Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 7 down vote favorite
1

There are several ways how to toggle hidden files - via a shell command, or AppleScript, or Automator action, or even a Dashboard widget. All of them close and reopen Finder windows, which is quite annoying.

On the other hand, for the Open File dialog one can easily toggle hidden files by pressing Command+Shift+Period.

Is it possible to avoid relaunching Finder?

Conclusion

It is better to use Path Finder instead, which allows not only to toggle hidden files without a perversion, but many other nice things. Really awesome app.

share|improve this question
2  
The "theoretical" part of the question kind of made this argumentative (and hence subject to be closed), unless some Apple engineer happens to be reading this. I like the rest of the question though, so I removed those words. I guess the answer is currently "no", as probably Finder reads this setting when it's started. But that's an argumentative answer, so let's hope for an answer that says "yes, ..." – Arjan May 8 '10 at 16:01
1  
Too bad. Accepting the "no" also ensures the Community user will never poke this question, to bump it onto the front page every now and then... – Arjan May 9 '10 at 15:11
Ok, good point. Let's leave some hope – Andrei May 9 '10 at 15:27
maybe you might want to accept my answer ;) – CharlesB May 21 '10 at 18:27

2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

There is a solution now.

The latest release of TotalFinder (0.9.1) can toggle show/hide hidden files without Finder restart. Tested it, it works well, and removes this long-lived annoyance of the Finder. TotalFinder is free for now as it is prerelease software, but will be around $10 or $15 when it hits final.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

No, you cannot, because there is no way to notify the Finder (or any process for that matter) that its preferences file has been modified behind its back.

share|improve this answer
That assumes the only way to make Finder show hidden files is by hacking its preferences. (Which probably is true indeed.) – Arjan May 9 '10 at 15:09
There's no need for assumption when the facts are right there. – Hasaan Chop May 9 '10 at 19:14
1  
Then point us to those facts, please... – Arjan May 9 '10 at 21:06

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.