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10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs System 10.6
Sep 16, '09 07:30:00AM • Contributed by: HairyPotter
When you have the Open or Save dialog open in an application, you can type the following keyboard shortcut to toggle between showing and hiding the hidden files in a given directory:

Command-Shift-. (period)

If you have your Mac adjusted for a region where the comma is the decimal separator of fraction numbers, or if you are using a keyboard with a comma instead a point on the numerical keyboard, then the shortcut is

Command-Shift-, (comma)

This has to be the comma on the numerical keyboard.

[robg adds: This does not work in 10.5, and is one of the more-useful undisclosed features I've yet heard of in Snow Leopard.]
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10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs | 17 comments | Create New Account
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10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: bengarland on Sep 16, '09 08:18:05AM

How the heck do people figure out this stuff?



[ Reply to This | # ]
Also try: CMD-SHIFT-[period]
Authored by: lullabud on Sep 16, '09 08:26:37AM

I just tried this on my MBP with cmd-shift-. and it worked great!



[ Reply to This | # ]
Ooops... too early to be posting...
Authored by: lullabud on Sep 16, '09 08:28:17AM

Duh... I just re-read the article and saw that the cmd-shift-. was listed *above* the cmd-shift-, thing.... I really shouldn't post in forums before I have my morning coffee



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: jantonc on Sep 16, '09 08:28:56AM
sadly, the shortcut does not work in Time Machine when you really want to restore something from '/usr' you still have to make the finder display hidden files 

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
killall Finder
run time machine 

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool FALSE
killall Finder


[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: beepotato on Sep 16, '09 01:30:31PM

To restore something from /usr, just go there with the "Go to folder…" menu item and then enter Time Machine.



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: mcginniwa on Oct 27, '09 10:32:40PM

Awesome. Your comment (in combination with Time Machine) saved my bacon. Thanks!



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: eskapism on Sep 16, '09 08:44:34AM

A great function, but isn't is strange that it does not work in ordinary finder-windows? In open/save dialogs you browse for files. And in a finder-window you browse for files. Shouln't the same functions be available everywhere? Very strange. Also: in open/save dialogs you can't change the size of the icons, like in normal finder-windows. Apple needs to be a bit more consistent.



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: V.K. on Sep 16, '09 09:34:52AM

Great hint and a good point about making it work in regular Finder windows. having to use AppleShowAllFiles and restarting Finder is a real kludge.



[ Reply to This | # ]
File a bug report!
Authored by: gabester on Sep 16, '09 12:09:41PM

Well, you could file a bug report about how this functionality is not consistent across UI Interface between the Finder windows and open/save dialogs.

I did this about the Search functionality's ability to add columns to list view; it really only provides Date Created and Date Modified to the Search results. Size, Label, Comments are greyed out. Give me back Tiger's search columns!
g=



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: zpjet on Sep 16, '09 10:47:23AM

one of those "Best. Hint. Ever."



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: robogobo on Sep 16, '09 04:17:29PM

ditto.



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: jaydisc on Sep 16, '09 05:29:09PM

Outstanding!



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: acalado on Sep 16, '09 07:32:11PM
Here's step by step instructions for how you do the same thing in Finder:

Toggle display of hidden files in Finder with keyboard shortcut

Enjoy!

[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: q3 on Sep 17, '09 12:17:03AM

Great hint.

Thanks



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: poenn on Sep 17, '09 03:56:10AM

Really great hint, thanks!



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: Dimka on Sep 21, '09 06:54:36PM

this is awesome!
thanks a lot



[ Reply to This | # ]
10.6: Show (and hide) hidden files in Open/Save dialogs
Authored by: quinntaylor on Mar 26, '13 08:34:18PM

If you'd like to see ⇧⌘. work in Finder too, head over to http://bugreport.apple.com and file a duplicate of radar://7096650.



[ Reply to This | # ]




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