today I found out how to add descriptive text in the comments field of Finder.
Not being an Apple child, the names of applications sometimes are not helpful.
e.g. Superduper. What does this do?
from: http://www.mactips.info/2009/07/add-and-display-file-comments
Add and Display File Comments
Mac Tip #393, 15 July 2009
Maureen added a comment to this MacTip: Show Information in Finder List View: How do you get the comments into the comment column?? I want to be able to sort by comments, but I can’t figure out where I type the text to show up in the comment columnShe was talking, of course, about the Comments column in the Finder List and CoverFlow views.
The Comments column is not displayed by default. Even if it is displayed though, it’s not obvious how to add a Comment to a file.
Add metadata
Metadata is information about a file. For example, I may have a movie of my mum with the cat and the dog. I may also have other movies of my mum, and other movies of cats and dogs.I could add keywords such as
mum, cat and dog, to each file so that when I’m looking at them all in a list in the Finder it’s easy to identify any particular movie. To be able to sort them, of course, I’d have to be careful to always use the same sequence if there are multiple keywords for a file.
How to display the Comments field
The Comments column is not displayed in Finder windows by default, so you have to choose to display it. It will only be visible inList view or in CoverFlow view.
To display the Comments column: - Open a Finder window.
- Set the Finder window to either
Listview orCoverFlowview. - Choose
Show View Optionsfrom theViewmenu. TheView Optionswindow appears. - Check the box beside
Commentsin theShow Columnssection. TheCommentscolumn is added to the Finder window. - Close the
View Optionswindow.
How to add Comments
This metadata is also used by Spotlight to help find files you need. That’s why you add your metadata to theSpotlight Comments field in the Get Info window: - Select a file in the Finder.
- Choose
Get Infofrom theFilemenu. TheGet Infoinspector window opens. - If necessary, click the disclosure triangle beside the
Spotlight Commentsarea to reveal the text entry area. - Type your keywords or other metadata into the
Spotlight Commentsfield. - Close the
Get Infowindow. The metadata you entered into theSpotlight Commentsfield is now displayed in theCommentscolumn of a FinderListorCoverFlowview window.
Watch the video
Remember to watch the video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dIVj5XjzXM
Note: the next Tip will show how this metadata affects Spotlight searches.
Have you added metadata to a file through the Spotlight Comments area in the Get Info window? How has that worked for you? Add your comments below.