How to unlock multiple files easily?

[SPG]

I have a ton of footage that was loaded into my computer over the summer. The jobs done and I could really use those couple hundred gigs of space. Only catch is that all the files are locked! I know how to unlock them manually, Apple-I , uncheck the locked icon and then to the trash, but there are THOUSANDS of files in hundreds of folders...a real PITA!
I'm not super familiar with automator, but didn't see a solution there either.
Anyone got a good trick to do this quickly? Otherwise it's gonna take me hours to do it manually.

 

[plinden]

I have a ton of footage that was loaded into my computer over the summer. The jobs done and I could really use those couple hundred gigs of space. Only catch is that all the files are locked! I know how to unlock them manually, Apple-I , uncheck the locked icon and then to the trash, but there are THOUSANDS of files in hundreds of folders...a real PITA!
I'm not super familiar with automator, but didn't see a solution there either.
Anyone got a good trick to do this quickly? Otherwise it's gonna take me hours to do it manually.

Do you want to just delete all the files? Are they all under one top level directory?

You can probably delete them from an admin account using the Terminal command "sudo rm -rf <...directory name ...>". Be very careful with that, though. Double check you're in the right place.

If you want to just unlock them, you can use the Terminal command chflags (I haven't tried this exactly, but this seems the correct syntax from the man page):
chflags -R nouchg <... directory name ...>

Edit: yes, I've tried that and it should work

 

[eb6]

did you try selecting all the files at once and hitting command+I? I think if you select enough files it will just bring up just one info box instead of one for each file. Its worth a shot.

 

[SPG]

did you try selecting all the files at once and hitting command+I? I think if you select enough files it will just bring up just one info box instead of one for each file. Its worth a shot.

Thanks for the suggestion but the problem with that approach is that there are usually only about 5 or six files in each folder...not enough to trigger one info pane, but enough to be a pain.
Copying them all into a single folder results in duplicates being made which isn't helpful...oh well.

 

[SPG]

You can probably delete them from an admin account using the Terminal command "sudo rm -rf <...directory name ...>". Be very careful with that, though. Double check you're in the right place.

If you want to just unlock them, you can use the Terminal command chflags (I haven't tried this exactly, but this seems the correct syntax from the man page):
chflags -R nouchg <... directory name ...>

Edit: yes, I've tried that and it should work

Option one seems pretty scary since I'm not that confident with my programming skills and I have a bunch of current projects on that same drive, so I'll try option two. Thanks!

 

[angelwatt]

Thanks for the suggestion but the problem with that approach is that there are usually only about 5 or six files in each folder...not enough to trigger one info pane, but enough to be a pain.
Copying them all into a single folder results in duplicates being made which isn't helpful...oh well.

With a bunch of files selected, right-click on them and when the menu pops-up hold the Option key and you'll see one of the options change to Show Inspector. This'll force just one window popping open and allow you to change the lock setting.

 

[SPG]

With a bunch of files selected, right-click on them and when the menu pops-up hold the Option key and you'll see one of the options change to Show Inspector. This'll force just one window popping open and allow you to change the lock setting.

Nicely done.


thank you.

 

[arkitect]

With a bunch of files selected, right-click on them and when the menu pops-up hold the Option key and you'll see one of the options change to Show Inspector. This'll force just one window popping open and allow you to change the lock setting.

Chossing the files and then doing Option-Command-I also works. No need to right click.

 

[angelwatt]

Chossing the files and then doing Option-Command-I also works. No need to right click.

Good to know.

 

[MivecGPX]

Fixed my "Locked" issue

chflags -R nouchg.... bang on. None of this cmd-I nonsense, fixed in one go. Thanks for saving me soooo much time digging into each folder and unticking the "locked" flag.

 

[Katechall]

With a bunch of files selected, right-click on them and when the menu pops-up hold the Option key and you'll see one of the options change to Show Inspector. This'll force just one window popping open and allow you to change the lock setting.

WHOA, thank you so, so much! Best tip ever!

 

[pcgolfer85]

thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

[theCatat]

I have a ton of footage that was loaded into my computer over the summer. The jobs done and I could really use those couple hundred gigs of space. Only catch is that all the files are locked! I know how to unlock them manually, Apple-I , uncheck the locked icon and then to the trash, but there are THOUSANDS of files in hundreds of folders...a real PITA!
I'm not super familiar with automator, but didn't see a solution there either.
Anyone got a good trick to do this quickly? Otherwise it's gonna take me hours to do it manually.

Throw your files in the trash. Hold the option key down >> Finder >> Empty Trash.

 

[SHadowMist]

With a bunch of files selected, right-click on them and when the menu pops-up hold the Option key and you'll see one of the options change to Show Inspector. This'll force just one window popping open and allow you to change the lock setting.

Thank yo so much for this info... i have struggled with this for so long ..