Automator -- Find X name contains - why can't i?

i really dislike the way spotlight searches, I nearly always have to stop, change to "name contains" then use that box to search.
I thought Automator could skip those steps for me. There IS an action "Find Finder items" and it defaults to "name contains", interestingly. First I tried making that action by itself a workflow, then an app. I could get it to bring up the search by name contains window, but after I entered my term and hit return, the box went away and no results appeared anywhere.
So then I fumbled around trying to create a new folder, then search...no.
This seems the essence of simplicity..what am I missing?

Sounds like you're using the Finder's Find function, because a pure Spotlight search doesn't have a "name contains" option. You can replace the default Finder Find window by creating a new smart folder: Finder->File->New Smart Folder, tailor it to your needs, including where you want it to search by selecting Other and adding items. Mine has filename contains (not name contains—they're two different animals) and it searches in /System and /Library. Once you've tailored it properly, enter a name window, and save it to the Desktop. Once that's done, then drag it into TextEdit and change:
<key>RawQuery</key>
<string>(kMDItemFSName = '*<name you searched for>*'cd) && (kMDItemContentType != com.apple.mail.emlx) && (kMDItemContentType != public.vcard)</string>
<key>SearchCriteria</key>
to read:
<key>RawQuery</key>
<string></string>
<key>SearchCriteria</key>
and save the file. Rename it default_smart.plist
Open /System/Library/CoreServices/, CONTROL_click on the Finder.app, and select show package contents. Drill down to /Contents/Resources/, rename the current default_smart.plist to default_smart.plist.bak, drag the default_smart.plist from the Desktop into /Contents/Resources/, close all windows, OPT-click on Dock's Finder icon, and select Relaunch. Now, CMD+F and see your new default Find window.
G4 450 MP Gigabit Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Similar Messages

How do I find file names containing special character

hi all
I need your help with a code that deals with finding file names containing special characters like * / \ : ? " |
the reason is I am doing a project that transfer files and folders from Mac to Windows. But names containing above characters cant be moved to windows.
the part of the code I write is like this
set illegal_syntax to paragraphs of (do shell script "find " & quoted form of POSIX path of oneFolder & " -name '*'")
if (illegal_syntax is not equal to {""}) then
repeat with each_record in illegal_syntax
do shell script "/usr/bin/ditto -c -k -rsrc --keepParent " & quoted form of each_record & space & quoted form of (each_record & ".zip")
end repeat
end if
First of all that '' will gives me an error.
Second, what i tried to do is once the file/folder is found, zip it at current location. But the problem is how can I zip it without the special character? or should I just give it a name, like "originalfile.zip";?
Last, or maybe you have better idea to deal with this situation? BTW, I can not rename or delete the file/folder because customer won't allow me to do it.

The backslash is used to escape characters in AppleScript, so if you want to use it in a string you need to escape the escape character, for example "\\*".
You could set the name of the archive by replacing the illegal character with another one, such as an underscore:
<pre title="this text can be pasted into the Script Editor" style="font-family: Monaco, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid #000000; width: 720px; color: #000000; background-color: #FFDDFF; overflow: auto">set each_record to "some*file*name" -- example
set {TempTID, AppleScript's text item delimiters} to {AppleScript's text item delimiters, "*"}
set the ItemList to text items of each_record
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to "_"
set each_record to the ItemList as text
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to TempTID
log each_record --> some_file_name
</pre>

After loading Mavericks(terrible name,btw), why can't I see a way to sync/update my contacts on itunes anymore? hm????

After loading Mavericks(terrible name,btw), why can't I see a way to sync/update my contacts on itunes anymore? hm????
And I can't seem to be able to sync contacts at all. Not at all.... Really... Not happening...
Contacts has always been a sketchy, inferior application, now with the NEW Mavericks, it's not even working. sigh.

paulinefromkatonah wrote:
Mavericks(terrible name,btw)
It's named after a favorite surfing beach in California. Many companies are now using names of places because then they know the name doesn't violate a trademark in any of hundreds of countries. Thinking up product names is very difficult, legally speaking. Place names are convenient.

