I have multiple external drives, some with photo, app and video resources, some with client files and some with backup data dating back to 1988. I also have a number of BluRay backup disks with raw video footage and stock footage. Is there an existing app that can index each drive/disk when I mount it, then store a searchable index on my Mac HD? What I want is to search for, say, 'John Smith logo' and have the app give results for 'Drive G' or 'DISK 21'. I can then mount the indicated drive and retrieve the file, and not have to spend half an hour searching every time.
Spotlight, I believe, only stores the index on the drive in question, so cannot search unconnected drives.
Is there an app (like Spotlight) that can index external drives and return search results when the drive is not connected
backupexternal-diskspotlight
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Best Answer
I haven't used it in quite some time, but the go-to app for me, way back from System 9 days was CDFinder, now called NeoFinder & still maintained by its author, right up to Catalina.
I used to use it for cataloguing dozens of backup & old project CDs & DVDs. It would do exactly what you require - find a file, tell you what drive it is on, then once you insert that drive, pop open at that location.
Simple yet effective.