Viewing Files without Extensions

Terminal is your answer, with the file command.
Open Terminal and type *man file* to get information about this command.

Simple usage, type:

file

then a space, and then drag one of those files into the Terminal window to complete the path. Press return and it will tell you what type of file it is.

The command can also handle multiple files, so you don't have to do it one at a time.

If you want to know what kind of files they are so you can add the right extension, and they are old files from the classic Mac OS, you might use a utility like Quick Change, which will show the Type & Creator codes used to identify files before OS X. I think it will also do batch conversions, so you could add the appropriate extension to a bunch of files at once.

If you don't know what Type & Creator Codes are, Google "Macintosh type & creator codes" for links to several explanations. Unfortunately, it looks like the only complete list of these codes is $20 shareware. But if most of your mystery files are generic graphic files, their Type codes should be obvious, like TIFF and PICT.

Other heavier duty (shareware) utilities for this work include XRay, FileXaminer, and Super GetInfo.

Excellent suggestion!

I wonder why command-i doesn't give similar information.

Greg

re.. {I know that I can use Automator to add the extensions,}


I am finally attempting to make use of more of the facilities Apple supply to enhance my computing possibilities.
Automator, however, continues to throw me off kilter. I have been trying to add file extensions to a collection of files i know to be jpg's but cannot fathom how to get automator to do this.
I batch changed these files in Photoshop which neglected to apply the jpg tag so trying to open then results in the 'Which Application' question.
I have several hundred images i'd like to manipulate with Automator so learning something like adding a file extension would help, and inspire, me

Robert.