- About NetFinder
Shows you information including, the version of NetFinder, credits to people and organizations that contributed to NetFinder, and who the product is registered to, including number of copies.
- Check For Updates...
Selecting this command will request NetFinder to check for updates immediately. You can use this to manually perform checks for updates, or you can enable the auto-check for updates preference in the NetFinder Preferences.
- Purchase NetFinder...
To purchase NetFinder, select this item and it will bring you to the online store.
- Enter Serial Number...
After purchasing NetFinder, you will need to enter your serial number here to unlock NetFinder.
- Preferences...
Opens a window that allows you to edit preferences specific to NetFinder.
- Services > NetFinder > Get URL
This item is available from within other applications, not just NetFinder. It is provided to allow you to select a URL (internet address to say a file) from say your Mail program, text editor or word processor, then select this menu item to have NetFinder download the file for you from the server.
- Services > NetFinder > Upload File
This item is available from within other applications, not just NetFinder. It is provided to allow you to select a file or folder
- Quit NetFinder
Quit the application.
- New Connection
Presents a window allowing you to specify the protocol, server, username, password and path you wish to establish a connection with and display a listing of. You may specify a file to download, or a directory to display a listing of.
- Address Book
Items within this menu will be populated from URL attributes you assign to an entry from the Address Book application. Adding attributes via Address Book allows a centralized organization of your information and also allows backup and synchronizing of your entries to other machines.
- Bonjour
Items within this menu are dynamically populated with servers that "broadcast their presence". Thus allowing you to instantly connect to a server without having to enter the server name or IP address, which you may or may not remember.
- New Bookmark List
Creates a new bookmark list for you to add bookmarks of regularly visited sites. Bookmarks can be references to files or directories.
- New Mirror/Sync List
Creates a new mirror list, allowing you to group together a number of mirror tasks together for convenient access.
- New List Entry...
Depending on the type of window you are currently viewing, it will create a new entry in it. If the frontmost window is a Bookmark list, you will create a new bookmark entry. If the frontmost window is a Mirror list, you will create a new mirror entry. If you are viewing a remote listing on a server, you will create an empty file.
TIP: To create a bookmark from a remote listing window in a bookmark list, simply drag and drop from the listing window into your bookmark list.
TIP: To quickly create a new mirror entry, saving you filling in details, drag and drop a folder item from a listing window and the Finder into the URL and Local Folder fields respectively in the Get Info window. You can even drag and drop a folder from a listing window in to a mirror list window to pre-populate the URL field with the folder you just dropped.
- New Folder
Creates a new folder named "Untitled_Folder" in the active window.
- New Folder In Open Selected Folder
Creates a new folder named "Untitled_Folder" in the active window, however create it inside the selected folder in the window.
NOTE: This option is not available if you select more than one folder, or have no folder selected.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- New Empty File
Creates a new empty file on a remote server for the currently active listing window.
- New Empty File In Open Selected Folder
Creates a new empty file on a remote server for the currently active listing window, specifically creating it inside the selected folder in the window.
NOTE: This option is not available if you select more than one folder, or have no folder selected.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Open...
Opens whatever you have selected in the active window (such as files, folders and bookmarks). If no listing windows are open you are presented with a dialog prompting you to open a file (such as a bookmark file or list).
TIP: To import bookmarks from Fetch you can simply open the bookmark file and they will be automatically imported.
- Open List...
A dialog prompting you to open a NetFinder Bookmark or Mirror list file.
- Close Window
Closes the frontmost window.
- Close All
Closes all visible windows currently opened in NetFinder.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Save
Save the contents of the active window to a file (such as a bookmark list or a bookmark from a new connection window). It may be disabled because the currently active windows contents can not be saved.
- Save As...
Save the contents of the active window to a new file (such as a bookmark list or a bookmark from a new connection window). It may be disabled because the currently active windows contents can not be saved.
- Refresh Listing
Refresh the contents of the currently active window.
NOTE: It may be disabled because the current windows contents can not be refreshed.
TIP: The refresh command is context sensitive, if a selection (twisted down folder not a file) exists in the current window, that items contents is refreshed. If no selection exists the windows contents are refreshed.
- Get Info
Get information on the selected items in the active window (such as files, folders, bookmarks etc).
NOTE: It may be disabled because there is nothing to get information on in the currently active window.
- View - View (intelligent)
Use this command to download the file, then intelligently determine how to view it. You can override the way NetFinder views a file by using one of the menu commands below.
