ForkLift: A Review
One of the key features of Mac OS X is the finder. As you use the OS your life pretty much revolves around the finder. It provides you with folder and program access and you can do many things through the finder (deleting files, creating smart folders, etc). As much as I love the OS as it is shipped from Apple there are some missing features. One feature is a split pane view so that you can drag and drop files more easily. Another missing feature is a batch re-namaer which allows you to rename large batches of files quickly and efficiently (especially helpful for pictures). Another feature not included in OS X, or any other OS for that matter, is an FTP client. A final feature missing in OS X is the ability to cleanly erase programs. While you can just delete the .app file you leave behind loads of other “stuff.”
I found a great program that includes all of the missing features listed above and many more! Enter ForkLift from BinaryNights. I got this software about a year and a half ago through a MacUpdate Bundle. At first, I didn’t have much use for it, but now it is an indispensable part of my workflow.
What are the high points of ForkLift. The first way that it is used in my workflow is as a batch re-namer. I’ve realized that a cardinal sin of photo management is to let iPhoto (or any other photo management software) simply import your pictures from your camera as soon as you plug it in. When you do so, you end up with your system having 6 different pictures that are all named “IMG_666.” Not very helpful if you are searching or if a stray file shows up on your system. By using the batch renamer function of ForkLift you can quickly and easily rename hundreds of pictures.
Another key feature for me is the FTP support. I normally use Cyberduck for my file transfer needs, but having FTP support right in ForkLift makes a quick upload hassle-free. While I don’t use Amazon’s S3 service, support for that system is built in along with BlueTooth transferring.
As stated earlier, OS X is missing a program deleter. ForkLift has this too. Simply click on your program, click “Delete App” and everything gets gathered together and deleted.
It’s difficult for me to judge the financial worth of this program since I got it in a bundle of software. However, when you combine all the features that it has together I really think the price is worth it. Give it a try with their 15-day demo.
You can get ForkLift through BinaryNights for $44.95 (regular price) or for $24.95 as a student.
Note the current version is 1.6. They are currently working on a Beta of 1.7
About The Author
I agree with you, Sam, that Forklift is a great app. I’m not sure that it’s that much better than Pathfinder, which is a great app in its own right in the same space. I go back & forth between the two of them & just working with the plain old Finder when it comes to file management. The biggest thing that both Forklift & Pathfinder have that Finder doesn’t (that I got hooked on during my time in the Windows wilderness) is the dual-pane, Norton Commander-like, interface. That really makes file management so much easier for me.
Anywhoo, very nice review!
-ghp