OSXFAQ Mac OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

The Finder, in association with Spotlight, brings you Smart Folders. Smart Folders don't actually contain any documents, instead they reflect the results of a Spotlight search. The search is on-going, so the folder is always up to date. For example, we might create a folder that contains all the documents modified in the last day, giving a handy one-stop folder for everything we are currently working on.

Here's how:

From the Finder select menu File : New Smart Folder, or press Option-Command-N. A familiar-looking Spotlight search window opens, but titled "New Smart Folder".

From the pop-up criteria select Last Modified and Within Last 1 Days. On the next line, select Kind and Documents (files) - this eliminates folder from the search. Finally click Save, name the folder, and close the window. (Uncheck the Add To Sidebar button if you don't want the Folder to appear in the Finder's left pane.)

Now open the Smart Folder. Mine was saved to the default location - the Desktop. Change the view between Icon, List, or Spotlight Group (replacing the Finder's Column view) from the window toolbar. Change the search criteria by hitting the Edit button.

Use Smart folders as a primitive database front end to the file system, creating folders to display all pictures, songs by a particular artist, Word documents, large documents, ... you get the idea. You can even set watch folders that alert you when new applications are added to the system (make sure you search Computer and not just Home).

Tomorrow's tip shows how to change the look of a Smart Folder window.

Enjoy! :- )

Tiger 10.4.4