how to search only for protected video files (from itunes) through finder

Question

how to search only for protected video files (from itunes) through finder

i'm trying to do a search through finder (or spotlight) for only video files that are protected. i'm not able to do so or specify that a file is protected, can anyone help? thanks.

MacBook Pro 15'' 2.4Ghz, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Oct 30, 2009 8:29 PM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Oct 30, 2009 8:35 PM in response to Nicolas Online

It might be easier to help if you give your specific definition of 'protected'...

Locked files?

DRM'd? Any...all forms?

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Answer 2

Oct 30, 2009 8:35 PM in response to K T

basically any movie purchased in the itunes store. i'm not sure of the proper terminology, drm-based?

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Answer 3

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Oct 30, 2009 8:42 PM in response to Nicolas Online

basically any movie purchased in the itunes store.

Easy - just go to iTunes and select the 'Store/Purchased' category on the left.

Right click on the top of the right window bar [Name] [Time] [Artist] etc. and select/add the field named 'Kind' if it isn't already visible - hilight that column and it will sort for you.

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2009 8:42 PM in response to K T

i remove the 'purchased' playlist everytime i buy something. there's no way to do it in the finder? i put all my itunes purchased and ripped dvds in the same folder. i just want to be able to locate the drm copies in the finder by adding search attributes, thanks for the help though

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Answer 5

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Oct 30, 2009 8:47 PM in response to Nicolas Online

sighhhhh....sorry I wasn;t helpful - I feel really bad for letting you down like that.

In the Finder, open a new search window (cmd-f) and search on your drive....then make two filters - one for kind:movie and one for other....that will open a very long list from which you get to wade thru until your find something about Fairplay or iTunes or..... RIGHTS! Security! ...try those.

Use those filters and good luck...

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Answer 6

Oct 30, 2009 8:47 PM in response to K T

that's what i did, couldn't find anything about fairplay, itunes, account name, date of purchase, etc...

what i'm gonna do is create a smart playlist in itunes, media kind movie, and purchased is true, and make the necessary adjustments in the finder...

i'll make a suggestion through apple's feedback.

thanks.

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Answer 7

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,306 points

Oct 30, 2009 8:56 PM in response to Nicolas Online

In finder, go to the folder you want to search within and type cmd-F. If you don't already have the default set to search where you started, select the folder from the Search: options.
For the first criteria, select other… and find Codecs. Leave it at Matches and type "protected" in the field.
Add another criteria of Kind is Movies.

Edit: To see what is possible, open Terminal and type mdls and leave a space after it. Then, drag one of the items you want to search for into the Terminal window. Hit return. You will see things that start with kMDItem. What follows the kMDItem will usually be found in some form in that Other… menu. You'll also see the values for those fields, so you can pick a word or phrase out that will get your search limited to what you want.

Message was edited by: Barney-15E

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Answer 8

Oct 31, 2009 12:14 AM in response to Nicolas Online

This thread got me to thinking:

What exactly is the difference between a "purchased" AAC or MPEG-4 from the iTunes store and a "protected" one? I mean, I know that Fairplay is the issue, but why, for example:

Is one thing (say, Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP") a "protected" set of files, yet another thing (say Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3") is "purchased?"

Is something that's up to the artist/publisher? Up to iTunes?

I mean, it really doesn't matter. I'm just sort of curious.

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