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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: bdog on Apr 05, '06 10:21:05AM

OK, I actually tested some of this stuff. Removing the extension (from the icon's name or in get info) DOES remove the extension. The only way to hide it is in an Info/Inspector window, or set it globally via Finder's advanced prefs.

Removing the extension CAN have an effect on how it opens on a Mac.

Dealing with multiple files, it's faster to get an inspector window, then hide the extension with one click, instead of renaming every file. Really, it's best practice to leave the extension alone. Why remove it if it can break things/change behaviou?



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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: beepotato on Apr 05, '06 10:37:58AM

> Removing the extension (from the icon's name or in get info) DOES remove the extension. The only way to hide it is in an Info/Inspector window

No. Removing the extension from the file displayed name (the icon's name) does NOT remove the extension from the real name, it just hides it (unless you checked "always show extensions" in the Finder preferences, in which case the Finder asks you for confirmation before removing the extension).

The only time renaming a file directly in the Finder actually removes its extension is when the extension is not known by the Finder as a valid extension. This happens when there is no application on the computer claiming that file type with that extension. Then the Finder doesn't consider the ".blahblah" as an extension but just as part of the file name, and it allows you to remove it.

But, again, when the extension corresponds to a known file type, the Finder won't let you remove it without first warning you.



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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: bdog on Apr 05, '06 03:06:08PM

Ahh yes, thank you for explaining it. I have show all extensions set. I never knew all this crazyness existed when you turn that pref off.



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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: innate on Apr 05, '06 10:41:06AM

That has not been my experience. I have a test file here, "test.png". I change its name to "test". In the Finder it no longer has an extension, but when I go into Get Info, the name is still "test.png" with the "Hide extension" box checked.

What file were you renaming? Perhaps the Finder behaves differently based on the file type.

By the way, I am using OS X 10.4.6. Maybe this behavior was different in an earlier OS.



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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: innate on Apr 05, '06 10:43:14AM

(I was replying to bdog, not bpotato. I think bpotato has got it right: the Finder will only let you delete the extension if it is not a known extension.)



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Hide file extension via rename
Authored by: b00le on Apr 06, '06 07:11:18AM

Why do it? I can't think of a reason, except in the case I described above - to get a Photshop contact sheet without the extensions in the filename, where merely hiding them did not work. I believe if the files had been created with a Mac Photoshop in the first place, remving the extension would not have caused a problem.



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