FileUtils - advanced file operations and utilities integrated into Finder

[milke]

Hello everyone,

If you use (mostly) Finder for your everyday's file management needs, you may be interested in FileUtils, a FinderSync extension, which adds some menu items to Finder's contextual menu (and dedicated Finder toolbar item menu), performing some operations and tasks Finder doesn't do on its own. It started as something I needed myself, but over time it grew enough to give me incentive to make it public.

The current set of available functionality and operations reflect my most common needs, plus a few extras for good measure. The idea is to constantly add new features, functionality and operations. User feedback should have a huge role in it, so I encourage you to come forward with ideas of what could be added to FileUtils. My intention is to make it useful to the widest audience possible. If you’re interested about details and incentives to create FileUtils, you can read about it in the initial blog post.

There are probably many things to be improved regarding current functionality, and there are probably many hidden bugs as well. If you encounter any of those, or have any other comments and suggestions, don't hesitate to voice them. You can use the contact form on the support page, or contact us directly by email.

 

[gilby101]

Have you made a comparison with Context Menu https://langui.net/context-menu/ and Service Station https://servicestation.menu/ (apart from the latter being without active development).

 

[milke]

Honestly, I haven't. I was aware of ContextMenu, but not of Service Station. As far as I can see, they are a little bit different in concept, mostly enabling different ways of handling files (application to open, compare, add services menu items into the contextual menu, execute custom scripts…), whereas FileUtils is more focused on concrete actions/operations executed on files. I started with what I needed the most, which were full POSIX permissions, ACL and some decent multi-file renamer (easily available in Finder, not through a separate application), and size browser came quickly afterwards. The rest was added gradually.

That being said, as I've said, no problem adding new functionality. Just throw ideas. I don't use features I see in ContextMenu and Service Station, but who knows, while implementing something similar, I may learn to appreciate them.

 

[milke]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to chime in and inform auditorium here that FileUtils has reached version 1.5 during a little bit more than a year of its public existence. A lot of features were added, hopefully useful, as they all came from users' suggestions, including some similar to those in the applications already mentioned here, like creation of new files of various file types, folder comparison and synchronization and others.

For more information, news, updates and support, check out FileUtils web page. If you find the application useful and have any problem using it, or any other comment and suggestion, don't hesitate to voice them. You can use the contact form on the support page, write directly to the support email, or use any of provided social media links, if you prefer using those. Of course, I'll try to respond to any comments and questions here as well.

 

[milke]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to inform about FileUtils being updated to version 1.6. The major addition are added commands to quickly copy and move files from Finder's contextual (and toolbar item) menu, something Finder doesn't offer by default. When copying and moving files, a user can opt to use Finder itself, or FileUtils' own "copy engine". If using own "copy engine", additional options are available, which can come handy at times: checksum verification for copied (but not moved or cloned) files, skipping creation of AppleDouble header files (those with names prefixed with "._") on "flat" filesystems (like FAT for example), as well as automatic response to errors.

The UI is also updated on macOS 26 Tahoe to match the system look and feel. And a lot has been done under the hood, regarding speed and more efficient memory consumption.


This is the comprehensive list of what FileUtils can do at the moment:

• Full POSIX file permissions, including SetUID, SetGID and Sticky bits and propagation of permissions down the folder hierarchy
• Access Control List, for even finer file access control and permissions
• Show effective file access for every user in the system
• Modify file's dates and times (creation, modification, last access, added to folder) by modifying date/time components or timestamps
• Multiple files batch rename with powerful and flexible renaming options
• Size browser, hierarchically showing files based on their sizes, in the columns and graph view
• Compare and synchronize two folders with powerful, yet simple and intuitive folder comparator
• Compare files and folders using comparison application of your choice
• Execute your own custom scripts, which selected files as input arguments and see eventual results as a textual output. FileUtils can execute UNIX scripts/binaries, AppleScript scripts and Automator workflows
• Calculate file checksums, most common hash types available (MD2, MD4, MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 variants…)
• Copy and move files from Finder contextual and toolbar item action menu (using FileUtils own "copy engine" or Finder... Using Finder not available in FileUtils distributed on MAS)
• Delete files bypassing the Trash, using normal deletion or three standard deletion security methods
• Archive files and expand archives, common archive types and compression methods are supported
• Browse archives and expand only specific file/folder through hierarchical contextual and toolbar action menus in Finder
• Create new "empty" files. Many file types are supported out-of-the-box, a user can add custom file types as well. Availability of some file types depends on installed applications
• Create (absolute) symbolic link to files
• Copy file full path and name in various ways, as URL, UNIX, HFS, Terminal, Windows…

For more information, news, updates and support, check out FileUtils web page.

 

[gilby101]

I just wanted to inform about FileUtils being updated to version 1.6.

I am glad I have persevered with FileUtils! To be honest, I found early versions difficult to use and resource hungry. But since 1.5 (?) it is much more stable and so its features have become consistently usable.

I am using it alongside Context Menu. There is overlap, but (as you said earlier) the focus is somewhat different. In my mind, the biggest difference is that FileUtils has general purpose file actions whilst Context Menu links files to actions appropriate to the file type. Both have their place.

And it is because of FileUtils, Context Menu (and before that Service Station), and Keyboard Maestro that I am happy to use Finder and have lost the urge to try out Finder alternatives.

 

[milke]

… I found early versions difficult to use and resource hungry. But since 1.5 (?) it is much more stable and so its features have become consistently usable.

Honestly, I'm trying to improve the application constantly regarding efficiency (resources consumption and speed), but I don't remember doing anything drastic in that regard in version 1.5. I did much more for 1.6 though.

Anyway, I'd appreciate it you'd be more specific about "resource hungry", perhaps there's still room for improvements (well, most certainly there is, there's some always🙂) and about "difficult to use"; was "difficult to use" due to resource hungriness, or features and UI just aren't clear and meaningful?

 

[tosbsas]

only thing missing in finder is the Dualpane