I thought my camera had an issue, but it turns out to be the Mac creating this problem. When I empty my SD card onto the Mac, I use a USB card reader, and copy and paste, or drag and drop all the files. I then drag all the files to the trash. The problem is that although there appears to be no files, the card is still full. I didn't realize this until the camera flashes FULL for one of the cards. I had to keep reformatting the card.

I went into XP in Parallels and set all files and folders to not be hidden. Sure enough there is a hidden folder on the card that contains all the files on the card since I reformatted the card. I emptied that folder, and the card now showed that it was truly empty. When I copy all my pictures and videos to my PC, this doesn't happen, or to XP within Parallels, only in OSX. In searching how to unhide files and/or folders for Macs, it seems I have to enter in a string of commands in Terminal. Is this really the only way? Unhide with this string of commands and manually delete the files kept in this folder?

 

It sounds like you're wanting to pull the pictures off the card and move them to the Mac, then empty the card?

Once you drag all your files to the Mac, open up your card with the pics on it and move them to the trash. Then open up the trash bin and hit "Empty". This happened to me as well, I was so confused.

 

When 'copying' files from a non-local drive to a another drive on a mac you are just copying, not moving.

In short, the default drag and drop process in OS X is to COPY files.

To move files, just press and hold the CMD key during the drag and drop process.

 

It isn't that hard to show hidden files. Just follow these directions:


Launch the Terminal and enter these commands exactly as shown. The first command activates the ability to see the hidden files:
Now you must relaunch the Finder by killing it, this is how the changes take effect:

 

To me, that is rediculous that it is the only way to show hidden files. Macs are supposed to be easy. PC's since the dawn of Windows have had a checkbox you simply check to show hidden files, yet Macs do not?

 

Will try this later, thank you.

 

I am pretty sure I had emptied my trash bin before removing the card. I will try this again later as well to see what happens. Thanks.

 

No it's good it doesn't show hidden files that easily. Far less chance for noobs to delete system files / fonts / etc. In 10.7+ they actually automatically hide the users Library folder for that very reason.

And two lines and two clicks in Terminal is not hard.

 

Yes...but when you drag something to the trash, it doesn't copy, it moves.

The mistake that gets made is on an external/non local drive you have to make sure you empty the trash after you move the files.

otherwise you eject the card/drive/etc and the files are still there.

To be honest...the best method for deleting your camera's card is to format them in your camera.

 

^Depends on how you have it configured but yea pretty much.

If he does as I said he can skip the trash steps.

And IMO the best way to manage photos on cameras/cards in OSX is to just use iPhoto.

 

Or aperture, or lightroom, etc etc etc...

but as far as formatting the cards...in camera, always.

 

I like managing photos/albums in iPhoto. Do everything else in Aper/PS/etc.

 

iPhoto sucks IMO. Hate it and never use it. I believe that having to run the commands, while not hard, is a pita as I either have to memorize the command line, look it up, or keep a text file of it to review each time I want to use it. The normal newbie user will not even know what hidden files are or search for a way to unhide them, so an easier way to accomplish this would not be an issue. In Windows it isn't obvious either unless you know where to look.

 

I always format in camera, but I do not want to format each time I unload pictures. Now I know how to properly empty the card.

 

I'm not sure how one could not like iPhoto. I'm talking STRICTLY for management.

Also, in Terminal, it will save past commands. All you have to do in the future is the up key a few times.

 

emptying the card is the same as formatting...not sure what else you mean?

 

What ever you just went through really shouldn't be that way...something either happened on the user end, or you accidentally made something more complicated than it needs to be.

Honestly, shouldn't be this big of a deal.

 

And as for iPhoto...it has its uses, its not a bad app, especially for the non-pro.

But I prefer doing all my managing in Lightroom.

 

I was copying the files from the card to a folder on the Mac. Then I was dragging all the photos to the trash from the card. This resulted in the card showing no pictures on the Mac, but they were still in a hidden folder. The suggestions here are to empty the trash before removing the card from the Mac.

 

Correct.

What Im saying...is the BEST way to remove photos from the card...is to format the card IN your camera.

 

I use ViewNX for basic stuff and LR3 for anything more in depth. Will probably turn to using LR for everything at some point. I just became used to ViewNX after using Nikon for a few years (before I had LR)

 

My head hurts....

 

better than your balls