drburt1
asked on
In Mac Panther, How Can I Delete The Targets of a Folder of Aliases? Applescript?
Hi -
THE CHALLENGE
I have a folder of 7,000 aliases.
I need to delete the targets of these aliases.
EXTRA CREDIT (but not needed to win the points, )
Ideally, I'd like the alias deleted after its target is successfully found and deleted. That way I can see what aliases had no targets.
THE BACKGROUND
All of the targets are local, i.e., none are across a network.
Some aliases are broken.
DEEP BACKGROUND
Norton Disk Doctor made the folder of aliases to these files, which have damaged resources and therefore cannot be repaired and must be removed. As the alert reader can infer, I am in deep, deep trouble. Maybe later I can write upo the problem of never ending file corruption, but I don't have the strength to do that now. I have deadlines...
WHAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME
Simply selecting a group and pressing Cmd R is not helpful, because alot of windows open that I have to go through one at a time. Also, if a target is not found for one item in a group, I get no feedback and can;t be sure of the result.
FileBuddy seems like it should have this functionality, but I can't see that it does.
I know how to make an Applescript and run it if given the code, but I'd need to be walked through any other kind of script.
THE CHALLENGE
I have a folder of 7,000 aliases.
I need to delete the targets of these aliases.
EXTRA CREDIT (but not needed to win the points, )
Ideally, I'd like the alias deleted after its target is successfully found and deleted. That way I can see what aliases had no targets.
THE BACKGROUND
All of the targets are local, i.e., none are across a network.
Some aliases are broken.
DEEP BACKGROUND
Norton Disk Doctor made the folder of aliases to these files, which have damaged resources and therefore cannot be repaired and must be removed. As the alert reader can infer, I am in deep, deep trouble. Maybe later I can write upo the problem of never ending file corruption, but I don't have the strength to do that now. I have deadlines...
WHAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME
Simply selecting a group and pressing Cmd R is not helpful, because alot of windows open that I have to go through one at a time. Also, if a target is not found for one item in a group, I get no feedback and can;t be sure of the result.
FileBuddy seems like it should have this functionality, but I can't see that it does.
I know how to make an Applescript and run it if given the code, but I'd need to be walked through any other kind of script.
ASKER
Hi -
Yes, it's always good to remember what a mess Norton for Mac has turned into - Adobe has several postings about how Photoshop files can be damaged beyond recovery by NAV and Illustrator has problems.
BUT consider:-
1. Techtool Pro 4.04 (brand new) reports new damaged files if I run a 2nd test immediately after deleting all the damaged files it reports on its first test. (as does Norton DD)
2. TT reports all is well when DD reports 100s of damaged files.
Trying to open the files TT says are good proves DD was right - they can't be opened and an error message from any app trying to open it reports damaged resources.
3. At least DD makes an alias of the damaged files, leaving you to pick them off one by one.
TT just gives you a written list, so you can copy and paste each item one at a time into a search engine...
4. Disk Warrior while excellent for what it does seems not to address damaged resource forks, but does issue (in unhelpful list form) a report on damaged 'custom icons". (I wonder what that's about?)
Thanks for responding,
Burt
Yes, it's always good to remember what a mess Norton for Mac has turned into - Adobe has several postings about how Photoshop files can be damaged beyond recovery by NAV and Illustrator has problems.
BUT consider:-
1. Techtool Pro 4.04 (brand new) reports new damaged files if I run a 2nd test immediately after deleting all the damaged files it reports on its first test. (as does Norton DD)
2. TT reports all is well when DD reports 100s of damaged files.
Trying to open the files TT says are good proves DD was right - they can't be opened and an error message from any app trying to open it reports damaged resources.
3. At least DD makes an alias of the damaged files, leaving you to pick them off one by one.
TT just gives you a written list, so you can copy and paste each item one at a time into a search engine...
4. Disk Warrior while excellent for what it does seems not to address damaged resource forks, but does issue (in unhelpful list form) a report on damaged 'custom icons". (I wonder what that's about?)
Thanks for responding,
Burt
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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I would not trust its diagnosis, and I certainly would not delete any files it finds
questionable without running DiskWarrior or TechTools first.