Cataloging drives and folders
A little naming discipline makes an offline catalog useful months later.
Label the physical drive, remove accidental duplicates if appropriate, decide whether the whole drive or one folder is the right scope, and connect it before choosing Catalog. Wait for a completed scan, confirm file and folder counts, and export a portable archive for important catalogs. Record the last catalogued date in your own archive notes.
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.
Choose the smallest scope that answers the retrieval question; a folder catalog is easier to keep focused.
Check the catalog name, source path, counts, sizes, and a few known files.
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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