Using Araxis Folder Size Explorer

Araxis Folder Size Explorer is really simple to use. Just drop one or more folders on the left pane, wait for the scan to complete, then browse and work with the results. The instructions below explain things in a little more detail.

Warning Always ensure that you have an up-to-date backup before deleting files using Araxis Folder Size Explorer. Your data is important, so please also be sure to read and understand the cautions below before you delete any files.

1. Choose which folders to scan

Folder Size Explorer will start scanning as soon as you add a folder to the left pane.

Information We recommend that you scan only those folders whose contents you are responsible for managing. In particular, we suggest that you do not endeavour to scan your entire system drive. Although Folder Size Explorer is highly optimized to scan folders quickly, including unnecessary folders can significantly increase the time it takes to generate results. Scanning the entire system drive also risks including essential system or application files in the results, which you might then inadvertently delete.

To add a folder:

Drag the folders you want to scan from Finder on to the pane on the left of the Folder Size Explorer window. Alternatively, add folders to the table using the Add Folders button at the bottom of the left pane.

Drag the top-level folder out of the left pane;
Or, select a folder and click the the Remove Folders button at the bottom of the left pane;
Or, hold down Ctrl and click a folder, then select Remove item from the context menu that appears.

2. Explore scan results

The left-hand folders pane

The left pane shows all the scanned folders and their sizes. If a folder has sub-folders, you can expand the folder to show them.

A scan of a folder is complete when the progress indicator to the right of that folder is no longer shown.
The size of a folder is shown to the right of the folder.
A folder’s size indicates the combined storage space consumed by all the items in the folder and all its descendant folders.

OS X allocates space for items in blocks of a set size. Consequently, the amount of drive space used to store a file may be slightly larger than that strictly required to hold its contents. Finder typically displays the size of a file or folder’s contents, rather than the space it actually consumes on a drive. Thus, sizes in Folder Size Explorer are sometimes larger than those displayed by Finder.
The bar to the right of the folder size indicates the size of the folder relative to its sibling folders within the same parent folder.
By default, folders are ordered by size. You can sort alphabetically instead (see below).
In some circumstances, such as when the you do not have permission to view the contents of the folder, a folder’s size may not be displayed.

To sort folders in the left pane alphabetically:

Chose Sort by Name from the Action menu.

The right-hand files pane

The right pane of the Folder Size Explorer window shows all the files contained within any folders selected in the left pane larger than the current size threshold (see below). Files in any descendant folders of the selected folders will also be included.

By default, the file list is sorted by size, with the largest files at the top. Thus, you can instantly see the largest files contained at any level beneath the selected folders. You can filter the file list to reduce the number of items displayed.

To select folders and view contained files:

Click a folder in the left pane to select it. This will deselect any previously selected folders.
Or, hold down Cmd and click a folder to add or remove it from the current selection.
Or, hold down Shift and click a folder to extend the selection to that item.
Or, click in the left pane and press Cmd+A to select all the folders in the pane.

To show only files larger than or equal to a certain size:

Choose the appropriate size threshold from the size drop-down list at the top-left of the right pane.

To show only those files whose names contain specific text:

Type the text in the Filter by Name field.
To cancel the filter, delete the content of the Filter by Name field.

To change the sorting order of the displayed files:

Click the appropriate column heading to sort by that column.
Click a column heading a second time to reverse the order.

3. Work with files and folders

Files

To view one or more files with Quick Look:

Select one or more files from the table in the right pane. Then:
- Click the Quick Look button;
- Or, press the Space key;
- Or, press Cmd+Y;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected files and choose Quick Look from the context menu that appears.

To show one or more files in Finder:

Select one or more files from the table in the right pane. Then:
- Click the Show in Finder button;
- Or, press Cmd+F;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected files, and choose Show in Finder from the context menu that appears.

To move one or more files to a new location:

Show the files in Finder by following the instructions immediately above.
Use Finder to move the files to their new location.
If the files were moved on a local drive, Folder Size Explorer will detect the changes you make and update the scan results automatically.
If the files were moved on a shared network drive, you can manually refresh the results in Folder Size Explorer by selecting the appropriate parent folder of the moved items and choosing Rescan from the Action menu.

To open one or more files:

Select one or more files from the table in the right pane. Then:
- Double-click on the selected files;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected files and choose Open with Finder from the context menu that appears.

To delete files:

Select the file or files that you want to delete in the right pane.
Check each selected file and its location carefully to ensure that you really want to delete it.

To avoid inadvertently deleting files required by your system or applications, ensure that you only select and delete files whose purpose you understand.

Then, when you are certain that you do not want any of the selected files:
- Click the Move to Trash button;
- Or, press Cmd+Backspace;
- Or, Ctrl-click the selected files choose Move to Trash from the context menu that appears.

Information When you delete files, the amount of free drive space may not increase until you empty trash using Finder or the OS X dock.

To compare one or more files using Araxis Merge:

Information This action will function only if Araxis Merge has been installed.

Select one or more files.
Ctrl-click the selected files and choose Compare with Araxis Merge from the context menu that appears.

Folders

To view one or more folders with Quick Look:

Select one or more folders in the left pane. Then:
- Choose Quick Look from the Action menu;
- Or, press the Space key;
- Or, press Cmd+Y;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected folders and choose Quick Look from the context menu that appears.

To show one or more folders in Finder:

Select one or more folders in the left pane. Then:
- Choose Show in Finder from the Action menu;
- Or, press Cmd+F;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected folders, and choose Show in Finder.

To move one or more folders to a new location:

Show the folders in Finder by following the instructions immediately above.
Use Finder to move the folders to their new location.
If the folders were moved on a local drive, Folder Size Explorer will detect the changes you make and update the scan results automatically.
If the folders were moved on a shared network drive, you can manually refresh the results in Folder Size Explorer by selecting the appropriate parent folder of the moved items and choosing Rescan from the Action menu.

To open one or more folders:

Select one or more folders in the left pane. Then:
- Choose Open with Finder from the Action menu;
- Or, Ctrl-click on the selected folders and choose Open with Finder from the context menu that appears.

To delete folders:

Select the folder or folders in the left pane that you want to delete.
Check each selected folder and its location carefully to ensure that you really want to delete it.

To avoid inadvertently deleting folders and files required by your system or applications, ensure that you only select and delete folders whose purpose you understand.

When you are certain that you do not want any of the selected folders:
- Choose Move to Trash from the Action menu;
- Or, press Alt+Cmd+Backspace;
- Or, Ctrl-click a folder and choose Move to Trash from the context menu that appears.

Information When you delete folders, the amount of free drive space may not increase until you empty trash using Finder or the OS X dock.

To compare one or more folders using Araxis Merge: