Searching for filetypes in spotlight

May 26, 2010 8:01 AM

How do you search for file types in Spotlight (OSX 10.6) ?

the kind:image or kind:photoshop doesn't do it - let's say I only want all .psd files. Not "psd" contained in the file or "ams" files, etc. I also realize I can do this with the unix `find`command, but I need finder thumbnails. Thanks!

posted by four panels to computers & internet (6 answers total)

Search for anything and then click "show all".
Click the "+" to add a criteria and choose "Other" from the menu. Select "Content creator".
Type "Photoshop" in the box.
Click the X in the search box to clear your original search.

Done.
posted by Mwongozi at 8:19 AM on May 26, 2010

Mwongozi, thank you but that also shows .jpg, etc.
posted by four panels at 8:37 AM on May 26, 2010

Ah ha, your technique is almost correct:

Click the "+" to add a criteria and choose "Other" from the menu. Select "File extension".
Type "psd" in the box.
Click the X in the search box to clear your original search.

Thanks!
posted by four panels at 8:41 AM on May 26, 2010

Or just type .psd in the finder's search window.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:08 AM on May 26, 2010

Yeah I'm not certain since I'm not in front of my Mac right now, but I *think* I've always searched by file type by typing the extension into the Spotlight menu. E.g. just click on Spotlight and type .xls (or .xlsx) and it will bring up a list of all Excel documents. You can refine based on the file name or any data that you know is in the file(s) you're looking for.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2010

Extra little bit: don't bother with * or ? or any other wild card characters when searching on a mac.
posted by zenon at 12:35 PM on May 26, 2010