Losing file "kinds" in Finder

Mac OS X 10.5.2, Adobe Acrobat 8.1.2
I've got a whole slew of PDFs that I've set to open in Adobe Acrobat Professional instead of Preview, because something about the color profile or mapping cause them to display oddly.
Yesterday, I noticed that when I view the folder containing these PDFs, the Kind column has null ("--") listed. If I get info on the PDF files, the "Kind:" field under General is completely absent.
I've fsck'ed and repairing permissions (not that expected them to do anything, but it doesn't hurt anything to try). I've also noticed a couple of HTML files I created in TextMate also lose their file kind.

This isn't a View Options problem or an Info Window problem. Its not even a Finder problem... Its a Launch Services problem. The Kind string comes from Launch Services, which gets them from the apps. If there is no Kind string, the Info Window won't show a Kind string for that file. I would suggest blowing away the Launch Services cache. If that doesn't work, I would re-install Acrobat (to make it re-register with Launch Services).
Here is how you blow away the Launch Services cache:
1) Quit all running apps
2) Go to /Library/Caches
3) Move any file to the trash that has "com.apple.LaunchServices" in its name. (i.e. 'com.apple.LaunchServices-0230.csstore')
4) Go to ~/Library/Preferences
5) Move com.apple.LaunchServices.plist to the Trash
6) Restart
Hope that helps...

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Custom File "Kind" in Finder

Hi Everyone,
I quite like using the columns view in Finder, with the files grouped by "kind" and then sorted within each "kind" by name. So when I open a folder, I see all the spreadsheets, documents, PDFs, etc. in nice groups, and each group is sorted alphabetically. As an ex-Windows guy, I must admit it took me some time to find the Finder view I was most comfortable with.
Here's my question. My company develops a piece of software that creates / uses files that end with a ".bwc" extension. It seems that Finder happily thinks of these as "documents", and it groups them under the document heading. This is fine if there are no "real" documents (e.g. Word docs) in the same folder; however, what I'd really like to be able to do is make up my own grouping definition for ".bwc" files, so that they get grouped on their own - not mixed in with actual documents.
Anyone know if this is possible?

So I've looked at this a bit further and have some more thoughts...when I click on "Get Info" for various file types, the "kind" of file is listed near the top. For example, if I choose Get Info for a *.png file, it tells me the "kind" is Portable Network Graphics Image. If I choose Get Info for a *.tiff file, it tells me the "kind" is a TIFF Image. Both of these are grouped under the "Image" group when I sort by Kind in Finder.
When I choose Get Info for my *.bwc files, it tells me the "kind" is a BWC file. Makes sense. However, somewhere on this Mac, there is a definition of what file types are included in the "kind" label Image, the "kind" label "Document", etc.
What I would like very much is to either remove the BWC files from the "Document" kind definition, or make up my own "kind" definition that includes only my BWC files.

How to change File Kind (not "how to assign an application to open a file?)

I build the toc.ncx file (part of the ePub setup) automatically, based on user input and source file content. It's fine, except that the file Kind (as shown in Finder Preview, for example) is Plain Text.
The Kind should be Unix Executable File (the actual description is "zmedia-type="application/x-dtbncx+xml") in order for the file to function correctly with the rest of the ePub generation.
I could set the file Kind in the program (I think!), except that I do not know what the code for such a Kind is.
Can you help?
Message was edited by: David Neale1
Message was edited by: David Neale1

To make the file a Unix executable can be done as follows:
Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder and enter the following:
sudo chmod 755 /pathto/filename
Press RETURN. Enter your admin password at the prompt; it will not be echoed. Alternatively put a space after "755" then drag the file's icon into the Terminal window.
If you want the Unix icon simply set the file's default application to Terminal by selecting the file then Press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. Change the default application in the Open With section. If you want all .ncx files the same way then click on the Change All button.

Changing the file kind's description

On my MacBook Pro running Leopard, I have several PHP files whose kind in Finder is displayed as "HTML Document". When I display the "Get Info" pop-up for a PHP file, the Kind field under General is not editable.
I would like to change the file's kind description from "HTML Document" to "PHP Source File". I have done a lot of digging and searching via Google to find a solution to this and I have not found anything that describes how to do this.
Is there a way under OS X to change the file kind description?

Hello jk:
I do not use those files, but I suggest you do a Google search on "PHP." There is a lot of information there.
Barry

Is it possible to change the file Kind, e.g. mkv to video and not document?

Is it possible to change the file Kind, e.g. mkv to video and not document?
I can't find where I can change this in Finder or OSX. Is this really hardoded in the OS? Get Info gives me no options, but that is where I set the default apps for file kinds (types).
I hope this is possible because I have lot of document kinds and the arrange by kind view in Finder is thus not very useful.
Thanks in advance.

It has to be hard-coded in the application that claims MKV files as a type.

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I recently got a new computer and forgot to send all of the music on my old one to this one - so i imported them from my iPod. When it imported them, it gave them file names such as "APKF" and "NXVX", so if i delete and file and then want it back - i have to go through all of the files until i find the one i'm looking for. A simple solution to this would be to rename the files with their correct artist name and song,... but when i do this iTunes cannot find the files when i go to play the songs ... it also does this if i simply just move a song from one folder to another ... help?
Thank you!!!

