MacOS – Automatically deleting files that contain a specific content

deletingfilefindermacosterminal

I would like to make use of the command that looks for a specific phrase in a file:

grep -lr "text to find" *

provided here and delete all of the found files. How can I generate the relevant terminal command?

Best Answer

Assuming you want to delete them without further ado, use

rm $(grep -lr "text to find" *)

The $(..) runs the command within the parenthesis and uses its output as arguments for rm.

Related Solutions

Terminal search files by text that the file names contain

sudo find / -type f -name "*deh*"

if you want to search directories too then remove the -type f. You can also try: sudo locate deh

Should your locate database not be created (or up to date), there is a chance you have that file on the filesystem, but it's not been stored yet. Rather than run a single find command above, building the locate.db database might be a better plan going forward.

MacOS – How to setup a specific application to open all files with unknown extension

I don't think that's possible. OS's usually needs register how to handle each file first.

But it's not all lost: here is a situation that Automator can handle easily.

Here I'll show you, how to create a item menu in the right click context menu, that you can easily select to open your file, better than Open With option.

Steps:

Create a new Service with Automator.
Set files or folders in the first field and Finder.app in the second.
Add an action called ‘Open Finder Items’ and select your application.
For last, save it and name it as you wish.

Now, if you need open a file with unknown extension, just right click and select your newly created service.

‘Define application for files’ action does not work for file extension, is just for a particular file.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Terminal search files by text that the file names contain

MacOS – How to setup a specific application to open all files with unknown extension

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