Filed under: Software
Hazel 2
Hazel is a TUAW favorite, and we have been anxiously awaiting the day when Hazel 2 exits beta. Well, folks, today is that day. Hazel 2 is now available for purchase (a free upgrade for current users, and $21.95 for a single user license).Hazel is an automation tool that makes organizing your files a snap. You can create a number of sophisticated rules based on everything from file age to location, and then have Hazel act on those rules. Hazel will delete files for you, archive things, add labels, and much more.
New in Hazel 2 are:
- App Sweep: Hazel keeps an eye out for when you delete an app. When you do, it offers to throw away all the other associated files with that app (support files that is, not files that you created with the app itself).
- Growl support
- New actions including rename file, sort into subfolders, and more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Fischer said 1:03PM on 8-02-2007
As cool as Hazel sounds, I just can't figure out how it might be useful to me. Are there any sites that give a good description of applications of Hazel? How does it help you? Thanks!
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Chris said 1:37PM on 8-02-2007
Have a look at Ethan Schoonhover's look on Hazel: http://kinkless.com/article/kinkless_desktop/1_no_mercy_cleanup
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David Chartier said 4:50PM on 8-02-2007
#1: I personally have a number of rules that organize files by type and - perhaps more importantly - by date. For example: I have a rule set up that watches my Desktop for image files. If any of them begin with the name 'iStock' (because I download a lot of iStock stuff) it automatically moves those images to a specific folder in my documents for stock photography that I purchase. Other image files that sit on my desktop for more than a couple days get automatically moved into my Pictures folder where I can deal with them later. Another rule watches for ZIP and .DMG files on the desktop and files them into a Software folder. Yet another rule watches for movie files on my Desktop that are older than 2 days, moves them into my Movies folder and colors them blue so I know they were automatically moved for me.
The whole idea is to make my Mac do some of my file organization for me. You could just as easily tweak one of these rules to automatically delete all the ZIP and DMG files on your desktop older than a day or a week, or tell Hazel to automatically and continually empty all the files in your Trash that are older than a week.
Basically, it's like a secretary for managing the files on your Mac.
Does this help?
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JNunez said 12:37AM on 8-03-2007
I have Hazel backup my iTunes and iPhoto directories straight to a linux server running "Firefly" so I can share to my other Macs.
A second rule removes old 7 day old screenshots in a ScreenShot folder.
A rule to color code the files in the Download folder. Once they reach RED if they haven't been moved out of there I trash them. Hazel can move them to the trash them but I like to be safe.
New Feature which I can't wait to test is the App Sweep feature.
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David Fischer said 5:09PM on 8-03-2007
Those comments are helpful -- though it does reinforce my view that it wouldn't help me much :)
Its obvious purpose isn't much use to me. I don't download videos or images. My default download folder is set to be a "Downloads" folder (and not the desktop) and things remain there until I manually prune them.
Video pulled from my camera needs to be checked for content and placed in the specific folder. I doubt Hazel can do that for me.
But maybe it something like: if a downloaded file is older than X weeks and its contents are not installed in Applications, then flag it for deletion. Otherwise, move it to an Archive folder.
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