SpotlightFS: MacFUSE based Smart Folders
We've posted several times about the coolness that is MacFUSE from the Mac group over at Google. Well now comes yet another cool application of the basic technology: SpotlightFS which unites Spotlight and MacFUSE to create genuine smart folders, whose content changes based on search criteria. Unlike OS X's built-in Smart Folders which "are really plist files with a .savedSearch file extension," SpotlightFS produces true folders which "can be used from anywhere--including the command line." Given the recent resurgence of interest in Smart Folders, this looks like an even better way to do it.SpotlightFS is a free download from Google and requires MacFUSE.
[via Official Google Mac Blog]
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We've posted several times about the coolness that is MacFUSE from the Mac group over at Google. Well now comes yet another cool...
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Michel,
Thanks for the warnings, I am a bit like the cat that was too curious! I think I shall wait until the gurus have made this thing a no-brainer..
Chris
Wow! Hazel is exactly what I've been looking for, my downloads folder has been so full that I've been avoiding it -- 6 or 7 rules later and it's empty. Thanks for the tip MikeInAZ. Hazel is excellent, I think I'll definitely be purchasing it.
Yeesh, I sound like such an advert. :P
@1: the icon is just the standard icon included on the DMG.
January 25 2007 at 11:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply@Greg, #2
"What I really want out of smart folders is something that will manage my downloads from safari. How can I get something that will place .dmg files into a downloaded apps folder, or that moves all video files into the movie folder?"
> Something close to what you're looking for...
http://www.noodlesoft.com/hazel.html
>4. Can I use this as a strictly "non-terminal-user",
>"non-unix bloke"? I like the sound of the Smart
>folders but wouldn't have a clue how to remove
>Macfuse and repair stuff if it misbehaves.
it shouldn't "misbehaves". but it's still experimental. not for everyone yet.
and no, you cannot use it as a "non unix bloke" (is it an insult?) .
maybe apple will adopt macfuse or integrate in the kernel the same and improve Finder to use it.
for now : no. you cannot use Finder to "mount" a spotlightfs directory or a remote sshfs computer or whatever macfuse stuff.
iNuron has the same concept but it even allows you to span network boundaries: usable over the internet. For more info see: http://www.inuron.com/index.html
Can I use this as a strictly "non-terminal-user", "non-unix bloke"? I like the sound of the Smart folders but wouldn't have a clue how to remove Macfuse and repair stuff if it misbehaves.
Chris
What you want to do sounds like a job for Automator. Tell it to determine if the file is a *this* and place it over *there* then save it as a folder action and make it an action on the folder that safari downloads to. Folder actions are run whenever the contents of a folder change.
January 25 2007 at 11:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyStill waiting for ftpfs, to finally have write access to ftp servers through the Finder...
January 25 2007 at 10:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, love the icon.
What I really want out of smart folders is something that will manage my downloads from safari. How can I get something that will place .dmg files into a downloaded apps folder, or that moves all video files into the movie folder?
I would love it if someone could create a downloads manager prefpane with MacFuse for Safari.
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