Tags - Clean up in Aisle 4

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Level 1

95 points

Tags - Clean up in Aisle 4

Despite my mother's attempts, I am not a perfect being. As a matter of fact I've rebelled. Now I must suffer the consequences.

In a (misguided?) effort to find files, I have tagged hundreds and created dozens of named tags. I need to sort through everything, rename tags, move files between tags, etc. (I have close to 300 tags.)

Is Tags the right approach? (I want to say "Are Tags.") Should I give up and use a different technique or just accept the fact that my life is a never-ending game of "Where's Waldo?"
Can I have them show up in the Finder Sidebar alphabetically? I have to scroll through many screens checking for the name in each screen.
Can I rename tags?
Can I delete tags?
Can I combine tags?
How can I "move" files from one tag to another? Can I "move" more than one at a time? (I know it is not a move, but it is easier to express that way.).
Is there a better way of looking at files organized by tags? Column View?
Other approaches or ideas will be appreciated.

I hope I haven't been tagged out.

Thanks.

MacBook

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 9:49 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Community+ 2024

Level 10

116,639 points

Nov 26, 2020 9:00 AM in response to Jarmaracark

The Finder will allow you to sort by Tags in a Finder window, but not in the Finder sidebar. You can manually (and in your case, laboriously) manage tags (rename, delete) in the Finder Preferences : Tags panel. You can place multiple tags on a file or folder via the Finder, as a form of combination, but that is it.

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Answer 2

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Nov 25, 2020 10:04 PM in response to Jarmaracark

I've never used tags. I use a) Column view and b) lots of folders/subfolders, all arranged alphabetically. I name the files and folders so I know what it is. If it were photos as an example: main folder - Photos. Subfolders: coast trip 2019, Calif. 2018, etc, etc.

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Answer 3

Jarmaracark Author

Level 1

95 points

Nov 25, 2020 11:43 PM in response to babowa

That will work if there is only 1 criteria for everything. I might also want to know who is in the photo, but this would make me make a choice. And when trying to put together a tribute for someone who has just passed away, it would not be helpful. I use tags to search on multiple criteria and the files are not always photos.

Tags allow for cross-references.

I might create folders for each customer, but if I want to review every contract, or see correspondence from an employee who may have written to many, this wouldn't work. This isn't the best example. An analogy might be books on a shelf by author's name wouldn't help when I look for travel books.

Appreciate the thought. I wish my life could be simpler. ;)

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