Search within FCPX package

Hi there

Is there a way to do a finder search also WITHIN an FCPX library ?

By default it doesn't.

Thank you !!

I've tried to figure that one out, but can't. I'd refer you to the app "FCP Library Manager" for that sort of thing.

Thanks. FCPLM doesn't search within packages, does it ?

One app you could use is "Find Any File"

apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/support.php

Also on the app store (Might be a bit more limited ) , the original shareware permits root user searches even within invisible areas so I think it goes into packages ...

my 2 cents

Thanks François !

Hey manoucho,

Can't you just right click the library and say open package contents? Or do you mean something else?

Having just tried it out, if all you're doing is searching for file names, and want to show inside of package contents, I think "FindAnyFile" is the way to go. Very nice app. Wish Apple would add "show package contents" to the Finder's search parameters...

Wardos, no because I don't always know in what package the file is.

Ben thanks for the confirmation, seems like the way to go indeed !

Just a word of warning about root searches.
I worked on someones computer who had accidentally installed malware (most likely from some video pirate site) and tried to remove it using information they found online. They used 'find any file' to delete all files with a certain combination of letters in the name and ended up deleting important system files so their system wouldn't even boot. I had to boot it from an external drive so I could remove the malware and then the operating system had to be reinstalled.

Or you can use the "find" command in Terminal, e.g.

find . -name 'myMovie.mov' -print


(the '.' means the current directory; you can enter a specific location instead)
Also you can use wildcards , such as *, between the single quotes to match more than one name:

find /Users/me -name 'IMG_19**.jpg' -print

etc

When in root , superuser or even simply using your admin password you can always screw up things, but doing any kind of a search cannot do any wrong ,it is when you begin deleting stuff you don't know that you are playing "Russian roulette" and things can go bad. Using the terminal (free) you can do anything you want but it is easier to do a typo and have trouble … i like « Find Any File » and if you you want to do deep searches you have to write your admin password, then you have to act as a pro and not go crazy.

Francois wrote: When in root , superuser or even simply using your admin password you can always screw up things, but doing any kind of a search cannot do any wrong ,it is when you begin deleting stuff you don't know that you are playing "Russian roulette" and things can go bad. Using the terminal (free) you can do anything you want but it is easier to do a typo and have trouble … i like « Find Any File » and if you you want to do deep searches you have to write your admin password, then you have to act as a pro and not go crazy.

Wise words.
Of course, using Terminal you can do real harm really fast if you don't know what you are doing. But you can also achieve a lot when you do know. It is a powerful tool.
The observation about needing your administration password for what you call "deep searches" is just as true when using the Terminal. Actually even more true (you'd have to know enough to type the "sudo" command).
Though one looking for files in one's own libraries (the topic of this discussion) should never need to deal with system files or anyhthing that would require the admin password.

Always open for new tricks, but…

Is there a way to do a finder search also WITHIN an FCPX library ?

what for?
… Isn't FCPX internal data-base 'better'/faster/more precise?

Karsten Schlüter wrote: Always open for new tricks, but…

Is there a way to do a finder search also WITHIN an FCPX library ?

what for?
… Isn't FCPX internal data-base 'better'/faster/more precise?

In most cases, I would agree with you. Searching in FCP X works extremely well.
But I can also imagine a situation where you know you had a clip of, say, a butterfly, but can't remember in which of a few dozen libraries it was. Of course, you could use Final Cut Library Manager or something like that and have everything perfectly organized and documented... or not.

lichinho wrote: … I can also imagine a situation where you know you had a clip of, say, a butterfly, but can't remember in which of a few dozen libraries it was. Of course, you could use Final Cut Library Manager or something like that and have everything perfectly organized and documented... or not.

Excellent example what will NOT work with an external search.. imho
if I tag a clip 'butterfly', the clip is still 'mts0078', or perhaps '0078.mov'
… as far as I understand, how FCPX handles its database....

And if its a native 'butterlfy.jpg', hopefully it's not 'in' the Lib but still in its original location... where Spotlight finds it anyhow.

If I'm searching for a NOTE "Alex first penalty kick" - a Finder Search again is of lil' use, 'cause I probably search for this note, 'indexing' a video, or, worse, part of a clip - which is of no use outside FCPX either!


hmm, not fully convinced yet...

The OP asked about searching for file names, not FCPX metadata. Keywords, ratings, notes, can only be searched in FCPX or in FCPX Library Manager.

Back to specifically what the OP asked, about a "file name".

I have a video clip named "butterfly.mov" and I forget what Library it is in. I need to find it quickly. I have 13 FCPX Libraries.

1- Opening each Library and searching takes way too long.
2- Finder custom search has no options to search contents inside of packages.

Thus, "FindAnyFile" app will find it quicker and easier than any other alternative, period.

Download it, try it, see what ti does first hand, you'll be impressed.

apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/

I did it and that was perfect.