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xattr

Customising metadata display in the Finder

Where to look for file metadata in the Finder, and how you can customise it, in spite of its apparent confusion. And how APFS takes care of extended attributes for you.

June 2, 2023 Macs, Technology

Would you like to Comment or Finder Comment?

T T Read More

Finder Comments are accessible, easy to use, and unreliable because they rely primarily on data stored in a hidden file. Regular Comment extended attributes are more reliable.

May 27, 2023 Macs, Technology

Updates: xattred 1.5, Cormorant 1.5, Metamer 1.2 and ArchiChect 2.5

Extended attribute editor with much enhanced interface, app inspection tool, compression tool designed for AirDrop use, and a simple extended attribute editor for Spotlight search.

May 26, 2023 Macs, Technology, Updates

Inspect and control extended attributes with xattred 1.4

New version of this GUI utility for inspecting and editing extended attributes, for High Sierra and later.

May 18, 2023 Macs, Technology, Updates, xattr

The app that won’t go into quarantine

How an obscure ACL can prevent a quarantine flag from being attached to an internet download: demonstration and explanation.

April 10, 2023 Macs, Technology

What is macOS Ventura doing tracking provenance?

How the new tracking extended attribute is attached to apps, how it’s recorded in a security database, and how it’s checked. But for what purpose?

March 16, 2023 Macs, Technology

Ventura has changed app quarantine with a new xattr

Ventura introduces a new extended attribute com.apple.provenance, used to mark successful clearance of quarantine. It’s protected by SIP too.

March 13, 2023 Macs, Technology

From resource forks to quarantine, ResEdit to Gatekeeper

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ResEdit changed what was in the resource fork. With Mac OS X, Apple moved away from forks to extended attributes, now used for quarantine flags and more.

December 27, 2022 Macs, Technology

Inside Apple Archive: more than a compression format

Provided in Archive Utility and three command tools, its LZFSE compression even supports APFS special files like clones and sparse files.

May 10, 2022 Macs, Technology

Copying a Mac volume to another file system (and back)

Tired of HFS+? Disenchanted by APFS? Why not copy or back up to a different file system? Here are crocodiles waiting to bite you.

November 25, 2021 Macs, Technology

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