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How can I add the extension to all my files at one time?
- Thread starter dvader123
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If you click on one of these pdf files in Finder and press command-I, what do you see in the Name & Extension section of the Info window (when Hide extension is unchecked)?
So you simply want the extension shown for a large number of files for which it is currently hidden?
You could try this.
1) Create a new folder on your Desktop named Hidden.
2) Move a few of your "extension-less" files into this folder.
3) Open Terminal (in Utilities) and type the following (or better, copy and paste) and press return:
4) If this works, you can move additional (or all) extension-less files into Hidden and simply renter the Terminal command shown above. The command simply turns off extension-hiding for all files in Hidden.
You could try this.
1) Create a new folder on your Desktop named Hidden.
2) Move a few of your "extension-less" files into this folder.
3) Open Terminal (in Utilities) and type the following (or better, copy and paste) and press return:
Code:
cd ~/Desktop/Hidden; SetFile -a e *4) If this works, you can move additional (or all) extension-less files into Hidden and simply renter the Terminal command shown above. The command simply turns off extension-hiding for all files in Hidden.
If I understood post #3, the extensions are present, but hidden. That was what I was trying to determine in my first reply.
You're right, if the extensions are absent. I had decided they were simply hidden, but perhaps I misunderstood the OP.
The problem with the Finder preference setting is that it's all or nothing. I assumed the OP simply wanted to see the extensions on some of his files, not on every file on his hard drive.
Anyway, thanks for your suggestion. I think the OP has a solution now, in any case.
The OP certainly wasn't clear, but it seems unlikely that the files don't have an extension. That would make it hard to determine which were PDFs, DOCXs, ...
If the files didn't have extensions, a renamer app would do, or you can use Automator. In Automator there is an action "Add Text to Finder Item Names" that will add any text as an extension. It can also be done from the command line but that's a bit more involved and there is a risk of screwing things up if you get the commands wrong. Google "rename files in bash".
If the files didn't have extensions, a renamer app would do, or you can use Automator. In Automator there is an action "Add Text to Finder Item Names" that will add any text as an extension. It can also be done from the command line but that's a bit more involved and there is a risk of screwing things up if you get the commands wrong. Google "rename files in bash".
I'll try this as it may be what I am looking for. I apologize because I wasnt clear. The extensions are there, but they are hidden. They are not showing for many of my files.
Hope that clears things up. Thank you again for your speedy responses.