File copying probs (Mac resource forks)

[Big Fat Al]

I'm using my TH-55 with my OS-X based PowerBook. I use the Missing Sync to synchronise the two, and to copy files from the Mac to the Clie.

My problem is, whenever I copy files (specifically MP3's) over to the Clie, the mac resource forks get copied over. These resource forks appear as separate files starting with "._". The resource forks are supposed to be invisible, but because they end in a .mp3, the Clie audio player lists them and tries to play them. This results in an error beep, between songs.

I can manually delete these files, using FileZ, but this is pretty painful every time I want to listen to a new album.

I thought this might have been a problem with the Missing Sync, as I'm sure the problem didn't exist while I was using the older version. However, even when I copy files manually using the Finder, these resource fork files are still appearing.

How do other Mac users deal with this issue? It's driving me crazy... I'm thinking of buying an iPod just to get away from the problem.

[bh77a]

They are just a fact of life for Mac users... something I consider being a small price to pay for having a better box on my desk ;)

As for buying an iPod just to correct this issue, seems a bit drastic to spend hundreds of dollars to "fix" something that takes maybe a minute to do when you switch albums...

[michaeldzn]

I know what you mean. This usually happens when you copy a folder of files from Mac to Clie. Some suggestions that might help :

1. MP3s - I use Missing Sync's iTunes sync. If you didn't know, when you mount your Clie's Memory Stick on the desktop and open iTunes, a Sony Clie device playlist appears. You can drag songs from your iTunes Library onto the playlist and it gets copied over automatically. The only caveat is that you can't arrange the play order on the Sony Clie playlist itself. What I usually do is create another playlist where I can arrange the order of the playlist, for transferring songs over. I just delete all the songs on the Sony Clie's playlist (select all on Sony Clie playlist and press delete) and drag the songs over.

2. Other files - Mount the Memory Stick on the desktop and treat it as an external hard drive. The only difference is don't drag copy folders to it but only files. You create a new folder on the Memory Stick and drag the files onto it. You will still get some invisible files on the Memory Stick but these are DS Store files which usually appears only in folders (on the Memory Disk) that you open in Finder. You can delete the DS Store files on the Clie later if you want but they will be created again if you open them in Finder.

BTW, I'm using a NX80. I have no idea if a TH55 has its own idiosyncracies or problems. Hope this helps.

[Big Fat Al]

1. MP3s - I use Missing Sync's iTunes sync.Sorry if I didn't make myself clear, but this is the feature I was referring to. Even using the Missing Sync's iTunes plugin, the annoying resource files are still being copied across. These resource files are also created when using a Finder level copy.

I'm currently using version 4.0.2 of the Missing Sync, I'm sure this used to work properly under version 3, so I'm not sure what's going on.

[arson]

Yeah, those extra "._" files are annoying.

3 other options:

1) Use "maclean" on the palm to delete the macresource forks.
http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.answernew&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&keyword=maclean

2) Copy files wirelessly using smbmate on the palm so the resource forks aren't copied.

3) Copy files on the mac using "KopyMac 2.5b" (Mac OS X) onto the memory stick with missing sync so the resource forks aren't copied.

There's a solution out there somewhere. Lotsa luck to ya!

[michaeldzn]

My bad, Big Fat Al. I should have guessed that you are talking Missing Sync 4. I didn't bother to upgrade as I heard about the problems the earlier version4 had. Still with Misssing Sync 3plus and happy with it.

Arson, thanks for the tips. I've been looking for MAClean but could not remember the name of the app.

[kp*]

I just used MS4's iTunes feature to copy a few songs to my Clie yesterday and hadn't noticed any problems, but now that I look at it, it's because I'm using PocketTunes, which I guess is less easily confused than Audio Player.

I also use MAClean to get rid of those files across the whole memory card (got it back when it was freeware, though -- the upgrade sounds nice, but on the whole the files don't get in my way that much).

Would be nice if Missing Sync could avoid placing those files though.