How do I search hidden files?

Question

How do I search hidden files?

My girlfriend just switched from a pc and we are in the process of organizing her huge huge collection of files. One thing we have noticed is that there are a ton of hidden files that we don't need. These are nearly all Microsoft word .tmp files and start with a ~

Spotlight won't show these files, even after I did the terminal command to show hidden files in the finder. So the question is: how do I get rid of all of these files?

iMac i7, Mac mini G4, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 9, 2011 4:42 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

jsd2

Level 5

6,245 points

Jan 9, 2011 5:09 PM in response to Bernhard VonZastrow1

Take a look at [EasyFind|http://www.devon-technologies.com/products/freeware/index.html].

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Answer 2

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jan 9, 2011 5:11 PM in response to Bernhard VonZastrow1

In a Finder search window, click on Kind, Other, and add invisibles and system files. That should allow you to see all of them.

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2011 5:33 PM in response to baltwo

baltwo,

could you elaborate a bit? I did a search for .tmp in a finder window, told it to search "This Mac", and switched from "Contents" to "File Name". I then hit the + button and added a criteria of:

"Kind" is "Other"

It then has a blank field. How to I add invisibles and system files?

Thanks

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Answer 4

Jan 9, 2011 5:35 PM in response to jsd2

jsd2,

Thanks. This looks like it might do the trick. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jan 9, 2011 5:48 PM in response to Bernhard VonZastrow1

Click on the Kind button and select Other from the drop-down menu. You'll get a new window with all the other criteria you can add to the drop-down menu, enable the ones you want, in addition to File invisible and System files, and click OK. Click on Kind button again, and add System files and select include, repeat and add File invisible and select visible and invisible, type in .tmp in your search window, and hit the return key. .tmp files should show up.

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