14. Create a Smart Folder That Contains Certain Types of Items  BEFORE YOU BEGIN 12 Find an Item 13 Create a New Folder
 SEE ALSO 15 Rename a Folder or Document 17 Change an Icon 18 Set a Color Label
New in Mac OS X Tiger, Smart Folders are really just a way to save a Spotlight search as a "canned" query. You can't put items into a Smart Folder the way you would a regular folder; rather, the Smart Folder's contents are dynamically updated to match the results of a saved search. KEY TERM Smart Folder A dynamic listing of items matching a saved Spotlight search, presented as a "folder" with the search results inside.
When you define a search using the Finder, the criteria you use to create the search can be saved to a new Smart Folder, which you can store anywhere you like, and open as you would a regular folder to view its contents. There are several ways to create a new Smart Folder, but they all center upon the process of defining a query from Spotlight search criteria within the Finder. | 1. | Open a Finder Window
Switch to the Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock, or by clicking anywhere on the Desktop. Creating a new Smart Folder begins with defining a new search for items in the system; there are several ways to do this once you're in the Finder.
| | 2. | Create a New Smart Folder From the File menu, choose New Smart Folder . This command brings up a new Finder window with a blank Spotlight query in the navigation pane, with blank criteria for Kind and Last Opened already set up for you to use if you want. The new folder is not placed anywhere until you have saved your search. Alternately, choose File, Find (or press  ) to bring up a New Search window. This method differs from New Smart Folder only in that it starts at the global level, and thus does not have the current Finder location among the searching scope buttons at the top of the pane.  Tip You can save any Finder search as a Smart Folder, even one that you started by entering text into the Search bar. All these methods use the same Spotlight workflow described in this task and in 12 Find an Item . | | 3. | Build Your Search Query Build up your query terms according to the steps in 12 Find an Item . Be sure to select the correct search scope, and to add textual search terms if necessary by entering them into the Search bar. As you add query terms, the list of matching files is shown in the Finder window. NOTE The technology underlying Spotlight and Smart Folders is very similar to the database used in iTunes, and Smart Folders are modeled on iTunes' Smart Playlists in concept. If you know how to set up a Smart Playlist (see 84 Create a Playlist or Smart Playlist ), then you know how to create a Smart Folderas well as Smart Mailboxes and other Spotlight-based groupings throughout Mac OS X. 14. Create a Smart Folder That Contains Certain Types of Items  | | 4. | Save the Query As a Smart Folder
When you're satisfied with your search terms and results, click the Save button. You are prompted for a name for the new untitled Smart Folder, and for a location to place it. The default location for Smart Folders is the Saved Searches folder in your Home , and you can also choose the Desktop or your Home folder; however, once the Smart Folder is saved, you can move it anywhere you like. Select the Add to Sidebar check box to make the new Smart Folder appear in every Finder window's Sidebar for quick access.
After the Smart Folder has been saved, you can navigate into it as you would any other folder. Smart Folders are indicated with a "gear" symbol on the folder icon. As you add new files to the computer, the contents of the Smart Folder are automatically updated to reflect all files that match the search criteria.
| | 5. | Modify an Existing Smart Folder
If the search criteria in a Smart Folder turn out not to be what you need, you can adjust them at any time. Open the Smart Folder; click the Edit button at the top of the document list. The search criteria are then shown at the top of the navigation pane. Use the + and buttons to add or remove search criteria and modify them to fit your needs. When you're done, click Save ; the Smart Folder is now redefined upon your revised criteria. To cancel modifying a Smart Folder, simply close the Finder window.
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