Comments on: Mac OS X Annoyances: How Come I Can’t Open A File If More Files Are Being Copied http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/ WordPress, Apple, TiVo, Geek Stuff, Personal News, Alex Raiano Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:57:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Alex http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/comment-page-1/#comment-2747 Alex Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:33:37 +0000 http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/#comment-2747 Thanks for replying. I really do appreciate it. As you can see from the <a href="http://www.alexraiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/cannot-open-file.png" rel="nofollow">image above</a>, I tried to click on a file that had a thumbnail generated from it. <blockquote>However I’ve just tried it and can replicate it on my machine.</blockquote> I'm glad to see that somebody else was able to reproduce this. Several people over at digg told me that they didn't know what I was talking about. Thanks for taking the time to look into this. <blockquote>The .DS_Store file is a hidden file (go into Terminal and type ls -la and you will see all the files including hidden files) that stores the information for that window including files, window layout, etc.</blockquote> I didn't know about this file however, now it makes sense why I can't open a file while others are being copied. To be honest, this seems a little weird to me. I've never seen something like this before. What do you do if you are copying a gigabyte worth of data. Do you have to wait for everything to be copied before you can open any of the files? This just doesn't seem right. Thanks for replying. I really do appreciate it. As you can see from the image above, I tried to click on a file that had a thumbnail generated from it.

However I’ve just tried it and can replicate it on my machine.

I’m glad to see that somebody else was able to reproduce this. Several people over at digg told me that they didn’t know what I was talking about. Thanks for taking the time to look into this.

The .DS_Store file is a hidden file (go into Terminal and type ls -la and you will see all the files including hidden files) that stores the information for that window including files, window layout, etc.

I didn’t know about this file however, now it makes sense why I can’t open a file while others are being copied. To be honest, this seems a little weird to me. I’ve never seen something like this before. What do you do if you are copying a gigabyte worth of data. Do you have to wait for everything to be copied before you can open any of the files? This just doesn’t seem right.

]]> By: Loweded Wookie http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/comment-page-1/#comment-2737 Loweded Wookie Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:51:09 +0000 http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/#comment-2737 One thing that needs to be asked is this: Does the icon show the application logo. e.g. an MP4 movie displaying the QuickTime logo, or is the logo completely white? If it's white it hasn't actually copied the file across despite the fact that the icon shows up. It's only when it's got the logo of the application that is used to open it that the file can be opened. However I've just tried it and can replicate it on my machine. The other thing is that it appears when you copy a file to a directory the .DS_Store file is updated to include this information. As this file would not have been updated until after EVERY file has been copied across this would explain why you get the error message about the file being in use. The .DS_Store file is a hidden file (go into Terminal and type <strong>ls -la</strong> and you will see all the files including hidden files) that stores the information for that window including files, window layout, etc. I know this can be a pain but in many respects this can also be a good thing. By opening a file that is part of a larger collection you could run the risk of corrupting the rest of the files. One thing that needs to be asked is this:

Does the icon show the application logo. e.g. an MP4 movie displaying the QuickTime logo, or is the logo completely white?

If it’s white it hasn’t actually copied the file across despite the fact that the icon shows up. It’s only when it’s got the logo of the application that is used to open it that the file can be opened.

However I’ve just tried it and can replicate it on my machine.

The other thing is that it appears when you copy a file to a directory the .DS_Store file is updated to include this information. As this file would not have been updated until after EVERY file has been copied across this would explain why you get the error message about the file being in use.

The .DS_Store file is a hidden file (go into Terminal and type ls -la and you will see all the files including hidden files) that stores the information for that window including files, window layout, etc.

I know this can be a pain but in many respects this can also be a good thing. By opening a file that is part of a larger collection you could run the risk of corrupting the rest of the files.

]]> By: anne http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/comment-page-1/#comment-2561 anne Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:01:37 +0000 http://www.alexraiano.com/2007/02/19/mac-os-x-annoyances-how-come-i-cant-open-a-file-if-more-files-are-being-copied/#comment-2561 Heya all, l've just bought a macbook and have no problems with it, l've heard the 1st genereation Macbooks had heaps of faults but they have fixed those probs. DOes anyone know of a website that l can download software so l can download movies and music (for free) kinda lika a sharing file with others thingy, l know they have heaps for PC's but l can't anything for macs. Cheers! Anne Heya all,

l’ve just bought a macbook and have no problems with it, l’ve heard the 1st genereation Macbooks had heaps of faults but they have fixed those probs.

DOes anyone know of a website that l can download software so l can download movies and music (for free) kinda lika a sharing file with others thingy, l know they have heaps for PC’s but l can’t anything for macs.

Cheers!

Anne

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