Trash Utility
 

As a wishlist, I would like to see the Trash can be turned into a utility application. This way I can put a shortcut of the can into my left hand menu, in the dock, or on the desktop. When launched, the trash application will offer services such as zero-deletion, restore trashed files, and tabs for various partitions so that emptying the trash will only delete those particular files. There can also be a highlite-delete so that you only trash the files you select. This would come in handy if you are not comfortable with emptying the trash, but still wish to delete that large AVI or MOV file.

This seems to make alot of sense for Aqua.

There is of course nothing preventing any 3rd-party developer from writing such a utility application. But I don't think that Apple should complicate the Trash. As has been discussed on other threads in these forums, the idea of the Trash is simple - you put things in there when you want to delete them (i.e. when you are sure that you no longer want them). The Trash should not be used as a temporary holding bin for things you think maybe you don't want anymore. You should be sure that you don't want them if you put them in the Trash. If you want a temporary holding bin, use some other folder. But the Trash should be kept simple.

But that is the beauty... it still IS simple. When you unpack your new Mac, there is the Trash can in the Dock. For all accounts and purposes, the Trash would act exactly the same, except that now the higher-end user has more control. There is nothing in my wishlist that is complicating the Trash or modifying its present behavior.

Then why have the ability to open it (as we can do now) to pull something out? EVERYONE changes their mind. I'm just adding a more intuitive way to specify how and what is deleted.

It's a wishlist thing, I'm not trashing the Trash. I get flamed too often for voicing my opinion in that subject.

In an attempt to reduce the number of threads about selectable deleting :), here's an Applescript that deletes a selection in the Trash window. Open Trash, select desired items to send to oblivion, and start the script.

It is slow for large quantities. Only does the top level of items in trash. Be careful!

Click here to open this script in Script Editor

You can create an alias to .Trash by logging in as root (or using TinkerTook to make all files & folders visible). I don't use the Dock and that's how I got a Trash Can on my Desktop.

Yeah, and I use DragThing. I am just thinking in terms of OS configuration--that the Trash can would act more like the rest of Aqua if it were a dedicated application rather than tied to the OS.
I mean think of the possibilities. You can launch the Trash can and it will give you tabs to all of your mounted drives that you can choose, or not choose to empty. Servers would not have to delete files immediately but would behave more like the Mac itself (an option).
Another option could be a toggle for hi-level security. If the government is using a Mac for classified information, all deletes (whether email or files) would be zero deletions.
There can be a preferences window to specify what can, or cannot be put into the trash- System folder items, certain kinds of files, etc.
There can be an option to delete troubled files that have permission issues or has some kind of running application error.

All of which can be accessed with various tweaking and commands, but wouldn't it be nice to be all in one dedicated utility?

Hayne and I will always disagree on this. I think that's the PERFECT use of the Trash function. I want to dump things in there that I think I probably don't need, but not fully commit to losing them. I'd also like them to magically disappear 15 days later. He gave me a suggestion to look up "trash" on macupdate.com, which resulted in a few hits. The best one, in my opinion, was something posted in this thread:

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=31647

Couldn't you just create a folder called "semi-trash" or something like that, put it in the dock, and use shell scripts or Applescript to make it behave the way you want? You might even be able to hack the actual .Trash folder to do that.

Heck, some enterprising hacker could probably make a Cocoa app that had most of the same features.

I like the idea of having an option to "zero delete" selected files.

I really dislike the idea of using the Trash as purgatory. I also hate people who say acrost...there's no effing T anywhere in that word!

I'm completely with hayne on that one.

If you don't like the Trash as it is, tinker with it using any and all of the 3rd-Party kludges you can get hold of.

If you want to wipe anything in the .Trash with an atime > one fortnight, write a cron-entry but don't expect Apple to do so.

But stop claiming it's broken.

It isn't.

It is simple, intuitive and should stay that way.

Nobody on this thread ever claimed it was broken, just thought it would work better and offer more options as a utility.

If you do not like the idea of file purgatory (more like death row*) you could always choose an "instant zero-deletion" preference so that once you accidentally put something in the trash, it is gone for good.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding the purpose of this forum. Is it not a wish list? What is so wrong with providing options to users, yet simple if left alone? I, personally, do not like 3rd-Party bandaids all over my OS.

The compost utility that CAlvarez pointed to had some great options to put in the Trash Utility. But I best not say anymore for fear of offending.


* Pergatory would be a place you put files that are not so bad, but not that good either--or too young to have not been given the chance of either. Death Row is the waiting place where the bad file is hoping for a reprieve while awaiting its execution.

bah! I do nothing on accident ;)

I actually made my last post without doing a search. I guess now my "wish" would be for Apple to add a secure delete option to the trash. It's not so much that I want all of my deletes to be permanent...but rather certain files I delete should have the option to be zero'd. I also try to avoid installing 3rd party stuff as much as possible, so an Apple solution would be nice.

