[Macworld.com]

Learn how to force OS X to show all files in the Finder, including normally hidden Unix files and folders. [more]

[kenm22]

It is much easier just using the Freeware TinkerTool.

[armadillo]

Here's a one-trick (actually two-trick) pony I've been using:
set dotVisible to do shell script "defaults read com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles"
if dotVisible = "0" then
do shell script "defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles 1"
else
do shell script "defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles 0"
end if
tell application "Finder" to quit
delay 1
tell application "Finder" to activate
Take the above AppleScript, open Script Editor, paste into window, and save as application, leaving all check boxes unchecked. Double-click on the applet and it will toggle visibility of files, complete with quitting and relaunching the Finder. It couldn't be more simple.

[sparky67]

Quote:

---

Take the above AppleScript, open Script Editor, paste into window, and save as application, leaving all check boxes unchecked. Double-click on the applet and it will toggle visibility of files, complete with quitting and relaunching the Finder. It couldn't be more simple.

---

Agree! That's a cool script! Thank-you!

[Rhywun]

Why does showing all hidden files cause every icon to be dimmed?? I don't see the connection.

[shuggie]

sparky's got it in one!

Thanks armadillo for the script. I'm a newbie in the Mac world, still stumbling around with OS X, so it's great to find help like this.

[sonofole]

I get an error with the above script.

2008-07-30 15:36:09.959 defaults[8044]
The domain/default pair of (com.apple.Finder, AppleShowAllFiles) does not exist.



Any ideas?

[shuggie]

Hi sonofole

I got the script to work by simply highlighting (dragging the cursor) and copying (with cmd-c) as described. I have been able to replicate your error by inserting a comma between com.apple.Finder and
AppleShowAllFile (as shown in your error message).

Hope that helps. The script really does work!

[sonofole]

Unfortunately, I checked the script I have and it's exactly as printed above.

I'm running 10.4.11 on a PowerPC G4.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks,

[mufasa]

Hi,

I also got the same error you mentioned. After some investigation I found the error lay in the script itself. The very first time you run this script, the property AppleShowAllFiles does not exist for Finder, so the attempt to read it throws an error. I modified the script and added a few lines at the end to announce the Visibility mode it has set. Here is my modified script:

try
set dotVisible to do shell script "defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles"
on error errorMessage number errorNumber
set dotVisible to 0
end try
if dotVisible = "0" then
do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1"
else
do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 0"
end if
tell application "Finder" to quit
delay 1
tell application "Finder" to activate
if dotVisible = "0" then
say "VISIBLE"
else
say "HIDDEN"
end if

[stevew_f]

Very nice! One small suggestion:
At the end of the script, instead of using the voice confirmation, change the name of the application from "Hide..." to "Show..." (or vice-versa)....

Thing is, I don't know how to write that; it's up to you skilled folks.

[fitzdevlin]

Griffiths terminal command is the only one of these suggestions that my mini power pc responds to, and unfortunately it still doesn't solve my problem:
i have a folder on my SimpleTech external that Finder/Spotlight are incapable of locating, yet certain applications show the folder as extant and can manipulate/process the files contained in it, i.e. mp3, pdf etc.
in the open dialog for these applications (macmp3gain and itunes) i'm able to browse multiple volumes/copies of my external, "dogdrive." this means that these applications show dogdrive, dogdrive 1, dogdrive 2 and so on.
i believe this is related to putting my mini to sleep. upon waking it, i receive the message that the drive was not properly ejected.
each time it seems to repartition, the 30+ gigs then reside on the most recently created volume (currently dogdrive 3).
Finder/Spotlight are unable to locate anything but the root dogdrive.
sorry to divert this thread.
any tips?
i'd be glad to append some screenshots to my post if i knew how.
thanks.

[ericrdb]

Working great here. Deployed as my very first "hello world" Mac app (MacBook, OS X 10.5.5). Thanks!

eric db

www.mydbsolution.com

[Jagdeep222]

I have to toggle between show all files and hiding them (because I share a computer with other users - I wouldn't want them to much with hidden files). Toggling in the aforementioned manner is pretty easy - but I wrote an application to do it with the click of a button:
Show All Files App
I hope that this program helps people out!