Can you recommend an app to index contents of external HDs?

[illjazz]

I often wonder if I have a file on my external HD. I don't always have said external HD with me. Can your recommend an app for indexing/making searchable external media without requiring that media to actually be attached to the computer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BrianBaughn]

A good one was AutoCat. Unfortunately, it won't run in Lion and I don't know of a replacement.

If you've got a computer running Snow Leopard or previous you can still use it. It creates a duplicate folder structure with aliases of the enclosed files which you browse using the finder. So, the results are fine for perusing in Lion, but the app itself won't run.

 

[illjazz]

A good one was AutoCat. Unfortunately, it won't run in Lion and I don't know of a replacement.

If you've got a computer running Snow Leopard or previous you can still use it. It creates a duplicate folder structure with aliases of the enclosed files which you browse using the finder. So, the results are fine for perusing in Lion, but the app itself won't run.

Many thanks for your suggestion! I am, however, running Lion so I suppose Autocat sadly won't be an option.

 

[SpetsnaZ99]

Have you thought about using a Script to list a selection and append the name and path to a text file?

 

[illjazz]

Have you thought about using a Script to list a selection and append the name and path to a text file?

I have not. But then that sounds a bit too basic for what I'd like...

 

[SpetsnaZ99]

After I read your post, i attached my external hard drive to my mac. I then used spotlight, using a full stop as the search criteria (since all files have a full stop in their name) I then narrowed down the search to 'File Name' only and chose 'External Drive' only. The results showed everything on the hard drive with a full stop in the name (even folders are listed).

I then wrote a script that took the filenames and paths of each item in the spotlight window and append the name and path to a text file which is created on the desktop. The only problem i saw was that Spotlight is limited to 10,000 items. The script can also create an Excel file.

 

[GoCubsGo]

After I read your post, i attached my external hard drive to my mac. I then used spotlight, using a full stop as the search criteria (since all files have a full stop in their name) I then narrowed down the search to 'File Name' only and chose 'External Drive' only. The results showed everything on the hard drive with a full stop in the name (even folders are listed).

I then wrote a script that took the filenames and paths of each item in the spotlight window and append the name and path to a text file which is created on the desktop. The only problem i saw was that Spotlight is limited to 10,000 items. The script can also create an Excel file.

Care to share that? It sounds near perfect.

 

[SpetsnaZ99]

I hope im OK to post code.

Paste the following into a blank Applescript:-

--Start Applescript
--This script will append the name and path of selected items of a window to either a text file or Excel file
--The file will be created on the users desktop named either Drive_Contents.txt or Drive_Contents.xls

tell application "Finder"
activate

set the selected_items to the selection
--The following 'If' statement checks that something has been selected
if the selected_items is {} then
beep
display dialog "No items selected" buttons {"Cancel"} default button 1
end if

repeat with this_item in the selected_items
set a to "" & name of this_item & tab & "File Located -> " & (POSIX path of (this_item as alias))

--Select which type of file to create
--Change 'USERNAME' to your username
set new_file to POSIX file "/users/USERNAME/desktop/Drive_Contents.txt"
--set new_file to POSIX file "/users/USERNAME/desktop/Drive_Contents.xls"
set the_data to a & return & "" as string

try
open for access new_file with write permission
write (the_data) to new_file starting at eof
close access new_file
on error
try
close access new_file
end try
end try
end repeat
end tell
display dialog "Done"

--End Applescript

 

[GGJstudios]

The only problem i saw was that Spotlight is limited to 10,000 items.

No, it's not limited. When you get to 10,000 or 20,000 or 50,000 items, scroll to the bottom and click "More".

​

To make a list of everything on a drive:

1. Open a TextEdit new document and press Command-Shift-T to change the format to plain text.
2. Open a Finder window and navigate to the drive you want.
3. Press Command-A to select all top-level files and folders on the drive.
4. Press Command-Option-right arrow to expand all folders and sub-folders (give it time to finish expanding).
5. Press Command-A to select all files and folders on the drive.
6. Drag the selection to the TextEdit window.
7. Done.

You can press Command-Option-left arrow to collapse all the folders on the drive.

 

[SpetsnaZ99]

No, it's not limited. When you get to 10,000 or 20,000 or 50,000 items, click "More".

View attachment 338211

View attachment 338212​

I dont see a "More" option in spotlight on my machine, although i do think i remember it in a past OS. is it a feature that was removed but has since come back? I'm using OS 10.6.7.

Ignore.... I just found it