How do I delete dot files automatically in windows?

Hi Pete,

Are these files that are created actual duplicates of the moved file, but with a different name? Or just empty or something?

Pete

See this active thread in which the same issue is being discussed:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/2003_Server/Q_24644709.htmlhttp://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/2003_Server/Q_24644709.html

Sorry, wrong link. I meant this thread:  http://www.experts-exchange.com/Apple/Operating_Systems/Q_24644148.html

Do not delete them or stop the creation of these files.  On Windows Machines, these files are hidden unless you enable the view, show hidden files.

They have a purpose and contain information that is used by the Mac OS.

Hi Pete,

nappy_d is right - don't delete these files on the mac.

I would suggest you create a bacth file on your destination windows computer that does a simple:
copy <MACDRIVE\FOLDER>\*.* <WINDOWSDRIVE\FOLDER

The copy in standard mode will copy over all non-hidden files - the files on the mac which are .filenames will be ignored.  Put the batch file on your desktop and you can copy them whenever you want at the click of one mouse button.

If you have lots of files in there and only want to copy over updated files, use xcopy instead of copy and use /d which will only copy newer files.

Why eve go thru all that!  Te files are already hidden, leave them hidden..no muss, no fuss.

nappy_d, I know the files don't show up on the Mac, and I know they may be important to the Mac, but I'm talking about the windows side of things. The files are being picked up by our print software (stupid of the software, but this is the case anyways...) and they're mucking it up.

Because our print software snaps up the files straight away, we unfortunately can't use a solution like the one you mentioned thanks strung.

I'll try your solution, smartylater, and let you know how I go...

mmm... We're moving the files across just using applecsript as the process is meant to be automatic. This means that to have to click on a batch file probably won't be a solution.

Is there any kind of terminal command I could get applescript to run instead of using the regular copy function? As I understand, the regular copy function is just the same as if I dragged and dropped the file into the mounted server manually.

Maybe by sending the file over some other protocol or something would work?

I am talking about Windows and SMB shares. Short of doing as strung suggests there is no way.

Another way around this is to enable SFM and create an AFP volume, which does not create the ._hiddenFile. This data is instead stored in resource fork of the same file.

BTW, is this Windows directory a hotfolder for a printer and if so what kind of printer(brand/model?)

Back my original question about your windows share. Do you have the directory, when using Windows explorer, set to show hidden files?  If you can say yes to this question:
" logon to your server using an RDP session or at the console and disable "show hidden files" option.

With this setting your print application should no longer be able to see those ._hiddenFiles

On the Mac I use a great little System Preference add-on called Blueharvest (http://www.zeroonetwenty.com/blueharvest/)
It quietly deletes all the ._ files on External Drives and Windows network volumes in the background.
It costs a few $$ but is well worth it.

You can also use this free Applescript
http://www.tomgrill.info/show.php/downloads#dot_clean

You can disable OSX from creating the .DS_Store files on Network Volumes by doing this
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1629

You have 2 choices in terms of dealing with the ._ files
1. Add some code to your drop upload Applescript which strips the ._ files as soon as they are created on the destination
You can run a shell command something like this (you'll need to pass the folder path as a variable)
find . -name .DS_Store -o -name .Trashes -o -name ._* -exec rm -rf {} \; -prune
Check out the Applescript on this page
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060623171530952

2. You run something on the Windows box to scan and delete the files.  The previous link has a VBS file that performs that function too