OS 10.4 - What are the Finder's hidden "._[file name]" files for?

remain · remain #1 (**permalink**)

01-30-2007, 10:31 PM

I know ".DS_Store" is for Window size/position, views, etc.
but occasionally,
a "._[file name of some file in that folder]" appears.

What is it for?
And what is it that I did to make these files appear?

novicew · novicew #2 (**permalink**)

01-30-2007, 10:41 PM

They serve different purposes. Mostly Unix system has hidden files to keep the information about the user preferences (similar to .plist files). Eg. .vimrc defines Vim.App behavior for a specific user.

Here is more information.

cazabam · cazabam #3 (**permalink**)

01-31-2007, 01:39 AM

The files you specifically mentioned are to store OS X specific metadata on the file. XFS+ can store this information directly in the filesystem so these files to not appear, but external FAT32 drives (for example) cannot embed this metadata so it is stored in a hidden file alongside.

novicew #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2006 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 1,385 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro \| iMac(2.1 G5) \| MacBook(2.16 C2D) \| MacMini (1.67 CD) \| iPhone 4 \| iPad (3rd Gen)	01-30-2007, 10:41 PM They serve different purposes. Mostly Unix system has hidden files to keep the information about the user preferences (similar to .plist files). Eg. .vimrc defines Vim.App behavior for a specific user. Here is more information. finiteloops.com
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OS 10.4 - What are the Finder's hidden "._[file name]" files for?

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remain #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 27, 2006 Posts: 440 Mac Specs: Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz	01-30-2007, 10:31 PM I know ".DS_Store" is for Window size/position, views, etc. but occasionally, a "._[file name of some file in that folder]" appears. What is it for? And what is it that I did to make these files appear?
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