Comments on: Toggle Finder Hidden File Status

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:54:32 +0000

I created an application for simple minded people like me based on this code and included error handling as suggeested by Dalmazio. Find it here http://shoebox.kobie.nl/HiddenFiles/SwitchHiddenFiles.zip

It has no interface, when you start it, it just makes the switch and exits.

By: Dalmazio

Dalmazio — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:09:57 +0000

Thanks for this. Taking the suggested modifications from above and including error handling so it works even when the defaults variable is not defined:

try
– Get current value
set toggle to do shell script “defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles”

– Toggle it
if toggle = “YES” or toggle = “ON” then
do shell script “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO”
else
do shell script “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES”
end if

– Restart Finder
do shell script “killall Finder”

on error

– Error usually because “AppleShowAllFiles” is not defined
do shell script “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES”

– Restart Finder
do shell script “killall Finder”

end try

By: Mark A. Donohoe

Mark A. Donohoe — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:50:27 +0000

You can also use

do shell script “killall Finder”

instead of the delay method above as this automatically restarts finder for you. Much cleaner and no delay needed.

By: john

john — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:33:46 +0000

If you install the Mac developer tools (ie, Xcode), there is an application in the Applications/Utilities folder called Icon Composer. You can also use other programs such as photoshop, fireworks, etc. I imagine a search on google would turn up a long list of tutorials on how to create an icon. This is a good idea for a future post…

If you prefer, you can copy an icon from any other Mac app: http://macdevelopertips.com/system/changing-an-application-icon.html

By: bbiker

bbiker — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:24:33 +0000

Total newbie to Mac (although I bought the 1st fishbowl, way back then).

Where do I find instructions on how to create an icon for an application. Currently, my Mac shows the hidden files so your script comes in handy.

Thank

By: grndlvl

grndlvl — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:48:20 +0000

Awesome thanks for the script. Just a little note this will not work unless you have previously set finder to show hidden files. Just FYI. Strange. I guess it wont work if the default ShowAllFiles was never set.