Is there a way to hide files of only one particular extension/type?

I use a program that saves a data file for every image that I process. It's called DxO Optics. This is unlike Photoshop Lightroom 4, which stores that info in a database. It's inconvenient to scroll thru these files which show up as icons. Is there a way to make files invisible by type? These ones have the extension .dop and just show a white page. So far all I see is hide/show in tools/view but I hope there's a way to just hide those files in explorer. Any chance of that?

You can create a batch script (call it hide.bat for instance) in the folder and put in the batch file:

attrib +h *.dop

Then just run the batch file when you want to hide the files. If you need step by step instructions for how to create a batch file:

• Open the folder in question
• Click on Organize (upper left corner of the window under the back and forward buttons)
• Folder and search options
• View tab
• uncheck hide extensions for know files types
• click OK
• Right click in an empty area of the folder (careful not to right click on a file)
• Click New -> Text Document
• Delete all the text in the text document name including the .txt part
• Name the file hide.bat
• Right click hide.bat and click Edit
• Type in the command I gave above for attrib +h *.dop
• Save, and exit.
• That's it; you can hide extensions to known file types again if you want.

Oops! I just realized that the file extension is .CR2.dop and I'm worried that I'd hide all the .CR2 files....

Another option is to put the batch file in the top level directory. You could make two batch files, one with a +h called hide.bat and one with a -h called unhide.bat for instance. In the top level, create the hide.bat file with this command:

attrib /s /d +h *.dop

and the unhide.bat file with:

attrib /s /d -h *.dop

These will hide/unhide all files in the current directory and every subdirectory within that directory.

EzioAuditore said:

1) Do I have to leave the spaces in attrib +h *.dop between attrib and + and h and *?

Yes, there is a indeed a space between them.

Code:

attrib +h *.dop

2) Will it work in all subfolders (I have a LOT of folders in which these pesky files are visible)?

You'll have to edit the bat file to change to the directory first i.e. add

Code:

	
Code:
	
cd \path\to\directory

before the attrib line.

Someone correct me if i'm wrong.


Restarting won't do as the 'hidden' attribute has been added to the files. You'll have to either select 'Show hidden files and folders' from Tools>Folder options or edit the bat file w/ the +h replaced w/ -h.

Oops! I just realized that the file extension is .CR2.dop and I'm worried that I'd hide all the .CR2 files....

The extension of this type of file would still be .dop. Windows treats the words after the last dot as extension.

Thanks not only for an answer but a great deal of insight into how these things work.

writhziden said:

Another option is to put the batch file in the top level directory. You could make two batch files, one with a +h called hide.bat and one with a -h called unhide.bat for instance. In the top level, create the hide.bat file with this command:

attrib /s /d +h *.dop

and the unhide.bat file with:

attrib /s /d -h *.dop

These will hide/unhide all files in the current directory and every subdirectory within that directory.

Thanks for a very elegant and simple solution. I take it s / d means subdirectory... very nice!

pxfragonard said:

Thanks for a very elegant and simple solution. I take it s / d means subdirectory... very nice!

The /s means all files within the directory containing that extension will have the attribute applied. /d, as you guessed, means all directories and subdirectories will be checked for files with that extension. The directories themselves will not be hidden, but the files with that extension contained in the directories will have the hidden attribute applied or removed.