NOTE: It may be disabled because no file is selected or the selected files can not be viewed.
- View - View In Web Browser
Forces NetFinder to view the selected file in your default browser.
- View - View As Text
Forces the file to be viewed in NetFinder in a Text Window.
- View - View As Graphic/Media
Forces the file to be viewed in NetFinder in either a PDF, Still Graphic or Video window.
- Quick Look
This command is only available on Mac OSX 10.5 and later. It is designed to give you a thumbnail or preview of the selected files using the Operating Systems QuickLook technology. It allows you to quickly get a preview of the contents of files, allowing you to view items individually or as a slideshow, including full screen mode.
- Duplicate
Duplicates the selected items in the active window.
- Delete...
Deletes the selected items in the active window. You will be prompted to confirm your delete request.
- Delete And Don't Confirm
Deletes the selected items in the active window without the confirmation dialog.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Make Alias
Creates an alias of the selected items in the same window, or creates bookmarks of the selected items in the active window on the desktop.
- Compress
For file:// protocol listing windows, you can select file or folder and use this command to zip compress the item into an archive.
- Reveal In Finder
For file:// protocol listing windows, you can use this command to open the parent folder of the selected item in the Finder, then inform the Finder to select/highlight the file.
- Open With Finder
For file:// protocol listing windows, you can use this command to request the Finder open the currently selected objects. This can be useful if you want to launch applications (.app) from a NetFinder listing window. In essence this command is identical to "double clicking" the selected file in the Finder.
- Page Setup...
Displays a dialog box for setting paper size, orientation and other printing options.
- Print Window...
Prints the contents of the active window. You can specify printing options (such as the number of copies you want) in the dialog that appears. You can even save the printout as a PDF too for high quality electronic copies.
- Undo
Undo the last operation when possible. This includes renaming, moving, creating new empty files and folders.
- Redo
Redo the last operation when possible. This includes renaming, moving, creating new empty files and folders.
- Copy
Copies the contents of the current selection in the active window to the clipboard.
- Copy URL's to Clipboard
Use this command to copy the URL (eg ftp://ftp.myserver.com/path/to/files/) of the selected items in the active listing window.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) and shift keys down.
- Copy Public URL's to Clipboard
Use this command to copy the Public URL (eg ftp://ftp.myserver.com/public_html/product/netfinder.html -> http://www.myserver.com/product/netfinder.html) of the selected items in the active listing window. A private/public mapping must be setup via the Preferences -> URL preference pane.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) and shift keys down.
- Copy Name's to Clipboard
Use this command to copy the Names of the selected items in the active listing window.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the control key down.
- Select All
Selects all items in the currently active window.
- Select All Filtered Items
Selects all items in the currently active window which satisfy the filter pattern currently used in the window. This is really useful when you have a number of folders opened, then apply a filter and wish to select the files that match the pattern and not the enclosing folder which may not match the pattern.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Find - Find...
In a Text Window (View as Text), you will be shown a Find window which allows you to do various Find operations. If a listing window, you will cause the focus to change to the Filter Text field, so you can start typing in a new pattern to filter.
- Find - Find Next
In a Text Window, it will find the next instance of a string you are looking for.
- Find - Find Previous
In a Text Window, it will find the previous instance of a string you are looking for.
- Find - Use Selection for Find
In a Text Window, it will use your selected text as the pattern to look for in the text.
- Find - Jump to Selection
In a Text Window, it will scroll you back to the currently selected text if the currently selected text is not in view.
- Spelling - Spelling...
Shows a spelling panel.
- Spelling - Check Spelling
Checks your spelling in a text field. eg Comment field in a Get Info window.
- Spelling - Check Spelling as You Type
Toggles checking your spelling as you type in a text field. eg Comment field in a Get Info window.
- Set Permissions
This command is specifically designed for setting the permissions for a selection of files or folders. To set the permissions for a single item, you can simply use "Get Info", however if you wish to change the permissions in bulk for a selection of files and folders, and optionally set the permission recursively for folders, you should use this command.
- Send Raw FTP command...
For listing windows that represent FTP servers, you have the option to send commands by hand. This may be used when your server has special capabilities which NetFinder is unaware of.
- Create Bookmark On Desktop
Creates a NetFinder bookmark file on the Desktop representing the selected items in the currently active listing window.
- Upload...
You will be prompted to select a file/folder to upload to the currently active listing window.
- Download...
You will be prompted to select folder where you wish the selected items in the currently active listing window will be downloaded into.
