Noodlesoft Forums

I'm looking for some help on gathering similar named files, containing them in a named folder and then compressed.

So to start I have 4 files.

xxxx.jpg
xxxx_small.jpg
xxxx_medium.jpg
xxxx_large.jpg
oooo.jpg

I would like all of these similar named items "xxxx" to be grouped together in a folder named "xxxx" and archived.
The only difference with the other 3 files is they have a suffix at the end. That's the only thing that distinguishes them from other files. the file "oooo.jpg" would not be included in the folder as the name is different.

Is this possible?

You could create a rule to use a match pattern for the xxxx part and have it sort into a subfolder based on that. You can then have another rule look for those folders and archive them.

Mr_Noodle wrote:You could create a rule to use a match pattern for the xxxx part and have it sort into a subfolder based on that. You can then have another rule look for those folders and archive them.

I think a problem maybe that I have thousands of these with all different names. Hazel doesn't use variables? Where it would look for "xxxx" gather and group into folder, then look at the next one "HHHH" and do the same. This would continue on throughout the folder?

Just hoping here.

Yes, it has variables for sorts. Look up match patterns in the help.

I had sent you a private message-not sure if you had time to review it.

PM's aren't a good way of asking questions for various reasons. Please post articles or email in.

It seems like you have at least two different patterns. One is where the name ends with a underscore and a size. Let's start with that one:

Code: Select all

If (all) are met
    Kind is jpg
    If (any) are met for (the current file)
        Name matches (• prefix)_small
        Name matches (• prefix)_medium
        Name matches (• prefix)_large
Do
    Sort into subfolder (• prefix)


where (• prefix) is a custom text attribute set to match (anything).

You can then do a rule, which must occur AFTER the above rule:

Code: Select all

If (all) are met
    Kind is jpg
    Name matches (• prefix)
Do
    Sort into subfolder (• prefix)


I suggest studying the above so you can gain an understanding of what is going on and post back here if you have questions about it.

Ok... I must be like a squeaky wheel now. I'm not explaining myself right I feel.

I will give another example

My potential file names are

rabbit1.jpg
rabbit1_small.jpg
rabbit1_medium.jpg
rabbit1_large.jpg
rabbit2.jpg
rabbit2_small.jpg
rabbit2_medium.jpg
rabbit2_large.jpg
dog12.jpg
dog12_small.jpg
dog12_medium.jpg
dog12_large.jpg

I would like hazel to look through all of these files at once, sort all of the rabbit1 files, rabbit2 files and dog12 files and place each of them in a separate folder

the results would be

rabbit1 (folder)

rabbit1.jpg
rabbit1_small.jpg
rabbit1_medium.jpg
rabbit1_large.jpg

rabbit2 (folder)

rabbit2.jpg
rabbit2_small.jpg
rabbit2_medium.jpg
rabbit2_large.jpg

dog12 (folder)

dog12.jpg
dog12_small.jpg
dog12_medium.jpg
dog12_large.jpg

Does this make better sense?

Yes, and my previous post still stands.

Mr_Noodle wrote:Yes, and my previous post still stands.

OK, I'll have another go at it.....

Thanks

redsei wrote:

Mr_Noodle wrote:Yes, and my previous post still stands.

OK, I'll have another go at it.....

Thanks

I gotta say thank you for being patient. I kind of gave my brain a shake and redid what you said. It works!! This has saved me literally hundreds of hours. I had over 40,000+ files to do. All done in 3 min.