ronin673

Q: In Finder, how can I search/list a folder's files by the file names' final characters, i.e. 'ends-with' alphabetical instead of default 'begins with' alphabetical?

In Finder, how can I search/list a folder's files by the file names' final characters, i.e. 'ends-with' alphabetical instead of default 'begins with' alphabetical?

OSX Finder / Spotlight, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 24, 2016 5:42 PM

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Q: In Finder, how can I search/list a folder's files by the file names' final characters, i.e. 'ends-with' alphabetical instead of de ... more

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  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Feb 24, 2016 5:46 PM in response to ronin673
    Level 5 (6,246 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 24, 2016 5:46 PM in response to ronin673

    As far as I know, you can't.

  • by ronin673,

    ronin673 ronin673 Feb 24, 2016 5:58 PM in response to dialabrain
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2016 5:58 PM in response to dialabrain

    But if not to arrange/sort in Finder, then at very least there must be some way to do a Spotlight search of a folder for a file(s) with target content in the name?

     

    ( i.e. equivalent to *endswith or *content* in the UNIX terminal)?

  • by dialabrain,Helpful

    dialabrain dialabrain Feb 25, 2016 7:12 AM in response to ronin673
    Level 5 (6,246 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 25, 2016 7:12 AM in response to ronin673

    some of the ways you can do a Finder search based on Name…

    Screen Shot 2016-02-24 at 9.23.51 PM.png

  • by ronin673,

    ronin673 ronin673 Feb 25, 2016 7:21 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2016 7:21 AM in response to dialabrain

    Bingo! Thanks so much, this is just what I'm looking for... (knew I was missing this function right in front of me somewhere...)

     

    The catch is still getting it to work. So for example, if I want to search all the <.mp3> files ending in "2" in this folder (such as the second and fourth files listed in this screencap, etc.) I should be able to finder-search the folder for "2", and see a list of them - no?

    Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.09.22 AM.png

     

     

     

    Unfortunately, I'm not getting any... and whether I include the file extension in my search doesn't seem to matter:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.10.51 AM.pngScreen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.10.58 AM.png

    Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.11.13 AM.pngScreen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.11.23 AM.png

     

    Any bright ideas why this might be?  Thanks again...

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Feb 25, 2016 7:35 AM in response to ronin673
    Level 5 (6,246 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 25, 2016 7:35 AM in response to ronin673

    Not really. Not even a dim idea.

     

    However, I did a search with Kind: MP3 Audio and Name contains 2 and it found mine.

     

    See: The Finder organizes all of your files - Apple Support

    near the bottom of the page.

  • by balsa2,

    balsa2 balsa2 Feb 28, 2016 3:44 AM in response to ronin673
    Level 3 (523 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 28, 2016 3:44 AM in response to ronin673

    Try adding : All of the following are true : to the Smart Folder

     

    Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 11.24.42.png

    This search filter is added by option clicking the Plus sign :

    Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 11.31.25.png

    Click to add, when the Plus sign changes to horizontal ellipsis (...)

    Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 11.32.11.png

    When done, there may be a search filter above All of the following are true, remove this by clicking the Minus sign on the search filter above All of the following are true.