden files on a mac?
I'm using OS X 10.4.8.

What is really boring me is when I copy songs from a CD using iTunes, it creates a hidden file that goes in the folder with all the copied songs. When I put these songs in my MP3 player, the player always stops when jumping the songs.
I know they are hidden because a PC can identify them. So that I delete the files and everything goes right.

Does anyboy know how to deal with that?

Thanks a lot!

[Simon]

Navigate to the directory and type
ls -al
in the shell. You'll see all hidden files (the ones preceded by a '.') in that directory.

[dmetzcher]

You could try FinderCleaner, which will let you drop a volume or folder onto it in order to clean out the hidden files that Mac OS X creates. I use it before I eject a USB flash drive, so I don't have to see the hidden files on my Windows PC. You can find the software on MacUpdate.com.

[chabig]

iTunes isn't putting any hidden files on my machines. What are the names of these files?

Chris

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by chabig

iTunes isn't putting any hidden files on my machines. What are the names of these files?

Chris

It's probably the DS_Store files that the OS creates.

[TheoCryst]

I have a little AppleScript saved as an app that makes all hidden files visible. If you want me to send it to you, just PM me and I'll send it over to you.

[chris v]

TinkerTool also has a "show hidden files" option.

[dmetzcher]

Regarding an AppleScript that someone else mentioned...here is one that I use.

Paste the following into script editor. Save it as a script or application. It will ask you if you want to show or hide hidden files and folders. Click the button for your choice, and off you go.

Code:
display dialog "Hidden files and folders..." buttons {"Cancel", "Show", "Hide"} default button 1 with icon caution
if button returned of result = "Show" then
	do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
		killall Finder"
else if button returned of result = "Hide" then
	do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
		killall Finder"
end if

[eduberaldo]

Originally Posted by Simon

Navigate to the directory and type
ls -al
in the shell. You'll see all hidden files (the ones preceded by a '.') in that directory.

I'm sorry Simon.
In my opinion your option is the easier one but I think I didn't understand it correct.

Where do I write ls -al ?

I've tried also the FinderCleaner but It also didn't work.

I'm sorry. I'm a new user of Macintosh and doon't have much experience.

Thanks again.

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by eduberaldo

I'm sorry Simon.
In my opinion your option is the easier one but I think I didn't understand it correct.

Where do I write ls -al ?

I've tried also the FinderCleaner but It also didn't work.

I'm sorry. I'm a new user of Macintosh and doon't have much experience.

Thanks again.

You will need to launch Terminal and input the line into the command window.

It will display the files you are looking for, but then you will need additional Terminal commands to delete them. My AppleScript can be copied and pasted into Script Editor, which comes with every Mac, and run from there, or saved as a script file or application, and run any time you like. It displays the hidden files in the Finder, rather than using Terminal, which will allow you to delete them the same way that you would any other file or folder. Though using Terminal, because it's only one line of text needed to show the files, may seem easier to you, for your purposes, and at your user level, I think that using AppleScript to display the hidden files and folders (or one of the other applications that does this for you, as others have mentioned) is, in fact simpler.

Terminal is located in /Applications/Utilities.
Script Editor is located in /Applications/AppleScript.

The other applications, that allow you to turn on and off hidden files and folders have already been mentioned, and those will work as well, and in the same way that my script will work.

By the way, what are the names of the hidden files and folders that you want to delete?

[Simon]

OK, you get a shell with
/Applications/Utilities/Terminal

Type cd into the shell and drag the folder with the hidden files onto the shell window - this should add the appropriate path. Then hit return. Now you're in that folder. Type ls -al and hit return. That lists all files, also the hidden ones.

Type rm and the file name to remove a file. If you have special characters in the file name or spaces use quotes.

For more information on these shell commands, type man ls or man rm. Type q to leave the man pages. Have fun exploring the shell.

[eduberaldo]

Hey, guys!
Thanks a lot for yout attention and pacience answering my questions.
I'm a new user. Sorry. I didn't know much of all you were talking about but now things got clearer.
Thanks for the script. I also didn't know how to use it but now it's gonna be veeery useful.

Well... but I'm sorry to inform you that I stil cannot see the files that iTunes creates. I don't know why. My mp3 player can see them. A PC can also see them when setting it to show hidden files. These files are a copy of the songs but they are not songs. The name starts with "._" and then the track name. It's very strange that the finder cannot display them even using the comands you've told me.

But after all of that, I think the problem is in iTunes.
Is there anything to change in it's preferences?

This is getting really anoying.

Well...
If you still have pacience to answer I'll be greatfull. hehe

Thanks again.

[Simon]

Those are resource forks.

Back in the day Mac files consisted of two forks: a data fork and a resource fork. Windows uses only one fork, so does Linux. With OS X most files just have a data fork, but the OS knows about resource forks and hides them if they are around (that's why ls -al didn't help). Other OSes don't. That's why you see the same file twice when you're not on a Mac.

[Curiosity]

Originally Posted by Simon

Those are resource forks.

Back in the day Mac files consisted of two forks: a data fork and a resource fork. Windows uses only one fork, so does Linux. With OS X most files just have a data fork, but the OS knows about resource forks and hides them if they are around (that's why ls -al didn't help). Other OSes don't. That's why you see the same file twice when you're not on a Mac.

I thought those extra files were icon files, since the folders whose icons I change acquire extra hidden files, on the USB flash drive I use to transfer files between my Mac and my PC.

[Simon]

Resource files hold icon resources.

[eduberaldo]

Guys, thanks again for the attention.
You really cleared things.

So...
I'll have to learn how to live in peace with the resource forks hehehe

Thanks!

[Dale Sorel]

You can always install this then you can make everything visible from the Services menu.

[JKT]

Try WinFSCleanser