Option to automatically strip .DS_Store files when uploading on Mac

[dia3olik]

Hey man!

firstly I wanted to thank you for picking up the project, it really needed an update and a future!!! ;-)

Back on topic, I think an easy and quick option (even "on" by default maybe?) to filter out on upload all the .DS_Store files on each directory which MacOs creates would be really really handy for less experienced users since it would be less cumbersome and straightforward than dealing with custom filtering timeline option strings each time ;-)

What do you think?

[kapitainsky]

Not sure. Any files can be excluded right now in job preferences if somebody wishes. At the same time .DS_Store files are tiny and there is no harm in copying them. Myself when I copy folder I want everything to be included unless I specify otherwise - I don't like silent default exclusion.

[Alphos2000]

And would be possible to save the exclude file list, so you don't have to write it everytime? Maybe a box to activate or desactivate filelist, and it always is stored sou you dont have to write it always.

[kapitainsky]

I am thinking about adding default extra arguments option in general settings. They would be applied to any new job. It is the most universal and solves many issues including default exclusion list e.g. you could specify in setting "--exclude-from file".

[dia3olik]

This would be close enough and also universal for various needs, it's a cool idea regardless ;-)
Thanks!!!
But I still think that on the Mac build a simple toggle on/off to exclude all .DS_Store files would be a godsend for speed and to keep things simple, these pesky files are not needed for the kind of files/folders you want to upload to the cloud...and can lead to cleaner folders on the cloud.

[kapitainsky]

In just released 1.6.0 I have included default job options. It means that now it is easy to have "--exclude-from file" by default for every new Upload.

[kapitainsky]

I will take a note and for the next release I can make for macOS default options for Upload "--exclude .DS_Store" so total new users will have it on from first install.

Try latest release and let me know if any issues.

[dia3olik]

Thanks! That was quick!!! ;-)
I totally agree, that would be a very good way indeed.

[kapitainsky]

Done in commit aa826eb

Will roll out with the next release. no ETA atm

[dia3olik]

I just tried on an upload with latest versions (1.6.0 + rclone 1.50.1) and with the default option "--exclude .DS_Store" it still uploads these...strange! what could be the culprit?? thanks!

[kapitainsky]

can you post screenshot of your job? I tested it myself and it works

[kapitainsky]

you can also try the next release preview

https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0TXekZ4JL1TAANEGhM3IGReNQ#rclone-browser-1.6.0-409180a-macOS

Final release will probably include more fixes but .DS_Store is already there

[dia3olik]

Hi! I just tried again with 1.7.0 and it still uploads .DS_Store files...

[kapitainsky]

have you put "--exclude .DS_Store" in default upload options? It is set for new rclone browser installations on macOS but for existing ones I don't change anything

[dia3olik]

yes of course but it's ignoring it completely...

[kapitainsky]

[kapitainsky]

Ok. I see where the issue is. Stupid bug.

It works when you save your upload as a task and then run it. When you run it directly options are ignored. Will be fixed. In the meantime go through task step.

[kapitainsky]

it is strange. As it works now for me. I will have to investigate it more

[kapitainsky]

I did few tests.... and it works... Could you please try again - just make sure that transfer window had default exclude

I think in my first test I pressed restore defaults and extra options were cleared... I should change this behaviour as default extras should be one set in preferences.

[kapitainsky]

You can also clean already uplaoded .DS_Store files by running sync (not copy) and specifying following:

[dia3olik]

Thanks for the tip, yeah I have the option enabled but it's ignored...

I have the files on a NAS shared with AFP to my Mac on which I have installed RCB.

I'll try to do a screen rec and upload it to show you...in the mean time how can I batch delete all the .DS_Store files on the remote if I don't have the local source directory anymore to sync it from?

Thanks!

[kapitainsky]

https://rclone.org/commands/rclone_delete/

for this you need cmd rclone. Assuming that your data is stored on remote in /Testing folder

rclone delete --dry-run --include .DS_Store remote:/Testing/

run this with --dry-run first to double check what will be deleted

[dia3olik]

thanks man!

I'll keep you updated ;-)

BTW it would be nice to implement a selective search&delete feature on RCB ;-)

[kapitainsky]

I thought about it. Simply I can add delete option... but... I am afraid of power of this command.

People spend days uploading their stuff to slow remote and then one wrong click and all can be gone. There is always cmd for power users.

[dia3olik]

you're right but maybe you can implement it with many warnings and maybe with --dry-run as default?

[kapitainsky]

I have tested on few different macs and when "--exclude .DS_Store” is specified in extra options .DS_Store files are ignored. Maybe you had some typo in extra options? Or still it is reproducible issue?

[dia3olik]

the default you wrote in the current version is --exclude ".DS_Store" so maybe this is the culprit? If it is please correct it in the next version to be "--exclude .DS_Store”

[kapitainsky]

It has been fixed in the latest release