Create and Use OS X Smart Folders

In this episode, how to create and use OS X Smart Folders. You'll wonder why you have not used it sooner. Easy to follow steps.

TRANSCRIPT:

In this episode, Using OS X Smart Folders

An OS X Smart Folder is a live folder that changes constantly based on a search criteria, attributes and rules, if any, that you want applied to it.

Some Facts About Smart Folder:

Firstly; A Smart Folder is Easy to Create and you can create as many as you want.

A Smart Folder is a Live Auto-Updating Folder based on the Criteria and Rules assigned to it.

A Smart Folder is not created until you have pressed the Save Button.

Once a Smart Folder is created, you are able to edit, modify or rename it accordingly.

All Smart Folders are saved in the Saved Searches Sub-Folder in the Users Home Library Folder, you can choose another name and location if you wish.

Deleting a Smart Folder is totally safe and does not delete the files contained in it.

Creating Smart Folders is best illustrated with a demo.

Soooooooo, Let's Get Started

Several Ways to Start the Smart Folder Operation:

control+click or right click or long press and hold down the left mouse button on the Finder icon and select New Smart Folder.

Or from the Finder menu bar, click File and select New Smart Folder or the Keyboard Shortcut: option+command+N

alternatively, select Find or the Keyboard Shortcut: command+F

Finally, just launch the Finer Window and just type a letter in the Finder Search Window.

I’ll create Two Smart Folders with the following criteria, search attributes and rules:

The first Smart Folder is based a simple search criteria, and that is, find all JPEG files on the Mac. I’ll just begin typing J and select JPEG Image from the auto drop-down list.

When clicking the Save button, you are presented to enter a Name of the Smart Folder and choose a location if you wish.

All Smart Folders are added to the folder named Saved Searches and located in the Library folder of your Home Folder…the icon with the House.

All Smart Folders created is added to the Sidebar of Finder unless you un-click the box.

Remember I mentioned that Smart Folders are live, as shown, when taking a sectional screen shot, the JPEG Smart Folder is updated automatically and like wise, when deleting a JPEG file.

The second Smart Folder is based on the search criteria for QuickTime MOV files with the following rule, all MOV files have to be greater than 1GB.

Clicking the Other selection allows you to tweak your Smart Folder with additional Search Attributes that you wish added.

Once a Smart Folder is created, you can modify  and tweak it until you get the required results based on the rules that you have set.

To edit a Smart Folder simply press control and click  and select Show Search Criteria or click the Gears button and from the drop-down list, choose Show Search Criteria.

For example, the QT MOV > 1GB Smart Folder can also have an added rule to find all QuickTime MOV files greater than 1GB and last opened within the last 2 months.

To remove a Smart Folder from the Finder side bar, simply click and drag off the sidebar as shown.

If you want to get it back, just go to the saved Smart Folders location and press command+click and drag back to the side bar.

To delete a Smart Folder completely, just drag or move the Smart Folder to the Trash.

And that’s all there is to it.

Give it a try, create you own Smart Folders, I’m sure you’ll find Smart Folders an indispensable feature that you can’t live without.

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Thanks and Peace.