How to BATCH assign Finder Tags - to assign to ALL items within a directory?

Question

Level 1

55 points

How to BATCH assign Finder Tags - to assign to ALL items within a directory?

How do you assign a tag to all items within an enclosed directory?

The select all helps save some clicks, but when you have nested directories that you want to tag, or untag, it is painful to select all for each and every directory (albeit that is better than manually selecting each and every item in a given directory)

Like permissions, assign permissions to all enclosed items - but for tags.

I expect this has to exist w/o fancy terminal tricks or custom software...

Thank you...

Closest cousin: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7053676

Posted on Dec 12, 2020 4:07 AM

Reply

Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,272 points

Dec 12, 2020 5:49 AM in response to PixelRogue1

The Finder does not offer recursive tagging down through a hierarchy of folders, or obversely, the means to undo that action.

One would require a custom made application that supports directory recursion, and the ability to apply one or more tags to all, or selective file types — and the ability to add, change, or remove those tags in that hierarchy. Do not expect Apple to write this tool.

Apple's Automator has a tagging action that only understands the standard tag colors, and not custom tag names. I wrote an Automator application several years ago that, if I remember correctly, could apply and remove tags to a directory structure.

Reply

Answer 2

PixelRogue1 Author

Level 1

55 points

Dec 12, 2020 2:59 PM in response to VikingOSX

Viking, thanks for taking the time to respond. This saved me from a long set of rabbit holes. I did come across a tutorial for an automator function as I weigh the time invested to manually change everything to that of making an automation.

Oh, you are also referencing Automator. I am using tag names w/color. Would also like to customize the color options but maybe that is asking Apple for too much these days. Thank you.

Reply

How to BATCH assign Finder Tags - to assign to ALL items within a directory?

Similar questions