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How do I change file kind from 'package' to 'folder'?

When I try to open my Pictures folder it asks what application I want to open it. When I clicked on Get Info I noticed that the file kind has changed from Folder to Package. Anyone know how I can change it back to a folder? Thanks.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 19, 2010 3:54 AM

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Posted on Sep 19, 2010 5:42 AM

[Give this a try|http://www.switchingtomac.com/tutorials/how-to-restore-a-folder-that-has-tu rned-into-a-package-in-os-x>
You can also use the command line. Check the folder for the bundle bit with
getfileinfo -aB Pictures/
If it returns 1, the bundle bit is set. You can clear it with
setfile -a b Pictures/
You then have to relaunch the Finder--hold down opt and right click on Finder in Dock. Choose Relaunch.
Did you do anything that would have caused that? Like telling iPhoto to use your Pictures folder as a Library. I've seen this question a few times and am trying to figure out why it is happening. Since it was the Pictures folder, I thought iPhoto could have had a hand in it.
20 replies

Nov 11, 2011 9:05 AM in response to cschwallie

I'm afraid I hardly ever use iPhoto, so can't help you there. However, if your original problem was that the iPhoto Library had the bundle bit set, but the Pictures folder was a folder, then you did NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. The iPhoto Library is SUPPOSED to have the bundle bit set! I think you should post a question in the iPhoto section and give a whole lot more information about what your original problem was than you have provided here.

Francine

Feb 8, 2014 2:45 PM in response to Francine Schwieder

Okay! Slap the original questioner after making it clear the problem was never understood. Fabulous.


Just so that there is actual not reckless knowledge left to die here, here's some notes from my same problem:


The problem is probably due to file/folder attributes, but exactly what? I don't know either.


I have the same problem.


My iPhoto Library as shown by the file "Kind" turned into a "package" kind. This is probably due to ownership or permissions going from one mac to another or one user to another maybe with an external disk?


In any event the issue is to get the "package" or "bundle" or whatever to specify that it is actually an iPhoto Library.

Can GetFileInfo specify the "default application" or the "package type" or the "bundle type" or whatever it's called and specify it to be iPhoto?


That is the issue. Right?

May 8, 2014 4:36 AM in response to Charlie1978

Thanks everyone - this saved my life because in my case it was the home folder that suddenly got turned into a package...

From Finder it was impossible to access it, all I got was the question what Application it needs. So I opened up a Terminal, and did:


cd /Users

getinfofile -aB myname/


And sure enough, the result was 1. Simply following the recipe:


setfile -a b myname/


and restarting solved the problem. I was surprised I could do this without superuser permission! Just in case apple changes that, one would probably have to type <sudo setfile -a b myname/> and give the password at the prompt.

How do I change file kind from 'package' to 'folder'?

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