Hackszine.com: Show hidden files in the OS X Finder

Show hidden files in the OS X Finder

Every once in a while I need to make an update to an .htaccess file on a server share or some other dot-file that is normally hidden by the Finder. Instead of editing the file in the terminal with the vi editor—a perfectly appropriate solution, of course—it's a pretty simple tweak to make the Finder show all of those hidden files.

Just open a Terminal window and run the following:

# defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true # KillAll Finder

One thing you might notice after enabling the hidden file option, aside from all those insidious .DS_Store files, is that all of the file icons will take on a hazy, 50% alpha look. I've gotten used to it, but it's a little annoying. To switch things back, just set the AppleShowAllFiles parameter back to false:

# defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool false # KillAll Finder

Like I said... perfectly appropriate to edit stuff with vi from the terminal window.

Posted by Jason Striegel | Dec 5, 2007 09:49 PM
Mac | Permalink | Comments (4)

Comments

Newest comments listed first.

Posted by: on December 5, 2007 at 11:55 PM

I prefer view and edit hidden files in my FTP app (Transmit for example) as FTP applications mostly show them by default: it's easy and quick.

d43.

Posted by: Lucas Arruda on December 11, 2007 at 6:52 PM

Also, onyx for Leopard (not yet approved, but functional) does this with a checkbox.

Posted by: Jauhari on January 8, 2008 at 7:58 PM

The Problem, on my FTP Client (Transmit) my .htaccess disappear too. how to make it visible on other application but disable on Finder?

Thanks

Posted by: uh oh on January 17, 2008 at 3:56 PM

for some reason, it locked me out of my desktop. Can't click anything on it. Says I don't have premission. I am an admin as well. Tried disabling didn't work. Suggestions?