%20 on Download file Names

Dear Akash, How do you get to the "Find & Replace" option through "Automator". I am not super savvy on Macs but I own a Mackbook and since I bought it I am running into this %20 thing when I down load and it is super time consuming to fix it.

I would like to take advantage of your discovery but don't know how to do it. I found Automator but then I have nom idea what to do.

Could you please post a steps by step of how to Find and Replace with Automator? Pleaseeeee

Thanks!

Best, Venus

I'm guessing that the file names have spaces in them. The %20 tag is standard HTML designation for a space. How exactly are you downloading these files from your computer? Are you using an app of some sort, such as File Browser?

They must be using normal HTML pathname conventions then.

Regards.

There's nothing you can do. Whoever uploaded the files to the server you're downloading from has used spaces in the names of the files, which technically is not good practise.

If the %20's bother you, just rename the files after downloading.

I have the same problem and it's frustrating to have to waste time renaming every file I download from Safari. There is no such problem when I make Google Chrome my default browser, which I may have to do, but I would really prefer not to. Is there any way we could encourage Safar to be more user friendly by resolving this problem?

I second that motion!

PC's don't do this, why the hec do Macs?

Apple, please fix this.

EVERY browser out there does this. And countless programs.

The best way to get around it is if people that put files up don't use spaces in the names. A good alternative is to use the underscore __, which keeps up that space without actually using one.

it's not a problem uniques to apple, the real issue lies with those that put files up lacking the knowledge to not use spaces in titles.

I didn't say every browser, I said apple. PC's do NOT do this, you can download any file you like and it keeps the names with the spaces... as God intended. This was a bug that was fixed with the advent of Windows... heard of it?

The "real issue" is that Apple apparently has a bunch of DOS throw-backs that, for some unknown reason, think file names should not involve spaces. Do_you_type_with_underscores? Does-anyone-type-without-spaces? Do PC users need to save files without spaces? Well, if you're downloading those files with a PC, then the answer is no.

To say the solution is for the entire world to start saving files with underscores or hyphens, is ridiculous. That's like saying "Doctor, it hurts when I lift my arm", and him replying with, "The solution is to stop raising your arm". Sound silly? Yes, of course it is.

The solution is for Apple to simply fix it. It's a bug, a bug that Windows apparently figured out, it's time Apple did too.

Actually, no. I see it on windows comptuers. and anyone that knows about proper file naming and protocols doesn't use spaces in their titles. However your focus seems to be more about expressing yourself on a public forum than anything else.

This is just a user to user forum. If you wish to express yourself to Apple, there is a nifty 'contact us' link on the bottom of every page. you can use it to send your feedback to Apple themselves.

OK, you're right about this becoming juvenile on my part. And yes, this is not the place for venting to Apple. I apologize.

I'll just close with...it's only proper if its necessary...and I've used computers since the early 90's and NEVER experienced the %20 until I got my MacBook Air. So maybe I've just had a magic ability to download thousands of files from my online email for all these years, and my Mac purchase has simply broken the spell. ****. Well hopefully when I get to the office today and download project files using my PC, maybe, just maybe I'll be able to download the files, spaces and all...as I have done thousands of times before.

But good luck with getting the whole planet to "properly name their files". And I'll stay off this thread, continue to name my files with spaces, and download files with spaces to my PC. (No wonder the business world uses them)

I guess I'll just use my Air for music and browsing.

I built a simple workflow in Automator.

I am not sure if I can attach a file here but here is a screen shot of the script...

Should do the trick. Try it.

Also learned that apostrophe gets replaced with %27. So could build a different workflow or add one step to this name fixer.

Hope this helps,

AS

Thanks to Akash Sharma my %20's are stripped and replaced with spaces - Thanks for the Automator script!

Jon

Thanks for the %20 automator script, but I can't figure out how to assign the script to the download folder.

Please show me how to get specified finder iterms.

much appriciated.

Solved the problem!🙂