How do I not copy hidden files associated with photos

Question

Level 1

4 points

How do I not copy hidden files associated with photos

I want to put photos on my new digital picture frame. It can be plugged into a USB port and looks like a disk drive.

I select and drag the photos I want to the device, but there is a hidden file for each one that gets copied as well. The device doesn't know what to do with those files. They don't cause a problem, but do take up space.

How can I keep from copying those files?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 2006 original white MacBook

Posted on Aug 21, 2009 4:39 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,435 points

Aug 21, 2009 4:52 PM in response to redavies

What are the names or extensions of these files?

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Answer 2

redavies Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 22, 2009 7:35 AM in response to redavies

An example. A file is named 106-0675_IMG.jpg. There is a corresponding file named .106-0675IMG.jpg. I know that at a minimum it contains the thumbnail image of the contents of the file. I know that because I deleted a bunch of them using Terminal, and Finder no longer displays the thumbnail. I'd like to be able to see the hidden files in the Finder so that I (hopefully) could select them and delete them before transferring the files to my digital photo frame. Using Terminal is somewhat tedious and needlessly retro. I thought I gave up command line stuff back in the 80s.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,435 points

Aug 22, 2009 10:40 AM in response to redavies

Terminal is already there, quick & simple, but...

http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/developer/hiddenfiles.html

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Answer 4

jsd2

Level 5

6,245 points

Aug 22, 2009 11:44 AM in response to redavies

I'd like to be able to see the hidden files in the Finder so that I (hopefully) could select them and delete them before transferring the files to my digital photo frame.

When you saw and deleted them using Terminal, were they present on your HD, or did you only look at the files already transferred to the USB photo frame device?

The hidden "._" files are "resource fork" files, and when you make hidden files visible in Finder you might find that they exist only on the USB device, having been created there by the transfer process itself - see:
*Apple Double Format Creates File Name With the Prefix '._'*
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA20578?viewlocale=en_US

Also take a look at [Blue Harvest|http://www.zeroonetwenty.com/blueharvest].

They don't cause a problem, but do take up space.

How much space? If not excessive, then leaving them alone would also be an option!

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Answer 5

redavies Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 22, 2009 4:46 PM in response to redavies

I think that article answers the question. Guess I'll just accept things the way they are and use Terminal to delete the extra files. Thanks to all for helping.

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