- Quick Sync...
Use this command to very quickly create the necessary information used to begin a mirror/sync task. It will use the currently selected folder as the URL in a Mirror Task. You will be prompted to select a local folder to mirror with. Once you select this, you edit the options you require, then press the "Sync" button.
TIP: If you select a file, NetFinder will use the files parent folder as the URL field for you. You can use this as a way to select the current listing window as the folder you wish to sync.
- Quick Sync With Listing Window...
This is identical to the "Quick Sync..." command above, except it uses the folder the listing window represents. This is useful if you cannot view the parent folder and thus select the folder.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Open In Terminal
Use this command to open a ssh connection to the server and change to the path represented by the folder you selected in the currently active listing window.
NOTE: Not all servers have the ssh service available.
- Edit with External Editor
Requests NetFinder to download the selected files, then opens the user specified Default External Editor, and then opens the files in the editor for editing.
- WebView
Use this command to view a file/page from your browser as if someone was accessing your site from a public URL. This can be useful when you want to quickly confirm the page and the links are working without having to remember or retype the public URL into your browser. In order for this command to work, you must first setup the private/public URL mapping in the Preferences > URL preferences pane.
- Create Droplet For Selected Directory...
Instantly creates a droplet for the currently selected folder and saves it where you specify when you are prompted with a save dialog. A droplet, is a magic little application which you can drag and drop files/folders onto and NetFinder will connect to the server and upload to the folder specified when the droplet was created.
- Create Droplet For Listing Window...
Same as "Create Droplet For Selected Directory..." command except it uses the folder representing the currently active listing window instead of a selected folder. Useful if you don't have permissions to the parent folder.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Organize Automation Components...
Reveals the NetFinder Automation Components folder in the Finder for you to organize and copy/install new components.
- Refresh Automation Components
Use this to force NetFinder to refresh the various Automation component menus. Thus saving you from restarting the application.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Automation Shortcuts
Automation Components which when selected, perform an action not specifically targeted at any objects selected in the listing window.
See NetFinder Automation Components for more details.
- Process Selection
Automation Components which when selected, perform an action on a copy of the selected items in the currently selected listing window. If the listing window represents a server, the objects are first downloaded.
See NetFinder Automation Components for more details.
- Process Selection then Re-Upload [1-1]
Automation Components which when selected, perform an action on a copy of the selected items in the currently selected listing window then uploaded, replacing the original objects.
See NetFinder Automation Components for more details.
- Process Selection then Re-Upload [N-1]
Automation Components which when selected, perform an action on a copy of the selected items in the currently selected listing window then the result is uploaded.
See NetFinder Automation Components for more details.
- Enclosing Folder
Opens a window containing the contents of the parent folder. If the active window does not have a parent folder a new window will not be created.
- Enclosing Folder And Close Current Directory
Opens a window containing the contents of the parent folder, then closing the window which was previously being shown.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Selected Folder
Opens a window for each selected folder in the currently active listing window if applicable. Bookmark and Mirror List windows cannot open folders in new windows.
- Selected Folder And Close Current Directory
Opens a window for each selected folder in the currently active listing window if applicable, then closing the original listing window.
TIP: This option is available from the File menu only when you press the option (alt) key down.
- Computer
Opens a window representing all the storage devices connected to your computer. Including Hard Disks, USB Keys, Mounted Servers, etc
- Home
Opens a window representing your Home folder where your personal documents, music, pictures etc are saved.
- Desktop
Opens a window representing your Desktop folder. This folder contains everything you see on your desktop/screen in the Finder.
- iDisk - My iDisk
Use this menu item to instantly connect to your iDisk (.Mac account), where you can upload, download, edit your website and more. If you don't have a .Mac account, you can get one from http://www.mac.com/. It's really useful, and you should seriously consider it if you have and use iLife, iWeb, iPhoto, iCal, iMovie etc.
- iDisk - Other User's iDisk...
Use this menu to connect to a friends iDisk account. You will need their member ID and their password.
- iDisk - Other User's Public Folder...
Use this menu to connect to any .Mac users public folder, where you can download files from your friends. All you need is a friends iDisk member ID.
- Applications
Opens a window representing the standard applications folder where most if not all your applications are stored. (ie opens /Applications/ in a NetFinder window)
- Utilities
Opens a window representing the standard utilities folder where most of your utility applications are stored. (ie opens /Applications/Utilities/ in a NetFinder window)
- Recent Places
This menu represents the most recently used/visited sites. Select an item in this menu to display a listing described by the URL or to download the file.