I'm gonna keep them as their original four letter name and then just create a key in Notepad were it links the artist to the song by that four letter name. And them inport them one by one and enter their keys into a notepad...
It'll take a long time, but after i do it this one time i can just add and delete songs from the notepad.
like this:
Cage the Elephant:
Back Against the Wall: WTHK
Ain't no rest for the wicked: TYRE
thank you soooo much for your help, but i'm a neat freak so i'm gonna do this. you don't know of somekind of software were you can save some kind of data? like a non-trial version of Windows Office Excel?

Change file kind description

In the Finder "cfg" files are listed as "LightWave Config Files" (even after uninstalling LightWave 3D). When I open the info panel (cmd-I) the kind description is set to "Document".
Is there a way to change the kind description in the Finder? There is no program associated with this file format, but on another Mac the kind of cfg-files is "Document", both in Finder and the info panel and not "LightWave Config File".

SaTh wrote:
I have just installed Snow Leopard. It seems it solved my "problem" with cfg-files which were recognized as LightWave Config Files. Anyway I still wonder if it is possible to change the file-kind-description manually.
According to this article
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2009/08/mac-os-x-10-6.ars/3
under Snow Leopard Mac file-type/creator codes are kept in an "extended attribute" in the resource fork. I'm not sure what the best tool is for modifying those.

Search for all locations of particular file kind/type?

How if possible can I search to find all locations of a particular file kind/type? Thank you!

In the Finder find, select Other... from the criteria popup. Add the System files and Visibility to the menu. You can add those options to the search criteria as necessary.
If the Finder preference is not already set, set it to search the current folder.

How do I find a photo file in the Finder + future migration question

Being a recent Mac convert, I am just getting used to the 'complete control' approach to photo management that iPhoto has. I'm used to knowing where my photos physically reside on my computer - this is useful for doing things like uploading photos to a website for example. How do I actually find a particular photo in the Finder (or even give photo files recognisable names, as opposed to whatever automated naming system iPhoto uses)?
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poddster
I hope you've a notebook and pen, but you've asked a lot of questions:
I'm used to knowing where my photos physically reside on my computer
You photos are stored in the iPhoto Library at your Pictures Folder. This is a Unix style Package Folder that very easy to see inside: right click on it and choose show package contents. A finder window opens with the library exposed.
Here's how the library is laid out:
In this folder there are various files, which are the Library itself and some ancillary files. Then you have three folders
Originals are the photos as they were downloaded from your camera or scanner.
(ii) Modified contains edited pics, shots that you have cropped, rotated or changed in any way.
iPhoto always preserves the original file, all operations are carried out on a copy.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
And here's a warning: It is strongly advised that you do not move, change or in anyway alter things in the iPhoto Library Folder as this can cause the application to fail and even lead to data loss.
this is useful for doing things like uploading photos to a website for example
No it's not. Don't surf the iPhoto Library. The idea with iPhoto is that you do everything via the iPhoto Window or media browsers:
So, to access pics use one (or more) of the following:
There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
To upload to MySpace or any site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser. Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
iPhot doesn't name the files, those names are given by your camera. You can add titles in iPhoto and if you use the File -> Export command there's a facility there to name the resulting file (it'll be a copy - remember what I said about all operation being done on a copy...) with the title.
Do not rename files in iPhoto, That comes under the heading of making changes in the iPhoto Library Folder and alters the path to the files. If you do, iPhoto will lose track of the file. But the truth is there's simply no need to. However, you can rename the files before importing them if you like.
Migrating is really easy. You've seen the layout of the Library above. The originals are all there, in the originals folder, the Modified versions in their folder. If you want to have only the most recent versions of pics, then export them from iPhoto to a folder on the desktop.
By all means post back if you need more.
Regards
TD

Is there a way to automatically add the filename in the page header when batch printing text files directly from finder?

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https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/774792#answer-128100

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How do i rename an iPhoto library. while on iPhoto, if i click File, I dont' find Get Info

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How do I find out the exact path of each and every file that LabVIEW finds and loads into memory for a given top level vi?

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Ed
Message Edited by Ed Dickens on 08-01-2005 07:01 PM
Ed Dickens - Certified LabVIEW Architect - DISTek Integration, Inc. - NI Certified Alliance Partner
Using the Abort button to stop your VI is like using a tree to stop your car. It works, but there may be consequences.
Attachments:
Get all paths.vi ‏29 KB

How do I remove an old file from the Finder Favorites list?

Good Afternoon.
I have a shiney new MBPro with 10.7.1.
On my old machine running Snow Leopard, I had two .xls files I used often that I had dragged to the left side into the favorites. The truth is, I hadn't used them in months, but hadn't bothered to remove them. Then about ten days ago, the Bad Thing happened, and I had to replace my laptop rather suddenly. The nice folks at the Apple store transferred all the data and I was off an running in just a few hours.
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Thanks. A picture is below.

The msot amazing person ,just posted an answer to my other question which worked here too.
Three cheers for Kappy!
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I wish I knew how to send Kappy cookies.
Thank you Kappy.

Losing file "kinds" in Finder

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