Comments on: Screencast: Using TagBot to Tag Your Files http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/ TheAppleBlog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:43:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Tim http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-119577 Tim Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:57:40 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-119577 I was a big fan of TagBot until it stopped working. Also, there has not been an update in a while. The tag palette does not even come up again with my hot key. Fortunately the tags are permanent, but the search and tag functions do not work any more. It's frustrating. I have emailed the folks at BigRobot, and there has been no response. A year ago when I installed, I swapped emails with the author several times... I was a big fan of TagBot until it stopped working. Also, there has not been an update in a while.
The tag palette does not even come up again with my hot key. Fortunately the tags are permanent, but the search and tag functions do not work any more. It’s frustrating. I have emailed the folks at BigRobot, and there has been no response. A year ago when I installed, I swapped emails with the author several times…

]]> By: Tom http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-109940 Tom Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:51:00 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-109940 See the article at http://blog.plasticsfuture.org/category/hacking/unix/ for a very complete take on workable methods. See the article at http://blog.plasticsfuture.org/category/hacking/unix/ for a very complete take on workable methods.

]]> By: Essential Metadata Tips http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-108329 Essential Metadata Tips Sat, 04 Aug 2007 16:23:58 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-108329 [...] TagBot In this internet age, it’s entirely possible that you’re downloading more files than you’re creating, so DFX’s at-save-time capabilities don’t help quite as much. Enter TagBot. A quick access palette interface makes it easy to drag/drop files onto the tags you wish to apply to your file’s metadata. Better yet, is the ability to see at a glance, how many files are associated with any given tag. Double-clicking a tag brings up a Smart Search window showing you all your like-tagged files, wherever they reside on your system. A quick screencast demo can be found here. [...] [...] TagBot In this internet age, it’s entirely possible that you’re downloading more files than you’re creating, so DFX’s at-save-time capabilities don’t help quite as much. Enter TagBot. A quick access palette interface makes it easy to drag/drop files onto the tags you wish to apply to your file’s metadata. Better yet, is the ability to see at a glance, how many files are associated with any given tag. Double-clicking a tag brings up a Smart Search window showing you all your like-tagged files, wherever they reside on your system. A quick screencast demo can be found here. [...]

]]> By: Essential Metadata Tips - The Apple Blog http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-107975 Essential Metadata Tips - The Apple Blog Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:33:44 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-107975 [...] TagBot In this internet age, it’s entirely possible that you’re downloading more files than you’re creating, so DFX’s at-save-time capabilities don’t help quite as much. Enter TagBot. A quick access palette interface makes it easy to drag/drop files onto the tags you wish to apply to your file’s metadata. Better yet, is the ability to see at a glance, how many files are associated with any given tag. Double-clicking a tag brings up a Smart Search window showing you all your like-tagged files, wherever they reside on your system. A quick screencast demo can be found here. [...] [...] TagBot In this internet age, it’s entirely possible that you’re downloading more files than you’re creating, so DFX’s at-save-time capabilities don’t help quite as much. Enter TagBot. A quick access palette interface makes it easy to drag/drop files onto the tags you wish to apply to your file’s metadata. Better yet, is the ability to see at a glance, how many files are associated with any given tag. Double-clicking a tag brings up a Smart Search window showing you all your like-tagged files, wherever they reside on your system. A quick screencast demo can be found here. [...]

]]> By: kor http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-107566 kor Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:56:50 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-107566 Must we always be entertained? Must we always be entertained?

]]> By: Jono http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106307 Jono Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:26:42 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106307 What are you talking about? What do you want him to sound like, some overexcited kids tv presenter? What are you talking about?
What do you want him to sound like, some overexcited kids tv presenter?

]]> By: x0099ff http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106305 x0099ff Sat, 16 Jun 2007 05:02:29 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106305 That guy is very boring! That guy is very boring!

]]> By: Kenguru http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106114 Kenguru Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:14:27 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-106114 I really enjoy you thinking. Is there a utility that creates a tag cloud based on the tags in the spotlight comments? I really enjoy you thinking.

Is there a utility that creates a tag cloud based on the tags in the spotlight comments?

]]> By: Stian http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105853 Stian Sun, 27 May 2007 23:24:25 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105853 Good stuff, Nick. I was wondering if your background image is available on the web somewhere? I rather like it. Good stuff, Nick. I was wondering if your background image is available on the web somewhere? I rather like it.

]]> By: TagBot: Spotlight file tagger http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105816 TagBot: Spotlight file tagger Fri, 25 May 2007 16:10:47 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105816 [...] comments of the files for searching, etc. Nick Santilli over at The Apple Blog has a nice little screencast that gives a good sense of how it [...] [...] comments of the files for searching, etc. Nick Santilli over at The Apple Blog has a nice little screencast that gives a good sense of how it [...]

