how to get summery of the size of a bunch of files

im used to in windows just being able to highlight a folder and see its size. any way to do this in osx without using getinfo. also id like to see the size of a bunch of files added together. if i select all files then hit getinfo it opens 20 different windows and all the info is seperate rather then the summery of all of them. any way to just select a bunch of files and see thier size added up automagically like windows.

safarisurfer said:

im used to in windows just being able to highlight a folder and see its size. any way to do this in osx without using getinfo. also id like to see the size of a bunch of files added together. if i select all files then hit getinfo it opens 20 different windows and all the info is seperate rather then the summery of all of them. any way to just select a bunch of files and see thier size added up automagically like windows.

Click to expand...

Hi there,

I would suggest that the easiest way to do what you're trying to do is to make a new folder and drop all of the files into this, then do a get info on the folder, which will give you the cumulative total that you're looking for.

Hope this info helps.

EDIT: See below for a screenshot, to illustrate what I'm saying.

Select the files, hold down the Option key, and choose File > Show Inspector. (The normal "Get Info" command becomes "Show Inspector" with the option key.

As a shortcut, press option-command-I.

By convention, the Option key is usually the toggle for "All" in keyboard shortcuts.

..and it works in fall, winter and spring as well.

or select the files and holding down the Control key, click on one of them. You'll notice that the normal "Get Info" command has changed to "Get Summary Info". Selecting it will give you a single window with the added sizes.

By the way, this is my very first post!!

You could select the folder and hit spacebar - this brings up a summary of the folder. You can just keep clicking folders with the preview open - it will summarize the folder you have selected.

Added bonus tip - type this into a terminal and enable xray for picture folders.

Rep for g.george for a good tip.

thanks all. using the option key works best for me since its the easiest to remember. thank you all who answered. im glad there is a way to do this. its something ive been wondering about quite awhile now.

technologist said:

Select the files, hold down the Option key, and choose File > Show Inspector. (The normal "Get Info" command becomes "Show Inspector" with the option key.

Click to expand...

g.george said:

or select the files and holding down the Control key, click on one of them. You'll notice that the normal "Get Info" command has changed to "Get Summary Info". Selecting it will give you a single window with the added sizes.

Click to expand...

The result of those two actions seems to be the same.

IvanLasston said:

You could select the folder and hit spacebar - this brings up a summary of the folder. You can just keep clicking folders with the preview open - it will summarize the folder you have selected.

Click to expand...

That's too easy.

toMACsh said:

..and it works in fall, winter and spring as well.

Click to expand...

That took me several long, furrowed brow secinds to get that. . . . must need coffee

safarisurfer said:

thanks all. using the option key works best for me since its the easiest to remember. thank you all who answered. im glad there is a way to do this. its something ive been wondering about quite awhile now.

Click to expand...

Holy cow.... i've been frustrated by being unable to do this also - now, I can see the light... or, at least the selected items total size. Hurrah.

Wouldn't it be helpful to have this 'inspector' option explicitly mentioned if you right click after selecting a group of files - then you can see the option exists, and see the keyboard shortcut for it for the future also?

Have had a similar issue with spotlight - there's no right click option to show you how to open up the file in Finder.... rather than digging around the internet or the help menu, just put the option in the right click 'contextual menu' - easy, and it'll 'just work' ;D