Hidden Files like "._filename" on every file?

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Level 1

4 points

Hidden Files like "._filename" on every file?

Hello,

I know OSX is saving some hidden files on the disk. But I found out that Leopard (latest version) has a hidden file for each file I have on my harddrive - starting with a "._" ex: "._myimage.jpg" - is this normal? I have an iMac 24" 2007 and my harddrive says : Filesysten: Journaled HFS+.

When I copy files to a Windows machine - all those hidden files are copied as well - and I can remember that this wasn't the case some weeks ago.

If this is a normal behavior I am fine with it - but I think it is not - or some sort of software set this up on my iMac? I am running Default Folder X. I also sometimes use ChronoSync to sync files between MacBook Pro - running Snow Leopard.

Thanks for any hint and/or tip!

iMac 24", MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 15, 2009 11:18 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 15, 2009 11:45 AM in response to frunny

I found out that Leopard (latest version) has a hidden file for each file I have on my harddrive - starting with a "._" ex: "._myimage.jpg"

Exactly how did you discover this? IIRC, your conclusion is wrong. What you're seeing is that Mac files have a data fork and a resource fork that are split when copied to windoze boxes. You won't see those on the Mac side. See http://www.macdisk.com/macforken.php3 for starters. Then, search these forums for *"transferring files to windows"* and other variants and peruse the results.

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Answer 2

frunny Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2009 11:51 AM in response to baltwo

It seems that JungleDisk uses a ._ file to save the resource fork when copying the files to amazon s3 storage. Also when I copy my files over to Windows - I see all the ._ files on my windows machine. So I think they will be created either by JungleDisk or when copying to Windows.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 15, 2009 11:58 AM in response to frunny

Thanks for clarifying. Start with the linked article and if there's no help there, go a google search for *mac resource forks* and peruse those results. I don't use any such apps, so I don't know what to advise. You wanted to know if it was normal and I said it is.

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Answer 4

red_menace

Level 6

17,072 points

Nov 15, 2009 12:28 PM in response to frunny

If some of your backup/sync utilities are using rsync, it also uses names like that to keep track of the sync info.

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Answer 5

frunny Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2009 12:31 PM in response to baltwo

however - last week it was the first time I saw those files when copying from my Mac to Windows. That was the reason I was asking here. Before that, I only saw the .DS_Store files when copying to my Windows machine but not the ._ files. I also use JungleDisk since 1 year or so. Maybe JungleDisk changed something.

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 15, 2009 2:29 PM in response to frunny

Could be. I don't use it.

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