Issue with Folder

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So I recently got a new MacBook Pro and I am having an issue. When I go to the "/library/application support" folder there are only a few folders inside. But when I go to Finder and do "Go to folder" and then type in "~\library\application support" it has wayyy more folders than the other application support folder.

How is this possible and how can I fix this so they match up?
 

bobtomay

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They are not going to match up. They are 2 different folders.

The first one is the root 'Library' folder.

The second one - with the tilde - that is the 'Library' folder inside your users home folder.

Putting the tilde in there tells Finder to look in your home folder, not at the root.
 
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Yeah, I just figured it out. Is it safe to unhide the one inside my Users/Library folder?
 

bobtomay

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It is - as long as you don't go about deleting stuff you're not absolutely sure what it is.

Don't know that you can unhide that folder without unhiding all hidden files - which you really don't want to do.
Haven't looked for a way to do it.

With 10.7 & 10.8, easy way to get to your user's Library folder:

With Finder open, head for "Go" on the menu bar and toggle the option key and the Library folder will appear in the list.
 
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I found a way to unhide it permanantly and can always hide it again. I just play a game that happens to have a folder inside the "hidden" Application Support folder that I go into. I guess I could just bookmark that specific folder and hide the rest
 

bobtomay

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It won't hurt to have the Library folder unhidden - it always was prior to 10.7.

Apple sometimes tries too hard to protect us from ourselves.
 

chscag

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Don't know that you can unhide that folder without unhiding all hidden files - which you really don't want to do. Haven't looked for a way to do it.

Open Terminal:

Code:
chflags nohidden ~/Library

However, each time Apple updates Mountain Lion you'll have to do the same again. Yeah, Apple is protecting us from ourselves. ;P
 
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With good reason, as I understand it. Was chatting with a support exec at Apple about this back when ML first came out and he said (paraphrasing) that they did that for the same reason they consolidated the iPhoto Library package -- too many people getting into it, messing things up badly, calling for help, help couldn't avoid them losing data, customers blame Apple.
 

chscag

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With good reason, as I understand it.

Hey chas, Apple is beginning to sound like Mayor Bloomberg of New York City. :)

(Just kidding, I can understand why they would do that. Just so long as they don't get too Nanny!)
 

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