In Finder I choose a batch of files and open Tags... from the drop menu. All files have different tags so some of the displayed tags are solid (for ALL files) or shaded (for SOME files). If I delete the one tag from the pop-up-window, all tags turn solid. If I hit enter now ALL remaining tags are assigned to all files. How can i avoid this?
OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)
Just select the single file you want to change.
But what if I have to delete 1 tag from 100 files?
I had found a way to do that and I think it was using one of the other methods besides the Tag button in Finder. However, I forgot what it was and cannot find the post where I explained it. Perhaps try the Inspector Window in Finder (cmd-opt-I). That is "Get Info" for the whole selection. I can't test it out right now, but I seem to remember one of the other ways of Tagging would allow you to delete one from many without adding all the rest.
Be careful with the shortcut for the Inspector. If you drop the Option key, you'll get one window for each file in the selection.
In the Tag field, just delete the TAG you don't want and hit Return. So for example if only some of the files have a YellowTag, delete the Yellow Tag from the input field.
If you actually mean let's say you have 99 files with red tags and one with a yellow tag. I don't think you can remove the yellow tag without giving it a red tag.
You do know you can search by tags? So instead of selecting a hundred files you could just search for the tag you want to delete.
Unfortunately no success, thanks for trying. The Inspector Window will also include all tags once I make changes. And deleting the tag is also no option since the tag is still used by other files. There are ways around it but it is cumbersome. Maybe someone knows about a third party software that does a better job?
In any case, tagging, even in its current in-perfect application, is still more useful than folders, I find.
As I mentioned at first I didn't think you could do what you want. I don't think it's even possible to write an algorithm that would. If you select multiple files at one time there is no way to change just one tag. If as you say you have 100 files selected with a mix of tags, how would any program delete the tag of just one or more of those files? How would it know which file(s) you wanted to change and which you didn't? That's why I said just chose the file you wanted changed.
I don't find it imperfect.
Perhaps you mean something else. If you want to remove the Yellow tag from all files that are marked with one. All you would need to do is Click on the Yellow tag in the sidebar which would list all files marked with a yellow tag, select them all then right click and deselect the yellow tag.
let me know if you need screenshots.
Cannot delete only ONE TAG from a batch of files
