.ds_store on desktop

Open the Script Editor or AppleScript Editor in one of the subfolders of Applications and run the following:

tell application "Finder" to quit

if (do shell script "defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles") is "1" then

do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 0"

else

do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1"

end if

delay 2

tell application "Finder" to run

If you change your mind later, run the script again.

(70312)

The .DS_STORE file is a file that's a cache. Nothing more. If it doesn't exist, it'll be created.

Niel describes how to get rid of the file and how to reveal or to hide what would otherwise be hidden files using an AppleScript, but you've probably gone to some effort to show those files as that's not a default setting of OS X.

Launching Terminal.app and issuing the defaults write command directly is also feasible, and there are tools that enable these and other settings. Given you're seeing the file, you've probably already used a related command or tool, as you would not otherwise be seeing the file.

I just want to hide it on the desktop. Is there another trick to do just that? I'm very new to applescript:-(

The .ds_store cache file is a so-called hidden file.

If you don't want to see hidden files, then you will turn off the ShowAllFiles knob.

There's no knob specifically for .ds_store.

The sequence is described above for AppleScript, or you can launch Applications > Utilities > Terminal.app and enter:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 0

Is there a way to show hidden files in finder but not on the desktop?

tnx

There is no hidden-files knob specific to the desktop folder.

I'm unfamiliar with the terminal app, but I'm sure I can run it. Can I copy and paste "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 0" in the program to prevent OSX, I'm running 10.8.3 on a MacBook, from writing the .ds_store on my desktop?

The "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 0" setting does not control whether .ds_store is written, it controls whether it (and other hidden files) are visible in Finder. There is no knob to disable .ds_store.

What's your goal here? Not showing the file in Finder? Sure. Launch Terminal.app from Applications > Utilities, paste in the command, and you're good to go. Finder won't show any hidden files.

Not (ever) generating the .ds_cache file? No way to do that, short of not (ever) using Finder with the directory, and that's not feasible with the Desktop. Finder creates that file when it's looking at the directory.

I'm coming to realize that if I want to see hidden files, I have to live with the .ds_store on the desktop.

thanks

This suggestion works perfectly if after you enter the above, then you also go to Apple, force quit, click on finder and click relaunch. Viola, it's gone! Thanks, MrHoffman!

Type this into the terminal application that can be found in spotlight and press enter ... Gone ....Type this :

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAll Files FALSE; killall Finder

or

Type this into the terminal application that can be found in spotlight and press enter ... Gone ....Type this :

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAll Files FALSE; killall Finder