Every option adds complexity to the user-interface.
See this post for more details:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showpo...1&postcount=21

so where does the border between funtionality and complexity lie? I'd much prefer OS X migrate towards the power user as opposed to the technophobe.

Take AtEase/Launcher for example. It's a great program for schools, kiosks, grandparents, etc. It's a horrible program for anyone that wants more than just a facade. If by some great twist of fates that were to be the design inspiration for OS X, I'd be typing this from a PC. Then again, I did enjoy working with Irix.

I think this is awefully similar to:
automatic vs. stick shift
machined vs. hand-made
goober vs. buying seperate peanut butter and jelly

I agree with fat elvis and disagree with Hayne. Sorry Hayne, but in this debate, I think you are off the mark.OK, let's apply that thinking to Safari. Remove the auto-fill, tab browsing, refresh button and all bookmark related menus. To use your argument, Safari should show no addresses or an address bar (you want complicated? You really have to know your stuff when you look at an URL). Now, you can adjust Safari, natively, with preferences and view settings so that all is left is the browser window. Is that what you think is a simple UI? OK, let's make it permanent. Poof, now EVERYONE will be required to use Safari this way. It would sink like a stone. Apple, in its wisdom, gives the initial user what they think is the bare-bones essential browser settings. Want a Status Bar? Go the view settings and select it. Voila! Have a 12" laptop and you want more browser window real estate? Remove the tabs, status and bookmark bar. It's up to you and your needs.
Now, why should the OS environment be any different? The key to a fantastic interface is to have a simple front end with high-end settings accessed via a settings window. You, Hayne, would be happy because you could stick with the basic default. Others will be happy to be able to taylor the OS to how they work best. I don't think my wishlist for Trash is an end-of-the-world suggestion.

It's there. Right under the Empty Trash option in the Finder menu.

BOOM!

We now return to our regularly scheduled apocalypse. ;)


Something resembling Bramley's script could be tied to a Folder Action, and then a person could create a folder, paste a nice trashy icon on it, attach the Action, and put it anywhere you please. And customize the script as you please.

Today. Without waiting for Apple (or anyone else) to do anything. OS X is already extensible in more ways than people think. Although it may require learning a new skill (Applescript), it's a handy skill to learn, as skills go.

:eek: eegads! they heard me!! *ahem* I WISH YOU PAID ARLO INSTEAD OF STEALING HIS IDEA...hope they hear that ;)

Thanks schwartze, I guess it'd help to read release notes now and again.

You are right Craig, I wish I knew how to do code. I am hoping that Automator will help me. I took this idea and sent it to both Apple as well as Panic. I think it would be a great utility and Panic agreed (probably a form email agreement, but at least they are listening!)

You'll probably like this book when it is released (est. Feb. 2005).

The way to learn is by diving in and making mistakes, along with copying working procedures from those with more experience. It's how I've developed most of the skills of my profession the past 20 years.

Well, I actually WAS able to get my hands around Lingo. My next goal is intermediate ActionScript. Thanks for the book lead. Perhaps 2005 will see Schneb as a moderate coder.

This Hint will get you started.

From there you can start to add bells and whistles to taste, until you have a completely custom waste-management system. And a pretty fair knowledge of Finder scripting to boot. :cool:

Need to restore to original location from trash (NOT YET EMPTIED)
 

I think I have a relatively easy question. I meant to go through and trash a bunch of cache files from my Library, but accidentally went up a level and trashed much needed files from my Library. I haven't emptied the trash yet but am wondering if there is an easy way to restore these files back to their original locations without having to guess at where I trashed them from. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

It might be too late, but this would be a good time to use "Undo".
If this is no longer an option, the first thing you need to do is take the folder/folders out of the trash and onto the desktop. Logout then login and start Safari. Close Safari and do a search in your library folder for those folders or files that match what is on your desktop. This will show you the location. Replace these folder or files with what is on your desktop.

Any one know an easier way?

Next time you want to trash cache files, it would be best to use the menu item "Safari > Empty Cache..." If you wish to trash the icon cache, use Safari Enhancer.

Freedesktop.org Trash Spec!
 

You know what I'd like to see Apple do? Implement this! Not only would it give the extra functionality most of us seem to want ("restore to original location," for example), it would also make OS X more compatible with Linux, which IMHO is a Very Good Thing.

It would involve only a few minor changes:

• Add the metadata files (which means that emptying the trash no longer deletes _everything_ in the directory).
• Add the menu items, etc. to facilitate "restore item."
  and if they wanted to be really nice,
• Write a command-line "trash" utility similar to rm.

I've actually started working on implementing such a feature, but the only problem is that I'm going to have to hack my way around the current functionality (emptying the trash normally will kill all the metadata :( ). I'd much rather it be an official thing, rather than just my 3rd-party hack.