Batch Delete proxy files

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dwctv Author

Level 1

6 points

Batch Delete proxy files

My former camera (RED ONE) created asides from the video file also 4 Quick Time Proxy Files.

That was handy for viewing the footage on a smaller computer.

Now I have to send out many of those folders without those proxy files, therefore need to delete them.

Is there a faster way (hope so) to delete them in Batch.... because I have a few thousand of them.

For every clip, the camera created a seperate folder which looks like this:

A009_C284_1030MX_001.R3D
A009_C284_1030MX_F.mov
A009_C284_1030MX_H.mov
A009_C284_1030MX_M.mov
A009_C284_1030MX_P.mov

Where the R3D is the master clip and the *.mov are the proxies in different sizes.

I don't need any of them, only the R3D.

Any suggestion very appreciated, because I really do not fancy to delete them one by one!

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), Black Magic Extreme HD, GB RAM, 4 TB HDD

Posted on Jul 3, 2013 7:25 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 3, 2013 7:32 PM in response to dwctv

If you start Terminal, you get a shell similar to MS-DOS (except its Unix).

ls -al ... gets you a list of all files at this directory level

cd <directory-name> ... moves you to a new directory level based on your current location

rm *.mov ... removes all files that look like that at this directory level

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Answer 2

dwctv Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 3, 2013 7:50 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant,

Is -al gives me "-bash Is-al command not found

cd Disk 3 (the disk where the folder is in) gives me: -bash no such File or Directory

even if I input: cd Disk 3/Videofile

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:03 PM in response to dwctv

In the Finder, search the enclosing folder for movie files. Make sure the "R3D" files aren't listed, then delete the results of the search.

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Answer 4

Jul 3, 2013 8:03 PM in response to dwctv

ls is the command. It needs a space after it before the dash and the parameters -al

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Answer 5

Jul 3, 2013 8:04 PM in response to Linc Davis

Oh that is much easier.

Thanks Linc Davis!

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Answer 6

dwctv Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

Sorry Linc,

I have never used the Finder other than the Spotlight.

could you please tell me a bit more how to use that.

I feel such a novice (because coming from the Windows world, there are many (even basic) functions I never used.

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Answer 7

Jul 3, 2013 8:27 PM in response to dwctv

Mac Basics: The Finder

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Answer 8

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:27 PM in response to dwctv

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Answer 9

dwctv Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Linc Davis

wow, many thanks you guys.

I think I have to go back to the basics.

But when I look for a file, spotlight does a great job (at least for me)

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Answer 10

Jul 3, 2013 8:35 PM in response to dwctv

as Linc's screen shot above shows, you can use the Finder to navigate to a Folder, then make an entry in the spotlight-like text box above the Finder window. The window will then show the results. You can restrict to Filenames and starting at this folder to get exactly what you wnat in the window.

then you can select many at once or ALL, and drag to Trash or Command-Delete.

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Answer 11

dwctv Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:56 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Again Linc,

great suggestion!

But I put in the search _F.mov then _P.mov etc.

So I had a precise control over what I delete.

And I chose "This Mac" so I was able to delete over 20.000 files in a short while!

Just thinking to do that manually, would give me the shiver!

From now on, I will use Finder more often!

Promise.

Dorian

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