X-Plane.Org Forum: ClearThumbs Script - X-Plane.Org Forum

Mac and Windows produce system files that are useless in a download from the .ORG. Macs produce .DS_Store files and __MACOSX folders, which are simply there to store icon layouts, folder background images, and the like.

Other Mac users wouldn't notice if the download didn't contain them, and Windows users are plagued by useless files that take up space and take time to delete (for those who can be bothered to delete them). However, Windows produces Thumbs.db which are usually invisible to Windows users, but plague Mac users in the same way.

All of this pointless rubbish gets included (entirely unknowingly on the author's part) in the Zip archives that are uploaded to the Download Manager. Some authors produce some very clean downloads (perhaps using X-Publish by Marginal, which is designed to eliminate junk files from downloads before zipping them), while others (unwittingly) produce resources that come with great numbers of entirely useless files.

ClearThumbs is (as of June 2008) a set of three scripts, each designed to do its own specific job. I've called them ClearThumbs Parts I to III.

Part I cleans directory trees, which means that if you run Part I from your Aircraft folder, it will eliminate junk from all of your aircraft.

Part II cleans Zip files, then unzips them. This is more convenient than running Part I on something you've just unzipped.

Part III cleans directory trees, then zips them. This is convenient for aircraft and scenery developers, who can be sure of uploading a clean resource to the DM.

Please make sure you read the Read Me before using the scripts. It includes instructions on how to use them, and where.

Written for Python 2.5.

Now you can fly safe in the knowledge that your aircraft has no Thumbs... .

Updated 18-Jun-2008, now includes Parts II and III and new ReadMe file.
Updated 19-Jun-2008, compiled Python failed on Mac, if you downloaded for non-Windows OSes please download again.