Cataloging drives and folders
A catalog failure should be a local index problem, not a reason to risk the source archive.
Catalog indexes are separate from the files they describe. If an index is damaged or cannot be loaded, leave the source drive untouched, preserve any export archive, and use the Catalog window’s status to identify the affected entry. The safe recovery is to remove or recreate the catalog from the connected source, not to edit binary index files by hand.
Open Catalog… from Everywhere’s menu bar item and add the drive or folder that matters. Let the first catalogue finish, then search by filename and browse the recorded folder tree. When the source is disconnected, the catalogue remains available and results are labelled offline so you know why opening the file requires reconnecting the drive.
Keep the original drive unchanged, use a clear catalogue name, and rescan after a large round of changes. Catalogues are for the places you choose; they do not silently turn a whole-Mac search into a second scan.
Not necessarily. A catalog is a separate inventory; verify the source independently.
Yes. Reconnect the source, forget the broken entry if needed, and create a fresh catalog scan.
Everywhere keeps track of every file on your Mac — including the folders Spotlight hides and drives you have unplugged. Free for a day, then $19 once.
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