Finder search name contains

I just purchased a new MacBook Pro with 10.8.2 installed. I used Migration Assistant to move my account from my old MacBook Pro running 10.7.8 to this laptop. When I did a file search in a finder window with 10.7.8, I got a drop down that was "name contains", so I could type in a piece of the filename I was looking for. On the new laptop with 10.8.2, the file search in the finder window comes up with a dropdown that is "name matches" as the only option and I have not figured out a way to change this either for the current search or permanently.
Any ideas how to fix this?

Well, yes, there's at least 5 people who want system files in the results of all searches.
That also blocks access to home folder stuff, especially the, IMO, stupidly hidden user's Library folder and its contents. It's crippled because there are no preferences that users can use to tailor their searches, globally. The only option is to use savedSearches. I've been dealing with this dumbing down of Spotlight since Leopard days. See these for some historical background (from https://discussions.apple.com/message/16663484#16663484— start at the top:
See http://www.pinkmutant.com/articles/Leopard/leospot.html and http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/stopspotlightindex.html then my mod to Finder's Find at http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080229204517495 for what you can change so you can find stuff excluded by the default structure. See http://lonestar.utsa.edu/llee/applescript/customfindSN.html for a Snow Leopard fix.
Finally, DL and peruse the Spotlight Query manual.

OS 10.4.11 can find my internal modem, why can't OS 10.5 find it?

My G4 meets all the technical specs to run OS 10.5.
PowerPC G4 (2.1) running at 933 MHz with 512 MB of memory.
And OS 10.5 installs without a hitch. But it can't locate my internal modem!
And, yes, for the duration of my unemployment, my internal dial-up modem is my only access to the Internet, and to System Updates, and little things like that.
Here are the specs on my internal modem:
Apple Modem V.90 "Spring" Serial
Hardware Version: 7.0F
Firmware: Apple Version 0007, 7/31/2000
Driver: com.apple.driver.AppleSCCSerial (v1.3.0)
I have looked for firmware and driver updates, but perhaps I missed something.
I feel like y'all have been Raptured, and I have been Left Behind!

Good thinking, Mr. Paycheck! (And thank you for your interest in this admittedly behind-the-times technical glitch.)
I inherited my OS 10.5 Install DVD from my folks, who also ran a PowerMac G4. It's the original Install 10.5.0 DVD, rather than an upgrade disk, I think. (But I will double-check with them, to ascertain that.)
The DVD is unscuffed, and verifies itself just fine. But, as you point out, maybe the DVD was composed with a different iota of hardware in mind. Does Apple do that? Does it make commercial sense to print up a different 10.5 disk for, say, a G4 with a different internal modem?
The Apple moves in mysterious ways.

Why can't LabVIEW 2011 find my PXI?

I'm migrating some real-time Projects from older versions of LabVIEW (8.6 and 2010) to LabVIEW 2011. For the older systems, I installed the appropriate Real-Time software (matching version numbers) on a PXI controller, which MAX saw just fine. When I opened my Project, I chose a New Target and had it look for an existing Real-Time PXI -- it always found the PXI without trouble.
I've just taken another PXI controller (8176) and installed LabVIEW 2011 RT on it. Curiously, during the installation process, MAX identified it (and still does) as a Generic Desktop PC, and when it finds it, gives it a PC-looking icon instead of a PXI chassis icon. When I open my Project in 2011 and try to add this PXI as a target, it finds no Real-Time PXIs. Why is this?
There's a VI called RT Ping Controllers that can find all the PXI controllers -- it finds my PXI, and identifies it (correctly) to me by the name I assigned it, so LabVIEW 2011 can definitely "see" this controller, even if Project (apparently) cannot.
I'm beginning some tests involving TCP/IP (and Network Streams) with this controller and configuration. I've had success with doing this in LabVIEW 2010, but in a (single!) test I've done with this new LabVIEW 2011 RT system, I couldn't "connect". I haven't beaten this system enough, nor done a side-by-side comparison of equivalent code on a LabVIEW 2010 and LabVIEW 2011 system, but would appreciate it if anyone (else) has had issues (or, better, successes) with PXI-related Real-Time in LabVIEW 2011.

