folder-actionmacossnow leopard
There is an element to OS X known as Folder Actions, which causes certain actions or events to occur when items are either added or removed from user specific folders.
How can I enable this ?
(I am using OS X 10.6.8, but if the activation differs for OS X 10.7.5 or 10.8.4 this is also welcomed)
Well this turns out not to be a Mac issue after all!
Restarting my router fixes the problem. It seems to have DNS issues every now and then.
OK, new approach here. Caution: I don't have a system upgraded to Lion (my computer came with Lion installed) so I can't test this. Untested code; back up before trying this code!
My previous answer was based on the sort order used by the Downloads stack in the Dock. The Date Added field in the Finder appears to be based on Spotlight information, which is difficult to hack. It also isn't accessible via AppleScript. But, there does seem to be a workaround.
Create a new Workflow in Automator.
Set the workflow to accept files or folders from the Finder by adding the “Ask for Finder items” action.
Have the workflow run an AppleScript by adding the “Run AppleScript” action.
Use this AppleScript:
on run {input, parameters}
do shell script "sudo /usr/sbin/systemsetup -setusingnetworktime Off" with administrator privileges
tell application "Finder"
repeat with x in input
set myfile to POSIX path of x
set nm to name of x
set d to modification date of x
set yr to (character 3 of (year of d as string)) & (character 4 of (year of d as string))
set mth to (month of d as number) as string
if length of mth is 1 then set mth to "0" & mth
set dy to day of d as string
if length of dy is 1 then set dy to "0" & dy
set h to hours of d as string
if length of h is 1 then set h to "0" & h
set m to minutes of d as string
if length of m is 1 then set m to "0" & m
set s to seconds of d as string
if length of s is 1 then set s to "0" & s
set dt to mth & ":" & dy & ":" & yr as string
set tm to h & ":" & m & ":" & s as string
do shell script "sudo /usr/sbin/systemsetup -setdate '" & dt & "'" with administrator privileges
do shell script "sudo /usr/sbin/systemsetup -settime '" & tm & "'" with administrator privileges
do shell script "mv \"" & myfile & "\" /var/tmp/clobber"
do shell script "mv /var/tmp/clobber \"" & myfile & "\""
end repeat
end tell
do shell script "sudo /usr/sbin/systemsetup -setusingnetworktime On" with administrator privileges
return input
end run
Select the files that do not already have a Date Added (sort by Date Added in Finder, then select the part of the list without a Date Added) and run this service.
Best Answer
Firstly, bear in mind that Folder Actions can be configured through AppleScript to perform a huge variety of actions, and that there are some default scripts among which you'll find the adding / removing action you mention.
Since 10.6 the Folder Actions Setup panel is accessible through any folder's contextual menu:
You'll have, though, to edit the script for it to do something useful as, right not, it only displays an alert saying that an new item has been added to the folder.