Parent Folder as Smart Folder Criteria

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Level 2

240 points

Parent Folder as Smart Folder Criteria

So... I'm trying to use a smart folder as a way of viewing the content of two external hard drives as if they were one. I figured that the simplest way to do this would be to create a smart folder that lists every folder in those two drives. However, I only want to see the folders at the top level. I figured that the easiest criteria that would allow me to achieve this would be to enter something along the lines of "Parent is [Drive 1] or [Drive 2]," but I can't find anything in the smart folder dialog that allows me to specify a parent location. Is there a way to do this that I'm not aware of?

Any ideas? Anyone?

125 GHz iMac G4, Dual 1 GHz G4 Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Feb 8, 2007 5:21 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 13, 2007 10:13 AM in response to EP Meyer

Because the "File pathname" attribute doesn't work, you could do it this way:

1. In the new smart folder, choose "Kind" and go down and select "Other".
2. From that list, choose "Spotlight comment" and "Contains". Then choose a unique comment for the field. "Unified_list" for example.
3. Give all the folders from any drive or location you want in the list that same unique Spotlight comment (choose "Get Info" to locate the Spotlight Comments field).

And you've got your list of folders from both drives.

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Answer 2

EP Meyer Author

Level 2

240 points

Feb 14, 2007 8:47 AM in response to Brenton Bills

Thanks!!

Just one follow-up question: is there any way to create a rule in Finder where new folders automatically have that criteria added to the comment field?

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Answer 3

Feb 14, 2007 10:13 AM in response to EP Meyer

If there is, I don't know about it. But you can make your own Automator application that will add a Spotlight comment to anything dropped on it. That would make it pretty easy. Just follow the instructions under the heading "Easily add Spotlight comments."

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