PDF files not showing up on Mac

Question

Catarinacat Author

Level 1

8 points

PDF files not showing up on Mac

I was given a USB drive with 21 PDF files from a workshop I attended.

All the PDF files showed up and could be open on a PC.

However, when I tried to open the USB drive on my MacBook, some files were "missing", only 6 were showing and working.

I checked the same USB drive on a PC after this and all 21 files were there.

I tried formatting the USB drive to ExFAT (originally it was MS-DOS (FAT))and nothing changed.

I've already tried to show hidden files but none of the missing files show up.

I copied the files from the PC and to a new USB drive that I have been using on both Mac and PC without any issue and the same files are "missing" when I plug it in my Mac.

I have absolutely no clue about what is going on.

I'm working on a MacBook Pro Retina with macOS Sierra 10.12.6.

Can anybody help me with this?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), null

Posted on Nov 15, 2017 4:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 16, 2017 3:25 AM in response to Catarinacat

I assume something "wrong" with the PDF's when seen from the mac.

You use Preview perhaps, what happens if you use AdobeAcrobatReader on the mac? Can you then see them and read them? If so, just save them (from AAR) when on the mac, and perhaps you can then see them with Preview?

Reply

Answer 2

Catarinacat Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 16, 2017 4:18 AM in response to Lexiepex

I have both Preview and AdobeAcrobatReader on my Mac.

The problem is that the files don't show up on the USB drive for me to choose what to open them with.

I was able to solve the problem by receiving the files through email and then I was able to copy them to the USB drive without any issue.

However I wonder what the problem is and if this has already happen before (and some files got "lost" among the million things on my pen drive) since I use a PC at work and frequently use a USB drive to transfer files to/from work.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 16, 2017 7:24 AM in response to Catarinacat

Do the file names by any chance start with a dot - e.g. ".this.pdf" ?

Files starting with a dot are hidden by default on the mac.

If you change their names on a pc to start with something else, they will appear.

Anyway, independently of being hidden, they should appear in Terminal if you do ls -a.

And you can open them even they are hidden.

Here is a way you can do it:

1) Open Terminal

2) Type "cd " (without quotes but with the trailing space) but DON'T press Enter

3a) Drag the drive or folder that contain the files to the Terminal (its full name will appear)

3b) Press enter

4) Type "open .*.pdf" (without the quotes) and press enter

All the pdf files starting with "." in that folder will open in Preview (or whichever application is your default for pdf files)

5) Use Save As... to save them under a new name

Reply

Answer 4

Catarinacat Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 16, 2017 8:58 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Lol, yes. I was just being consistent with your example.

On Terminal it shows ".*.pdf does not exist" (without quotes).

Some examples of file names that do not show up:

Exames complementares de diagnóstico em Reumatologia.pdf

História Clínica em Reumatologia.pdf

Monitorização dos DMARD’s.pdf

Reumatologia Topográfica-anca.pdf

Reumatologia Topográfica-punho.mão.pdf

Reply

Answer 5

Catarinacat Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 16, 2017 9:33 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

So I just noticed that all the files that do not show up have accented characters on their name. And all the ones that show up do not.

However I didn't change any names on the files sent and downloaded through email (they have accented characters too) and had no problem finding and opening them.

Reply