MacOS file metadata holds many useful and diverse file facts. This is not limited to file size, extension or creation date. Depending on the type and the application that created it, there is a whole lot of information available on a file’s properties.
Sender name, duration, f-stop number – and more
For e-mail messages, this can be sender name, e-mail subject and attachment type. Or duration, bit rate and musical genre for audio files. In photos, you can even find information on camera model, f-stop number and exposure time.
This metadata is useful when organizing files by specific criteria or searching for files with certain properties. E.g. images with a resolution higher than 72 dpi, audios shorter than thirty seconds, or e-mail messages containing PDF attachments.
Inspecting file metadata using HoudahSpot
But what metadata is available for a specific file type? How is it labeled? And what kind of information does it contain? HoudahSpot can help you find out.
There are two ways to inspect files using HoudahSpot:
- In HoudahSpot, search for a file and select it from the Results section. Then, refer to the Details pane on the right. Make sure it is switched to «Info». In the top section, you will find the most important file information. Scroll down to see all metadata.
- In HoudahSpot, go to the Window menu and select «File Info». The file info pane will open in its own window. You can now select any file, e.g. in the Finder, then drag and drop it onto HoudahSpot’s Info Window.
You may also use this technique to see the total size of folder.