Showing data on a Desktop folder that's an Alais

Question

I can get a number of files in a folders I create and situated on the desktop, but if it is an alias I get nothing. Can I change this somehow?

Answer 1

I think, this is not possible.
Of course it is a good idea, to work only with aliases at the desktop … in this case you may find a solution for you by "turning it around"
Uhh, difficult to explain (even in german): What i mean is, that you create a "real" folder at the desktop, where aliases of all new items are stored, that you drag on your alias-folder.
You can automate this with a folder action, that is attached to the original of the alias-folder:
Copy the source, open Scripteditor.app, paste it and save it as a script in +~/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts+. Go to the original of your alias folder and choose +attach folder action+ from the context menu
<pre class=command>on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving these_items
repeat with this_item in these_items
tell application "Finder"
set asel to make alias file to this_item at folder "aa" of desktop
end tell
end repeat
end adding folder items to</pre>
Where "aa" has to be replaced by the name of the new folder, that you have to make at desktop
This is just a suggestion, but it will give you the number of items.
There is another way. You heard about Geek Tool?. It is able to give you any information on your desktop. You could place such an information directly beside the alias folder.
Have a look at this tool!
If this would be a good solution for you, i think, we will find the right command to display the number of items of that alias folder.
Spazek