1) find all files with a 2 or 3 or 4.jpg 2) delete those files

Sam B · Sam B #1 (**permalink**)

05-01-2010, 09:34 AM

Man, this is getting ridiculous. In Windows, this would be a simple search and destroy using DOS commands. In Mac, it's harder...

1) find all files in a specific directory with multiple folders in that directory that have a 2, 3, or 4.jpg in the name.
2) delete all those files

Apple support suggested spotlight for all files with a 2 in the name and said I could use *2.jpg but it didn't work. I'm trying "Unix/AIX"-like commands and nothing works. I've downloaded two freeware apps to do this and they don't work.

I don't care if I do this via Gui (but I have hundreds of these files so drag and drop is too tiring) or in the actual OS.

Thanks for your help.

lifeisabeach · lifeisabeach #2 (**permalink**)

05-01-2010, 10:10 AM

I'm no ace with terminal commands, but I'm quite confident this would be quite easily done. The terminal kicks the nuts off of the Windows DOS commands, that much I know. But besides that, it would be insanely simple to build an automator action to do this for you. Just run Automator, start a new workflow and add these actions (along with your custom criteria):

Ask for Finder Items
Get Folder Contents
Filter Finder Items
Move Finder Items to Trash

Works like a charm.

MYmacROX · MYmacROX #3 (**permalink**)

05-01-2010, 02:12 PM

I don't understand why your Finder search for "2" didn't turn up any results. Do you have it searching for file name or Contents? Maybe you just need to click on the file name filter. I just did it and turned up lots of files with a "2" in the title. You can filter the search results by file type or name and other such criteria.
Maybe it has to do with the OS you're running. Is it older? This search definitely works in SL.

lifeisabeach #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 30, 2007 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 5,801 Mac Specs: iMac i3 (mid-2010) + OS 10.8; TV 2; iPhone 4S; iPad 1	05-01-2010, 10:10 AM I'm no ace with terminal commands, but I'm quite confident this would be quite easily done. The terminal kicks the nuts off of the Windows DOS commands, that much I know. But besides that, it would be insanely simple to build an automator action to do this for you. Just run Automator, start a new workflow and add these actions (along with your custom criteria): Ask for Finder Items Get Folder Contents Filter Finder Items Move Finder Items to Trash Works like a charm. Standing request for all troubleshooting: Please provide your Mac model/year and OS version. Also advise us if you have used or installed any antivirus, security, or "cleaning" software on your Mac. If you have installed MacKeeper in particular, you are hereby advised to uninstall it. --------- If all else fails to fix your problem, read this tip.
	QUOTE Thanks

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1) find all files with a 2 or 3 or 4.jpg 2) delete those files

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Sam B #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2010 Posts: 2	05-01-2010, 09:34 AM Man, this is getting ridiculous. In Windows, this would be a simple search and destroy using DOS commands. In Mac, it's harder... 1) find all files in a specific directory with multiple folders in that directory that have a 2, 3, or 4.jpg in the name. 2) delete all those files Apple support suggested spotlight for all files with a 2 in the name and said I could use *2.jpg but it didn't work. I'm trying "Unix/AIX"-like commands and nothing works. I've downloaded two freeware apps to do this and they don't work. I don't care if I do this via Gui (but I have hundreds of these files so drag and drop is too tiring) or in the actual OS. Thanks for your help.
	QUOTE Thanks

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