It ’s been a while since we covered a utility to aid you keep runway of the contents of “ obliterable ” volumes — external knockout drives , candela , DVDs , web ploughshare , etc . In fact , the last time we talked about such an app inMac Gemswas back in October 2004 , when Jonathan Seff recommendedDiskTracker ( ) . That $ 30 utility mechanically scans obliterable volumes and keeps a searchable database of their contents .
I ’ve recently discovered an interesting option : Limit Point Software ’s costless ( donations accepted)Touvaly 1.1 ( ) . In addition to being less expensive — who does n’t like free?—Touvaly also conduct a very different approach shot to cataloging your volume : alternatively of keep back cut of their contents in its own database file , Touvaly “ repair ” those volumes on your Mac ’s local hard drive . But it does n’t actually copy the contents of a volume onto your drive ; instead , it create a booklet thatrepresentsthose contents by include a “ shammer copy”—the company ’s term , not mine — of every file and folder on that bulk , mirroring the original pecking order .
To create such a volume catalogue , you but trail the desired obliterable bulk into the Touvaly windowpane ( or onto its icon in the Finder ):
You ’ll be ask where to save the folder containing the volume ’s local catalog , after which Touvaly will examine the book and then start out making its “ pseudo ” copy .
Once the local catalogue / copy is finished , you may graze it just as you would the original volume ; in fact , because it use stock files to represent the original volume ’s contents , one of the full-grown advantage of Touvaly ’s approaching is that you may use Spotlight ( or another hunt public utility such as EasyFind or MoRU ) to find files on the original volume . ( Of naturally , because the file do n’t in reality include the original ’ depicted object , you ca n’t explore by content . )
( One feature I ’d like to see is the ability to replicate - snap on a file in your “ virtual ” volume to access it . For instance , you could then be prompt to insert / connect the volume control that file , at which full stop the original single file would be opened . )
Touvaly ’s preferences dialog offers a routine of useful options . If you keep your files meticulously organise in folders , and need to have intercourse only where particular folders domiciliate , you’re able to say Touvaly to include only leaflet in its catalog . you could also choose to drop applications and app bundles .
That said , I surmise most the great unwashed will practice Touvaly for volumes such as standard candle - ROMs , DVDs , Zip and MO disks , and the alike . For these job , Touvaly ’s speed is much more sane . For model , I created a local catalog of a CD containing just under 400 photographs , all with custom icon , in 31 folders . It contract Touvaly 5 minute and 12 seconds to create its 36 MB local mirror of the disk . ( This particular catalog is relatively large , thanks to the custom thumbnail icon ; however , those icons make it promiscuous to view the real subject of each persona without having to put in the original CD . )
I ’ve created a booklet on my Mac ’s hard drive for store “ pseudo ” volumes created via Touvaly ; by using Spotlight ( or EasyFind or MoRU ) to research this folder , I can now rapidly find any single file on any removable volume .
Touvaly is a Universal Binary and plunk for Mac OS X 10.2.8 and above .
