How do I make this go away?

March 23, 2006 9:18 AM

I did something to my computer (iMac G5) over a year ago, and now every folder includes a file called ".DS_Store". What is it, and how can I make it invisible again?
posted by interrobang to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Sound like this sort of thing. Been using OSX Finder?
posted by Dipsomaniac at 9:20 AM on March 23, 2006

Bonus semi-related question: I put "Cocktail" on my computer around the same time. I searched Spotlight for anything with "Cocktail" in the title, and threw it away. That blue dot that just does what F11 does will not go away. How do I make that go away?
posted by interrobang at 9:20 AM on March 23, 2006

Yeah, those are Finder droppings. Turn off invisible files. You can do this with Cocktail.

The blue dot for Expose can also be turned off with Cocktail, I'm pretty sure.

So, put Cocktail back on, turn off those features, then remove it again if you like.
posted by kindall at 9:25 AM on March 23, 2006

That seems to have worked, Dipsomaniac; I followed the instructions on the page you linked, and by the looks of things, it's gone. Thank you very much!
posted by interrobang at 9:28 AM on March 23, 2006

...and that did it, too, kindall. I hadn't thought of putting the damn program back on the computer in order to delete it. Thanks!
posted by interrobang at 9:38 AM on March 23, 2006

defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-floater -bool false will get rid of your blue blob.
posted by WCityMike at 9:39 AM on March 23, 2006

(You'll need to either logout or quit the Dock in order for that blob to go away after you run that command.)
posted by WCityMike at 9:40 AM on March 23, 2006

There is also a Dashboard widget called Show/Hide which can turn hidden files on or off in the Finder. It's handy and super easy (it's a big button). If you are running 10.4.
posted by teece at 9:43 AM on March 23, 2006

Just an explanation for these two things; you're making the sorts of assumptions that drive IT support people batty.

The .DS_Store files: They didn't suddenly show up, but are a special system file that exist in every directory; they are normally hidden from view, and you turned that option off by accident.

The Cocktail/Exposé deal: Programs like Cocktail, again, do not "add" those sorts of features. They simply expose (pun not intended) various hidden preferences in the operating system/the Finder, and allow you to change those preferences.

This is why the blue dot did not go away when you removed Cocktail--it's not part of Cocktail itself, but rather Cocktail was just allowing you to toggle whether the dot was shown or hidden (this is also why WCityMike's alternate solutions would have the same desired effect).
posted by cyrusdogstar at 10:30 AM on March 23, 2006