A question nobody seems to be able to answer

[morerecords]

I have thousands of AIF files on my computer, and their file extensions are hidden. I need to make them all reveal their extensions so that they can be imported on to my PC for use in music making (it is my sample libary which I have built up since the 90s)

is there some sort of batch process or automator that will allow me to do this?

[CharlieJ]

1. Run Automator
2. Create a new workflow
3. Drag Your Files into the list
4. Double click the "rename finder items" action
5. Check 'Replace Excisting Files'
6. Select 'Add Text' from the dropdown
7. Type your Extension
8. Select 'as extension'
9. Run

Hope this helps.
Charlie

[Satcomer]

Click on you desktop. Then in the top menu click on the word "finder". in the drop-down select "Preferences". In there click on the Advance tab and check the box for "Show all file names extensions". This should help.

[CharlieJ]

Good idea Satcomer.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Filename extensions being hidden (as in the Finder's "Hide Extensions") should not interfere with copying and/or moving the files to a PC.

The extensions are hidden -- not non-existant. The ability to show or hide extensions has nothing to do with whether or not the file actually has an extension, and, if files are copied to a PC while the Mac OS X's Finder is set to "hide extensions," those files will be copied over (and have all their respective extensions) the same as if the Finder was set to "show extensions."

It's only a preference -- it doesn't affect the actual file nor its extension in any way.

But yeah -- if those files never had an extension (which isn't the same as a "hidden extension"), then a batch re-namer to add ".AIFF" to the end is the best route. Automator has been mentioned, and it's quick and free. If you're looking into more powerful renaming capabilities (those which can come with managing a historic library of music files, for example), I highly recommend "A Better Finder Rename" (available with a simple Google search).

[tallis]

There's also a program called Renamer that should do the trick for you.