Names and contents are different
| Goal | Tool |
|---|---|
| Repair a garbled name | Repair garbled names (文字化けを直す) changes the name. |
| Convert text to UTF-8 or another encoding | Other actions → 文字コードを変換… changes contents. |
| Put a date in a name | Add a date or Template changes the name. |
| Edit Finder creation/modification dates | Other actions → 日時・属性を変更… edits attributes. |
Re-add only the files you intend to edit
- Clear the list, then add only the files intended for this operation.
- Review subfolders, extensions, and name conditions. Use only text files for encoding conversion.
- Save a separate original copy elsewhere.
- Try a few files, open the results, then process the rest.
Convert text encodings
- Open Other actions → Convert encoding (文字コードを変換…).
- If known, disable auto-detection and specify the source encoding (変換前).
- Choose the destination encoding (変換後) and line endings (改行コード).
- Review the .bak backup option and choose Convert (変換).
- Read counts and failures, then open the text to confirm contents.
Options include UTF-8, UTF-8 with BOM, UTF-16, Shift_JIS/CP932, and EUC-JP. Auto-detection is an estimate. If wrong, start again from the original copy with an explicit source. Some characters cannot be represented in the destination encoding.
This tool does not rename files. Do not convert images, PDFs, Word documents, Excel workbooks, or other non-text formats as plain text.
Line endings and .bak backups
| Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Keep unchanged (変更しない) | Preserve existing line endings |
| LF | Common on Mac and Unix systems |
| CRLF | Common on Windows |
| CR | Used by older formats |
A .bak copy is placed beside the original before conversion. An existing same-name .bak is not overwritten, so it may contain an older version rather than the most recent input. Check that it exists and contains the version you need.
Rename history cannot restore contents. To restore text, move the converted version aside and verify the separate original or .bak before replacing it.
Edit dates, hidden status, and lock flags
- Open Other actions → Edit dates / attributes (日時・属性を変更…).
- Enable only the values to change.
- Set creation/modification dates directly or align them to another date or EXIF.
- Enable hidden or lock changes only when intended.
- Choose Change (変更), inspect counts/errors, and verify in Finder.
This does not add dates to names. Hidden files may disappear from normal Finder views; locked files may resist later renaming. To restore values, keep a record of the originals or a separate copy.
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