Hello,
What version of Measurement Automation Explorer and the NI-DAQmx driver do you have? Also, here is article that you may find of some use:
Why can't I add my Real-Time Target in Project Explorer?
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/40BF6300E77E8AD4862574EF006F2793?OpenDocument
Regards,
Patricia B.
National Instruments
Applications Engineer

Why can't you guys make the name bit short/stylish...

I am very much impressed with the new SKYPE for Business look and feel. And am using this for business purposes regularly .. But what i don't like is its long name..why can't you guys make the name bit short/stylish/convenient ?..will be difficult to say every time that i am using "Skype for business.....".. Please make these short and impressive !!!..

Thank you for your feedback! I will pass this on internally.
What are your thoughts about this forum? Let us know by doing this short survey.

Exporting to Facebook - why can't I use the old plug-in?

It's nice that iPhoto '09 tried to help us with the Facebook exporter built-in. But why couldn't they make it useful? Why can't I tag people before I upload them? Why can't I upload photos to an existing album? I wouldn't mind so much, but they seemed to have disabled the existing (working) plug-in that was available. So now I have to export the pictures to my desktop and upload them through Facebook. Hmm...doesn't seem too user-friendly.

Exporting to Facebook - why can't I use the old plug-in?
Have you considered asking the author of the plug-in?
It's nice that iPhoto '09 tried to help us with the Facebook exporter built-in. But why couldn't they make it useful?
Millions upon millions of people do find it very useful
Why can't I tag people before I upload them?
You can - have you watched the iPhoto tutorials?
Why can't I upload photos to an existing album?
You can IF the album was created by iPhoto
Do you have an iPhoto question that one of the iPhoto users who volunteer here might be able to help with?
LN

Why can't I install 10.4.8 or 10.4.10 from an Mac OS Install Disk

Okay, I am really frustrated. I have dial-up-no choice-can't get anything else in this mountain town. So in order to update, I have to use a disk, it takes WAY to long to download-over 14 hours-and the computer drops the connection after 12 hours. So, as recommended, I got an Install Disk. When I loaded it, restarted to get in to install, the computer turned on, screen went grey, and then all this type formed down the screen. The first line went something like this: panic(cpu o caller..unable to find driver for this platform:powermac8.2
Why is it unable to find the plateform? Why can't I upgrade from 10.4.5? I can't even use my iTunes anymore. Is there anyway to get me going with the updated OS system? Do I need to inclue my hardware overview for this problem? I just want something current on my computer since I can't get away from dial up!

Amber:
The brank new iMacs have process chips made by Intel and are therefore called Intel Macs. The older Macs have what are called PowerPC processors, made by Motorola and are called PowerPC macs. The install disks from one platform will not run on the other. Besides Computer specific or upgrade versions should be avoided since they are optimized for the computer to which they are specific and will therefore, very likely, cause problems during or after installation. On the legal side, it may be a violation of the Software License Agreement which statesThis License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single computer at a time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time...
Cheers.
cornelius

RENAME: When I rename a photo why can I not find it doing a search? The photo obviously keeps its old name even though it has a new one IPhoto 09

When I rename a photo why can I not find it doing a search? The photo obviously keeps its old name even though it has a new one> IPhoto 09

Thanks, that makes sense. If I do a search in IPhoto I find it. I have 6 grand children and also have had my camera for quite awhile and it starts file names over again after 10,000 pictures. (I don't have all these on the computer) but now I have some files with the same name ie img_4 and img_4
Thanks again for your help!!
HC

It can't find URL when i use HLS for vod and the vod file name contain Chinese.

It can't find URL when i use HLS for vod and the vod file name contain Chinese。eg： http://127.0.0.1:8134/hls-vod/你好.mp4.m3u8.
How does it support Chinese path?