]]> By: David http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105810 David Fri, 25 May 2007 14:14:32 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105810 Dude, have a cup of coffee before recording a screencast. You are so boring and unenthusiastic. Seriously... Dude, have a cup of coffee before recording a screencast. You are so boring and unenthusiastic. Seriously…

]]> By: John Brissenden http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105622 John Brissenden Fri, 18 May 2007 01:20:52 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105622 Meh, I'm not sure that TagBot does enough that <a href="http://www.nudgenudge.eu/" rel="nofollow">Punakea</a> doesn't to warrant the $20 price, er, tag. Although it does look nice, with the translucent windows'n'all. Meh, I’m not sure that TagBot does enough that Punakea doesn’t to warrant the $20 price, er, tag. Although it does look nice, with the translucent windows’n'all.

]]> By: Jono http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105609 Jono Thu, 17 May 2007 20:15:43 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105609 Isn't it the case that if you backup your (tagged) files then the spotlight comments are retained in the backed up files? Looks like a good update to 1.1 & looks like it's a great tool for managing tags (removing a tag from all files is one which would come in really handy for me now & then). There's the odd feature I'd like in there, but I still think I'll end up buying this eventually :) It seems to me that if you invoke TagBot, start typing the name of the the tag then hitting Return to to open a search for those files seems more intuative then Open (Command +O). Maybe it's just me? :) It's good that you can change the hotkey to invoke TagBot but I'd still prefer to specify my own (Something like CTRL, Shift +T or Command +F1). Would be good if you right clicked on a file, selected Add Tag & you could specify a new tag as well as selecting current ones. Would be good if you could drag the favicon from the Safari address bar on to a tag in TagBot (the same way you can with Punakea) Isn’t it the case that if you backup your (tagged) files then the spotlight comments are retained in the backed up files?

Looks like a good update to 1.1 & looks like it’s a great tool for managing tags (removing a tag from all files is one which would come in really handy for me now & then). There’s the odd feature I’d like in there, but I still think I’ll end up buying this eventually :)

It seems to me that if you invoke TagBot, start typing the name of the the tag then hitting Return to to open a search for those files seems more intuative then Open (Command +O). Maybe it’s just me? :)

It’s good that you can change the hotkey to invoke TagBot but I’d still prefer to specify my own (Something like CTRL, Shift +T or Command +F1).

Would be good if you right clicked on a file, selected Add Tag & you could specify a new tag as well as selecting current ones.

Would be good if you could drag the favicon from the Safari address bar on to a tag in TagBot (the same way you can with Punakea)

]]> By: Ryan Perry http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105596 Ryan Perry Thu, 17 May 2007 15:33:05 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105596 Hi Bob, Let me preface the rest of what I'm about to say by saying that I'm by no means an expert at backup technology. ;) That said, I do know that most metadata is stored in a special system-wide database file, but Spotlight Comments, which is where TagBot stores tags, are stored in the .DS_Store files located in every directory. Those .DS_Store files act as a distributed database for the Finder, and if you delete a .DS_Store file for a given directory, then the tags for the files in that directory will be lost. So it seems to me that the only way to effectively backup your tags right now would be to use a backup solution that uses the Finder to perform its copy activities. This appears to be the only way to ensure that the .DS_Stores for the copies would be updated correctly with the tag info stored in the Spotlight Comments field for each file. So where do you find such a backup solution? I'm sorry to say that I don't know. I'm not sure that there is one. What I do know is that Pete and I are aware of this issue and are working on coming up with an effective, elegant solution, probably as an update to TagBot. In the meantime, hang in there. Hi Bob,

Let me preface the rest of what I’m about to say by saying that I’m by no means an expert at backup technology. ;)

That said, I do know that most metadata is stored in a special system-wide database file, but Spotlight Comments, which is where TagBot stores tags, are stored in the .DS_Store files located in every directory. Those .DS_Store files act as a distributed database for the Finder, and if you delete a .DS_Store file for a given directory, then the tags for the files in that directory will be lost.

So it seems to me that the only way to effectively backup your tags right now would be to use a backup solution that uses the Finder to perform its copy activities. This appears to be the only way to ensure that the .DS_Stores for the copies would be updated correctly with the tag info stored in the Spotlight Comments field for each file.

So where do you find such a backup solution? I’m sorry to say that I don’t know. I’m not sure that there is one.

What I do know is that Pete and I are aware of this issue and are working on coming up with an effective, elegant solution, probably as an update to TagBot. In the meantime, hang in there.

]]> By: Bob Smith http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105559 Bob Smith Wed, 16 May 2007 19:55:02 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/05/16/screencast-using-tagbot-to-tag-your-files/#comment-105559 How do you back up the metadata? Spotlight databases don't seem amenable to that. Even if your files are backed up losing the metadata if your disk crashes could be very painful. How do you back up the metadata? Spotlight databases don’t seem amenable to that. Even if your files are backed up losing the metadata if your disk crashes could be very painful.

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