File not visible in Finder until spotlight search or reboot

[gowanis]

I have a weird situation where occasionally I will grab a file from usenet and I cannot see it in Finder. When I search using spotlight, I find the file. When I choose to open the containing folder, the file appears, along with other "missing" files. What's going on ?

 

[DoctorCrap]

You better be sure whether it is Finder on OS X 10.8 or your source of the downloads having the problem.

 

[gowanis]

The problem is with Finder. The program I am using to retrieve the file completes its process successfully. When I look at the output folder, the file is not there. If I search using spotlight, the file IS found, and when I choose to open the containing folder (from spotlight), the file magically appears in the already open Finder folder.

 

[GGJstudios]

The problem is with Finder. The program I am using to retrieve the file completes its process successfully. When I look at the output folder, the file is not there. If I search using spotlight, the file IS found, and when I choose to open the containing folder (from spotlight), the file magically appears in the already open Finder folder.

Try re-indexing your drive:

Spotlight: How to re-index folders or volumes​

If that fails to index, enter the following command in Terminal:

sudo mdutil -i on "/Volumes/your drive name"​

 

[gowanis]

I was unable to reproduce my problem until yesterday. I tried the Spotlight re-index and it worked, thank you.

Is this a common problem? Why does this happen?