To answer the post title FireFox save all downloads automatically in the download folder, which you can find in the Documents folder. If you want to choose where to save your downloads go to tools>options>check always ask me where to save files.
Secondly, I am assuming you have IE 8 installed as this is the only version that supports this fix that is currently not in beta. Go to control panel>internet options>advanced tab and reset the settings at the bottom. This may or may not fix the problem but it is a good first step.

Why can't I get Automator to open multiple files at once?

I'm trying to do something relatively simple with Automator: I want it to open (in Photoshop) all RAW files within a certain folder. Here is what I have:
1. Get folder contents
2. Filter Finder items: Name Extension Contains "RAW"
3. Open Finder items: Open with Adobe Photoshop
When I save this as a Finder plug-in and apply it to a folder, it only opens the first RAW image in PS. It is possible to open multiple RAW images at once in Photoshop, so that's not the problem. Somehow I can't tell get Automator to open ALL the RAW images in the folder, not just the first one. I've tried substituting "Find Finder Items" for "Filter Finder Items" but the result is the same.
What am I missing? A million thanks to anyone who can give me a solution!

If your using PSCS2 I assume you also have Adobe Bridge.
The best I can come up with is a workflow that filters RAW files out of a mixed file folder into their own folder, then opens that folder in Bridge, from where, with a command-a (to select all) and command-o (to open), you get all of your RAW files up in the RAW converter.
1. Get Specified Finder Items (Make this source folder)
2. Get folder contents
3. Filter finder items
4. New Folder (Target for filtered results)
5. Open finder items (Open with Bridge)
I've tried adding an Open with Photoshop as a last step and for some reason it bypasses the RAW converter and pops them straight into PS.
IMHO, it's just as easy to use the Adobe Bridge, and open the files you want direct from there.

Why can't I find contents in eg. .php files?

If I press "Apple+F" in Finder to bring up the search dialog, and try to search files where "Name contains .php" and "Contents whatever", Finder show me the .php files in the folder when specifying the first criteria, but as soon as I start typing a text to search for in "Contents" all the .php files disappear again even though the search text is found in some of the .php files.
I tried creating a simple text file and copied it to test.php, test.css, test.html, test.xml and test.whatever. Search for contents works fine for the files with extension .html, .xml and .whatever, but for .css and .php it doesn't work.
Can somebody please explain to me why Finder behaves different with different extensions, and if there is a way I can make it search for contents in .php files?
Regards,
Christian

The content part of the Spotlight data base depends on there being mdimport plug-ins for that type of content. If there is no mdimporter then the content is not indexed, and there isn't one for either php or css files. See the link in this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5571301#5571301
If the hacking business doesn't appeal to you the only other work around I can think of is to save a copy of the php and css files with a .txt extension, which is content indexed.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Why can not I see the name of a child process?

Hi,
I implemented a program for my project.
My program has two processes. One is a parent process. Another is a child process.
The parent process forks its child process. The child process is executed by execl() system call.
The program code implemented is followed.
=== abbreviation ===
switch(itmr_forkid = fork()) {
case 0:
RCode = execl("./itmr", "itmr", (char *) 0);
exit(0);
break;
=== abbreviation ===
I executed the program. And then I pressed "ps -ef" on command line.
[stp1ggsn1][user/shlim] ps -ef
UID PID PPID C STIME TTY TIME CMD
root 29402 29376 38 Mar 06 pts/0 11376:36 ibgfb
root 29403 29402 0 Mar 06 pts/0 0:15
However, why can not I see itmr process name for the child process?
When I executed the program for the parent process and the program for the child process respectively, I can see itmr process name for the child process.
I tried to look for the cause. But I could not find out the answer.
Please, give me your answer. Thank you for your answer in advance.

Hi,
I am sorry that I loaded my question two times by mistake.

Why can't I find a downloaded document

Why can't I find an Excel document that I downloaded form an email?

Did you look in your Downloads folder?
Click on the Face icon in the Dock, a window appears, then click your "home" name on the left and there should be a row folders one called Downloads. Doubleclick it to open.
You shoud run a free ClamXav scan on all incoming files just as a precaution
http://www.clamxav.com/

Automator -- Find X name contains - why can't i?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for