Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

7092454

Cancelled
Original poster
Jul 31, 2012
2
0
Hey everyone! i just got AppZapper and its a great app, but i was wondering if there was a way (via applescript, or some other special dev way ;) to make an app open in AppZapper when i drag it to the trash.
for those of you who dont know, AppZapper is an app that will not only delete the app file you dragged to it, but all the corresponding "lock files" and "support folders", effectively "un-installing" the app completely. dragging to the trash has become second nature to me, and i was wondering if there was a way to tell OS X to open an app in AppZapper when i drag it to the trash, instead of actually putting it in the trash.
i thought i read somewhere that something similar to this was possible, but i wanted to know if my specific scenario was possible, and if so, how. thanks in advance!
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,556
950
Hey everyone! i just got AppZapper
In most cases, app removal software such as AppZapper doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:
 

7092454

Cancelled
Original poster
Jul 31, 2012
2
0
Deleting an app

In most cases, app removal software such as AppZapper doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:

I know COMPLETELY deleting an app is very difficult, and after looking at those links, i might consider some of those methods, but for right now AppZapper does the job for me. it gets rid of the respective App Support folder, which is really what i was going for.
Thank you for those links, though, i might look into them more...
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,556
950
I know COMPLETELY deleting an app is very difficult
Actually, completely deleting an app using Finder is usually very quick and easy, taking an average of 30 seconds or less. The problem with apps like AppZapper is they delete smaller files, but many times leave much larger ones behind. While this may not matter to some, to those trying to free up drive space, deleting a 76kb .plist and leaving behind a 1GB file doesn't accomplish what they intended.
 

martosprint

macrumors 6502
Jun 1, 2010
337
15
Florida
I use app cleaner when I want to remove an app, but I also use 3 other little apps such as: "Find Any File" Find File, and "Easyfind2." I type in the app that I just removed with app cleaner into those other 3 apps to remove even more traces of the app and there are quite a few others that those 3 apps find to delete or send to trash.
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,556
950
I use app cleaner when I want to remove an app, but I also use 3 other little apps such as: "Find Any File" Find File, and "Easyfind2." I type in the app that I just removed with app cleaner into those other 3 apps to remove even more traces of the app and there are quite a few others that those 3 apps find to delete or send to trash.
Rather than use so many apps, you can use the method in post #2 to find and remove all traces of apps, with no need for any 3rd party apps.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.