FileXaminer

Why can't the finder do this already? Awesome piece of software. This should help some of our automation scripts do more than before.

Does what's needed, does it well. Still works on El Capitan. PS: newest version is 2.8.1 (August 2012)

You can download the 2.6.5 version at the developers web page.

The current download on this MacUpdate page is the old version 2.6.4 (i.e., it is NOT 2.6.5).

Why can't the finder do this already? Awesome piece of software. This should help some of our automation scripts do more than before.

A similar problem to what HERB mentioned below, I can't set codes using characters requiring the option key (non-ASCII). Does the developer read these comments or should I go somewhere to see if this will get fixed?

(1) I was interested in changing Type/Creator codes on a bunch of files, but the program would do exactly nothing; it would not even do the requested change on a single file. After some experimentation, I found that the changes work only if the files are on the startup volume; in my case the files were on a different volume or on an external hard disk. I would have to move the file first to the startup volume. I find this an inexcusable restriction. (2) The program will not show the Creator code on carbon applications, even when they have such a code. Back to XRay, which suddenly looks great by comparison

This is a very useful application. My only gripe: the activation scheme they introduced in v2. By default, you get two activations. Unfortunately, activations are at the account, rather than system, level. So if you have 3 accounts on your machine, you need to send mail to Gideon asking for additional activations. If you replace your hard disk, you need to ask Gideon. If you need to reinstall your OS from scratch and have used both activations, you need to ask Gideon. AND you must have an active Internet connection in order to activate in the first place. I hope Gideon fixes this in their next release.

It certainly does not make XRay look pathetic. On the other hand, Gideon has a comparison table implying that XRay does not do batch operations, yet in XRay's help it states that "XRay can batch-process the contents of a folder." Also, while Super Get Info may not have received the "2001 MacFixIt Award" it did receive a higher rating when reviewed for ATPM: http://www.atpm.com/8.07/filexaminer.shtml Plus Barebones' customer service is superb. I'm going to stick with FileXaminer for now since I already purchased it, but I'm definitely not upgrading to 2.0