Spotlight disable with 2.0.1?

[DavidCB]

With versions previous to 2.0, I had installed the "disable Spotlight" Unix Executable File and checked "Run shell script after copy completes."

Do I understand correctly that now with 2.0 there is no need to do this and I should uncheck "Run shell script after copy completes?" (Also, should I delete the Unix Executable File?)

Thank you,

David

[dnanian]

That's right, there's no need to do this any more. Instead, add the volume to the Spotlight Preference Pane's "Privacy" tab, David.

You can safely delete the disable_spotlight shell script, too.

[ScottEllsworth]

Hi,

I note that when I tried to drag my external drive to the privacy window, it was not added, and in my console, I saw

2006-01-03 17:08:02.079 System Preferences[12991] Error: _MDSetExclusion returned -1
2006-01-03 17:08:13.710 System Preferences[12991] Error: _MDSetExclusion returned -1

Could this be the result of previously using the script?

Scott

[dnanian]

Possibly, Scott. Try turning indexing ON for the drive before dragging it to Privacy. You can do so by running:

sudo mdutil -E -i on "/Volumes/your-backup-volume"

in Terminal (substituting as appropriate, of course).

[2stepbay]

I use "Spotless" to deactivate the indexing for my external's 4 partitions. Seems when I run a Smart Update, the particular partition affected may once again start indexing. Is this correct? If so, how can I make sure the indexing remains deactivated? Would I use the terminal command listed on this thread, and forget Spotless.

Thanks

[dnanian]

Well, as of 10.4.3, it's probably overkill to "deactivate" indexing on the drive. Instead, I'd turn indexing on (with Spotless, if it lets you), and then add the drive to the Privacy tab. In 10.4.3, that'll disable indexing, searching, and we'll maintain the setting, too.

(Note that we'd also maintain an "off" setting, so I'm not sure why things would turn on again with Spotless, which only manipulates the plist. Have you found any repeatable pattern that'll do this?)

[amcgee]

That's right, there's no need to do this any more. Instead, add the volume to the Spotlight Preference Pane's "Privacy" tab, David.

You can safely delete the disable_spotlight shell script, too.

Question:

Is adding an external drive to the privacy tab in Tiger now a permanent setting, which sticks even when a drive is turned off and back on? I don't leave my drives on 24 hours, and what has always annoyed me to no end is the fact that once a drive is dismounted and turned off, or if you reboot, Spotlight once again tries to index. What I and so many other people want, is the ability to turn off spotlight for all external devices, permanently, without having to continually intervene in preventing the OS from f%^&$& with them.

How do we get THAT? Just about every other description of the problem is irrelevant to me.

[dnanian]

That was one of the fixes in 10.4.3, Art. It should stick now.

[2stepbay]

Thanks for the input.

I've enabled spotlight for each of the partitions and dragged them into the privacy pane. Next time I update (probably tonight) I'll check on their privacy status. I'll let you know what I discover.