I have a folder with 13 images in it. That is what the finder shows and that is what I see when I use the terminal. I have checked with hidden files showing and not.
When I do a get info on the folder it claims 14 images. Bizarre. Anyone know why that would be?
Running High Sierra 10.13.6
Mac mini, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6), null
I believe you are correct that is what Apple's thinking. But that is ridiculous. Here's why:
Using the principal that the folder itself is counted step 2 should be 1 item as well. But it isn't. In both cases you have an empty folder. In one case the folder itself is counted and in the other it isn't. This is not because of a .DS_store or other hidden file. So I agree that Apple considers this the expected behavior, I can't imagine a justification for this.
Just to document things for posterity, the correct count is shown
Get Info can't be relied upon to accurately report the number of items because you don't know by looking at it if it counts the folder itself or not.
I believe you are correct that is what Apple's thinking. But that is ridiculous. Here's why:
Using the principal that the folder itself is counted step 2 should be 1 item as well. But it isn't. In both cases you have an empty folder. In one case the folder itself is counted and in the other it isn't. This is not because of a .DS_store or other hidden file. So I agree that Apple considers this the expected behavior, I can't imagine a justification for this.
Just to document things for posterity, the correct count is shown
Get Info can't be relied upon to accurately report the number of items because you don't know by looking at it if it counts the folder itself or not.
Most likely it's the d_store file which isn't shown even with invisible files showing.
I just use the status bar at the bottom of the Finder window. That gives me what is on that level of the folder instead of what is buried in subfolders.
It's what Barney-15E described. When I do a Get Info on a folder it gives the the number of files inside the folder plus 1.
From the bottom of the Finder window for the folder.
But that shouldn't be displayed in the Get Info count. Also, I'm surprised that it isn't shown with invisible files showing. NOTHING should be hidden from the user. ðŸ˜
BTW do you mean .DS_Store? Those are not invisible when you show hidden files. I have never heard of D_Store
I would agree this isn't a bug since it works as intended (as best we know). But it is broken in the sense that the design is misleading the user and isn't intuitive enough that any human can fathom the behavior. I posted here and another forum. I also chatted with Apple. No one had the right answer at first. That's an indicator that the design is flawed. It isn't just non-intuitive, it isn't logically consistent.
The folder itself is an item.
Barney is correct. Not sure what I was thinking.
Which is fine, but Get Info is broken. 😀
michaelbierman wrote:
Which is fine, but Get Info is broken. 😀
FWIW, it's only broken if it doesn't act as intended. Not knowing the intent doesn't mean it's broken.
Well, I've been using Macs since 1985 and I really haven't felt misled nor has it been an issue for me. Just one of life's mysteries.
Me too. That doesn't mean that Apple is perfect. Plenty of examples otherwise.
Yes and no. See my previous post it isn't always +1 and you can't know if it is adding 1 or not. That's why it is a poor design.
Yes, ds_store. They don't show for me. You can let Apple know what they should show here… Feedback - macOS - Apple
Info shows wrong number of files
