Is there a way to link files?

[robgendreau]

I'm looking for a way to link files, so that if you find one you'd also be able to access the others.

Here's an example: I have several photos, a .gpx GPS file, and a couple of say txt files. All are from a hike and include related info. After the trip I want to be able to quickly find them all. The photos are stored in a digital asset manager (Lightroom), and have photo metadata like keywords, but are in a folder with all photos. The .gpx and .txt files are elsewhere.

What hasn't worked are photo keywords (only available in photos and a DAM, not .txt or .gpx), OS X tags (not hierarchical, too difficult to come up with unique ones for each group of files), and using folders for each (kinda clumsy and too many for the same reason tags don't work).

I have used DevonThink Pro, which lets me index the files in place and add them to DTP's database.

But what I'd ideally like is something that would simply link the files so that wherever they are they are associated, so that all applications could have access to the group. Rather like how a DAM like Lightroom or Aperture works, where you can create virtual collections/albums of files without actually moving them around in the Finder, and stack them, etc. In fact, why isn't there a Lightroom, iPhoto or Aperture for ALL files??

 

[leman]

Thats really what the tags are for. You can also add comments to the files and then use spotlight to search these. Another way would be to create additional folders populated with symbolic links/hard links.

In the future, I would like to see a higher-order tag system in OS X, but I doubt that this will ever happen.

 

[robgendreau]

Thats really what the tags are for. You can also add comments to the files and then use spotlight to search these. Another way would be to create additional folders populated with symbolic links/hard links.

In the future, I would like to see a higher-order tag system in OS X, but I doubt that this will ever happen.

I share your pessimism.

Tags, especially non-hierarchical tags, just don't cut it for this. Although I love 'em and use them a lot. They have to be unique, like database keys, to link JUST these files, like "xr567" or something. And even it's much more than a one-step process to find the files, unless you remember "xr567." Ditto for comments; good for very occasional use but not that helpful. I have dropped file URLs (more helpful than symbolic links or aliases in this case) into the .txt files, or even into photo metadata, and that can be helpful.

But wouldn't it be nice to just right click and get "show file group" and have 'em all be there?

 

[leman]

Well, there have been some interesting patent sightings in Apple's portfolio, and I wouldn't be surprised to discover that they are working on a relational file system. With Core Storage, they already have elements of a highly modern FS and I certainly hope that this summer HFS+ will be shown the boot.