- Clear Recent Places
Use this command to clear out all the Recent Places in this menu.
- Go To Folder...
Presents you with a dialog that allows you to specify a full or relative path from the current active window and displays the contents of this new directory in a window.
- Connect To Server...
Presents a window allowing you to specify the protocol, server, username, password and path you wish to establish a connection with and display a listing of. You may specify a file to download, or a directory to display a listing of.
- Automator
The contents of this folder represents the various sub-menus seen in the NetFinder interface under the Tools menu, under the Automation Components section. In fact, when you use the command "Organize Automation Components" you will be shown the Automator folder in the Finder as seen in the figure below.
For a detailed explanation of the different purposes of the sub-folders in the Automator folder, please refer to the NetFinder Automation Components section of the manual.
- Directory Cache
The cache of directory listings of remote servers, which is only applicable if the user has enabled this setting in the preferences window, are all stored here. Deleting the contents of this folder is the same as clicking the "Clear Cache Now" button in the Listing Preferences pane in the NetFinder Preferences Window.
- DNR Cache
For performance reasons, NetFinder occasionally caches the DNS results (word based server name like ftp.hostname.com mappings to IP addresses like 123.123.123.123). Deleting this file will not harm NetFinder in any way.
- List Parser Modules
Due to the many variants of FTP listings out there in the world, NetFinder has a plugin like mechanism to allow you to adopt a new listing format which NetFinder previously was unable to support. It is rare you will need to create/use one of these. These plugins can be created by the support team of NetFinder or by your IT administrators.
- Metadata.nfmd
This item contains all the various metadata associated with your windows and list items, including things like label, comments, window position and size. If you value your metadata, it may be an idea to backup this item. This item should be OSX 10.5 Time Machine friendly, in that when you update a single items metadata, you will not be required to backup a huge database of everything else.
- Mirror Data
With an advanced mirroring/syncing capability comes additional data to manage. Certain combinations of mirroring configurations will require NetFinder to cache data thus allowing the mirror operation to work as expected. If the data in this folder is lost for whatever reason, all that happens is that you will be required to transfer a whole bunch of files and folders which you may not need to transfer again.
- Modules
NetFinder has a number of scripting capabilities, including AppleScript, Ruby and ICI. This modules folder is specifically for the ICI scripting engine in NetFinder. It allows for the ability to extend the capabilities of the ICI script engine by adding modules (plugins) into this folder.
- Scripts
This folder represents the contents in the Script Menu in NetFinder (possibly seen as a Script-like icon). It can contain all kinds of script, including ICI scripts, Ruby scripts and AppleScript applications. NetFinder will try its best to determine the type of file you place in there and execute it appropriately.
Tip: Items in this folder can be assigned a sequence of characters in the filename which will define a keyboard shortcut for the item when it is loaded into the application. This makes it really easy to execute scripts which you often use with a single keystroke. For more details see the Command Key Shortcuts setup section.
- Shortcuts
This folder represents the contents in the Shortcuts Menu in NetFinder. Putting it simply you can put anything and everything in this folder. Including applications, aliases to applications, files, folders, scripts, NetFinder bookmark files, NetFinder bookmark lists, Mirror lists, Web Browser bookmarks. There is no limit to what you can add. NetFinder will try its best to determine the type of file you place in there and open it appropriately.
Tip: Items in this folder can be assigned a sequence of characters in the filename which will define a keyboard shortcut for the item when it is loaded into the application. This makes it really easy to select an often used shortcut in the menu with a single keystroke. For more details see the Command Key Shortcuts setup section.
- Startup Items
When NetFinder is launched, it will open each of the items in this folder. So if you want to open a connection to a server, or open a bookmark list or maybe even start your favorite applications which you use when running NetFinder, you can place an alias of the item you are interested in or the item itself in this folder. One example may be to run a script of some kind to perform an action prior to when you start doing work in NetFinder, for instance establishing an internet connection or a VPN connection or ensuring you have various servers mounted before you start a mirroring operation in NetFinder.
- URL.db
This file contains a list of server names which you recently entered via the New Connection window. As you may have already noticed, as you type in a server name, if you have previously gone there, NetFinder will complete the server name it thinks you may be interested in. This can save lots of time typing something which you enter regularly. If this file is deleted for whatever reason, then you simply no longer have NetFinder offering you suggestions when you next launch the application.