{"id":54231,"date":"2019-10-07T13:00:15","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T18:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=54231"},"modified":"2019-10-10T12:50:28","modified_gmt":"2019-10-10T17:50:28","slug":"how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create, Modify, and Use Smart Folders in macOS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With macOS, you can implement Smart Folders, which automatically gather files by type and subject matter. They\u2019re updated as you change, add, and remove files on your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they update continuously, these folders can save you a lot of time and effort. Here\u2019s how to create a Smart Folder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Finder, choose File > New Smart Folder. (The Finder \u2014 represented by the blue icon with the smiling face is the home base for your Mac \u2014 You use it to organize and access almost everything on your Mac, including documents, images, movies, and any other files you have.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

To search for files, enter your main criteria in the search field and hit Enter. To determine whether the search should include only the names of files or their entire contents, choose \u201cName matches\u201d in the search suggestions that appear below the search field, then click Name, then choose either Filename or Everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To search for additional specific attributes (date, filename, file contents, etc.), click the plus (+) sign next to the save button. You can now make choices using the search attribute pop-up menus that appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The menus work in pairs; for example, to search for images, you choose Kind from the pop-up menu on the left, then choose Images from the pop-up menu next to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click Save, then specify a name and location for your Smart Folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t want your Smart Folder to be in the sidebar, deselect Add To Sidebar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t use certain characters, including punctuation such as a colon (:), in folder names. If an error message appears, try using another name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To change the criteria for a Smart Folder, open the Smart Folder. Begin typing in the folder\u2019s search field, or click the Action pop-up menu , then choose Show Search Criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should note Smart Folders are virtual folders. For example, if I implement one called AWT Presentation, the files in the \u201csmart\u201d folder might be spread across different folders. However, the AWT Presentation Smart Folder collates them in one place. The original files aren\u2019t moved; they\u2019re just displayed together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big advantage of Smart Folders is that they\u2019re always up-to-date with data they\u2019re assigned to search for. Your Mac does the searching for you and does it continuously.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With macOS, you can implement Smart Folders, which automatically gather files by type and subject matter. They\u2019re updated as you change, add, and remove files on your Mac. Because they update continuously, these folders can save you a lot of time and effort. Here\u2019s how to create a Smart Folder: In the Finder, choose File […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":54254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"class_list":["post-54231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to create, modify, and use Smart Folders in macOS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With macOS, you can implement Smart Folders, which automatically gather files by type and subject matter. 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They\u2019re updated as you change, add, and remove files.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rocket Yard\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AWToday\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-10-07T18:00:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-10-10T17:50:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SmartFolder-284x323.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"284\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"323\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dennis Sellers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AWToday\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dennis Sellers\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dennis Sellers\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1583ce4e38fc736c85cdd5758da43c91\"},\"headline\":\"How to Create, Modify, and Use Smart Folders in macOS\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-10-07T18:00:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-10-10T17:50:28+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/\"},\"wordCount\":394,\"commentCount\":3,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Finder\",\"macOS\",\"Smart Folder\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Tech Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/54231-how-to-create-modify-and-use-smart-folders-in-macos\/\",\"name\":\"How to create, modify, and use Smart Folders in macOS\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-10-07T18:00:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-10-10T17:50:28+00:00\",\"description\":\"With macOS, you can implement Smart Folders, which automatically gather files by type and subject matter. 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