Download BlueHarvest for Mac - Disable DS_Store creation and more. MacUpdate Mac File Management Software Downloads

BlueHarvest is a preference panel which allows users to:

Automatically remove ".DS_Store" files.
Automatically remove Resource fork (._) files.
Remove .Trashes folders from removable disks.
Use simple contextual menu Finder based cleaning of disks, folders and Zip archives.

Version 3.0.2:

Improved support for Paragon NTFS.
Improved support for Non OSX based AFP servers.

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AppleOff (votes: 1 )

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NOOTILUS I was using FinderCleaner to clean up volatile supports like USB key before using them with PCs. Unfortunately FinderCleaner has been discontinued. Therefore I'm looking for some replacement.

Blue Harvest looked like the perfect tool until I tried it.

It is so powerful in cleaning that even with the setting done it wipped all my external drives preferences. I lost all the colored folders and several cool settings.

I'm sorry, but I can't trust a software that overring user's settings.
(Version 3.0.1)

Replies:

Oct 23 2009

MITCH_DE "Automatically remove ".DS_Store" files."

???? If you have an non HFS Volume you simple should not use such cleaning tools !

Because all will delete .DS_Store in which suche cosmetic things like folder icons are saved.
(Version 3.0.2)

SKITYBA2 for two weeks Safari cant find the server zeroonetwenty.com
(Version 3.0.1)

ROBERT System Preferences throws up a sheet saying that this pref pane cannot be installed.

10.4.11 on a G3 PPC
(Version 2.0.5)

SHRALLDAM Windows also creates annoying files that are visible under OS X, such as "Thumbs.db" inside a folder containing pictures...
(Version 2.0.1)

VORTEXFIVE If Apple claims to work seamleslly together with pc's, I find they should include something like this.

Great program
(Version 1.1)

NED ANDERSON Arn't .DS_Store files a nessessary part of OSX. Don't they hold important info like window positions, what view mode they're in (list or icon). Or wheather the side bar is present or not? wouldn't wiping all the .DS files set everything back to factory settings?
(Version 1.0.3)

Replies:

May 22 2006

HAL2007 You're right. Those files hold information about window placement, labels on files and the way window content is displayed (list, icon, columns).

Blue Harvest is mainly adressed to people that have windows servers. Windows people are often annoyed by those .DS_Store files that Mac OS X spreads everywhere. And on a windows server, you can't make real use of those settings anyhow. So why not force the system to simply not generate those invisble files on certain locations?

However, there are tools that do that for no money (Onyx, TinkerTool, and possibly more).

Blue Harvest gives more control about that, but this costs you extra.
(Version 1.0.3)

WCITYMIKE How about an Intel Mac port?
(Version 1.0.2)

TRIGGER1976 Living in the world of both Macs & PCs (like many nowdays)I find this little app very handy as I am constantly shifting files between systems. You can remove those damn .DS_Store files and resource folks with a little work in Terminal but using BlueHarvest definately saves time and effort. I was happy to pay the small fee to register.

Moving data between Windows and OS X should be a simple task and I find this a real weakness with the HFS file system. I hope Apple resolve this in the next big cat version of OS X.
(Version 1.0)

SJK Now that there are several "file tagging" utilities for 10.4 that use Spotlight comments probably the most important warning for users of those who'd also be using this utility is that Spotlight (Finder) comments are stored in .DS_Store files.
(Version 0.8.1)

Replies:

Mar 29 2006

PSEUDO TASUKI Are you certain of that?

Can you provide a source?

That certainly does not make sense. The information she be stored either in the HFS+ extended attributes or the Spotlight database.
(Version 1.0.2)

Mar 30 2006

SJK Yes, I'm certain. You can verify it yourself (as I did) by examining a .DS_Store file in any folder that contains files with Finder/Spotlight comments, then removing the .DS_Store and noticing the comments are gone (maybe not instantly due to caching; restarting Finder).

I don't know offhand where good sources of information about .DS_Stores files is but there's some in this excellent two-year-old Mac OS X Hints article:

Explaining the Finder's view options and toolbar visibility

I hope everyone creating utilities (like BlueHarvest) that delete .DS_Store files has at least that much understanding of their purposes. And I still feel that adequate warning might help people make more informed choices whether or not to delete them.
(Version 1.0.2)

Mar 30 2006

SJK The URL was stripped from my reply. Here's another attempt:

www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030305025744788

Otherwise, search for Mac OS X Hints for "view options toolbar visibility" to locate the article.
(Version 1.0.2)

Mar 31 2006

SJK For related info, see the last paragraph of:

Mac OS X 10.4: How to prevent .DS_Store file creation over network connections

docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301711

... and follow the link to:

Mac OS X: Get Info Comments May Not Appear for Remote Volumes

docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107822
(Version 1.0.2)

Apr 1 2006

PSEUDO TASUKI The second article you posted (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107822) contradicts your statements. It seems that the data exists both in the DS_Store file as well as the local Spotlight database. When editing the Spotlight comments on a remote file, the changes you make will ONLY apply on the local machine, regardless of the use of this software. If copying an entire folder, however, the DS_Store file will be transferred and the comments WILL appear on other machines.

Ironically, it seems that if you use this software to disable DS_Store files on remote volumes the Finder's behavior actually becomes more consistent!

I've verified that removing a DS_Store file causes the Spotlight comments to disappear from the get info window. The data is still searchable via Spotlight, however. It seems to me that this is actually a bug.

Hopefully Apple will sort this all out in the next version of OS X. The best course of action would be to stop using DS_Store files altogether and take advantage of the metadata capabilities of the filesystem.
(Version 1.0.2)

Apr 2 2006

SJK Maybe there's a contradiction since my original comments didn't take any local vs. remote issues into account.

Anyway, thanks for the discussion. Maybe best to end here by saying we agree that .DS_Store files should somehow go away. Or, minimally, not be used for storing Finder/Spotlight comments because some users will delete those files and unwittingly wipe out the comments. That's the main point I wanted to communicate.
(Version 1.0.2)

ALANR Maybe some people won't understand why this is useful. I'll quote from the author's webpage.

"What is a DS_Store/Resource fork (._) file?

If you don't know what these files are you don't need this software! DS_Store files are created by the Finder to store information about directories and files including viewing options and icon positions. Resource fork (._) files, often called "dot underscore files" are created by the MacOS when an application adds a resource fork to a file on a volume whose format doesn't natively support resource forks. Such as SMB, UFS and NTFS. A file's resource fork may contain information which is important, redundant or both.

Why would I want to remove DS_Store/Resource fork files?

These files can cause problems with certain types of software, hardware devices and file servers [also WebDAV servers]. If you've never had a problem with these files you don't need this software."

He does not mention common devices like Flash memory sticks or cards, non Apple MP3 players, phones etc... These "._" files can cause problems with some devices or at minimum clutter up your non Apple device or disk with uneeded files.

If you've ever wondered why you get all these .DS or ._xxx files on your non Apple device this is the reason.
(Version 0.7.2)

Replies:

Dec 20 2005

MACONNECT uh, as far as I know DS_store files do NOT store the icon position. In fact, this is a file property.
(Version 0.8)

Dec 23 2005

ALANR I think his leading line

(What is a DS_Store/Resource fork (._) file?)

may be a little confusing.

That could read

"What is a .DS_Store or Resource Fork ._xxxxx file"

The most annoying gremlins are the ._xxxx files. You'll only get one .DS_Store per folder but one ._xxxxx file for each file.
(Version 0.8.2)