Finder Extension Guide

The Finder Extension integrates Sorta directly into macOS Finder, giving you instant access to your projects from the sidebar in any Finder window.

What is the Finder Extension?

The Finder Extension adds Sorta to your Finder sidebar, allowing you to:

• Access projects instantly — Click to open any project folder
• Quick import/export — See top projects with import/export folder shortcuts
• Right-click actions — Sorta options in context menus
• Seamless workflow — No need to navigate through folders

Enabling the Finder Extension

Step 1: Open Sorta Settings

1. Click the Sorta menu bar icon
2. Click the Settings icon (⚙️)
3. Find Finder Extension in the settings menu

Step 2: Enable the Extension

1. Toggle Enable Finder Extension to ON
2. You may see a system prompt asking for permission
3. Click Open System Settings if prompted

Step 3: Grant System Permission

1. Go to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions
2. Find Finder Extensions in the list
3. Enable Sorta in the extensions list
4. Return to Sorta

Step 4: Restart Finder

For the extension to appear:

1. Restart Finder by running this in Terminal:

   killall Finder

2. Or restart your Mac completely

Using the Finder Extension

Finding Sorta in Finder

After enabling:

1. Open any Finder window
2. Look in the sidebar on the left
3. Find the Sorta section
4. Click to expand it

Sidebar Features

Finder Sidebar
└── Sorta
    ├── 📁 All Projects      → View all projects
    ├── 📥 Import → [Project] → Quick import folder
    └── 📤 Export → [Project] → Quick export folder

Quick Import/Export

For projects with designated import/export folders:

1. Import — Click to open the folder where new files should go
2. Export — Click to open the folder for final deliverables
3. One click — No navigating through nested folders

Right-Click Context Menu

Right-click on any Sorta project in the sidebar for options:

• Open — Open project folder in Finder
• Open in New Tab — Open in a new Finder tab
• Copy Path — Copy folder path to clipboard
• Show in Sorta — Highlight project in Sorta app
• Edit Structure — Open structure editor
• Delete from Sorta — Remove from Sorta (files stay)

Setting Up Import/Export Folders

Why Use Import/Export Folders?

Designate specific folders for different purposes:

• Import folder — Where new files arrive (downloads, camera imports)
• Export folder — Where final outputs go (client deliverables)

How to Designate Folders

1. Open your project in Sorta
2. Go to Structure tab
3. Find the folder you want to designate
4. Click the folder options (three dots or right-click)
5. Select Set as Import Folder or Set as Export Folder

Example Setup

Project/
├── 📥 Import/           ← New files go here
├── 📤 Export/           ← Final deliverables go here
├── Assets/
└── Design/

Now these folders appear in Finder sidebar for quick access.

Common Uses

Daily Workflow

Morning: Check new files
1. Click "Import" in Finder sidebar
2. See what's new
3. Files are already in right place

End of day: Export deliverables
1. Click "Export" in Finder sidebar
2. Save final files
3. Done

Client Projects

For client work:

1. Set up Import/Export folders in project structure
2. Import folder = where client sends files
3. Export folder = where deliverables go
4. Quick access from any Finder window

Team Collaboration

When sharing project folders:

1. Set up shared Import/Export folders
2. Team members see same sidebar items
3. Consistent file organization
4. No confusion about where files go

Troubleshooting

Finder Extension not showing

Check:

1. Is Finder Extension enabled in Sorta Settings?
2. Did you grant permission in System Settings?
3. Did you restart Finder/Mac after enabling?

Fix:

1. Enable in Settings → Finder Extension
2. Check System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions
3. Run killall Finder in Terminal
4. Restart your Mac

Extension disabled in System Settings

Problem: Finder Extension keeps turning off.

Solution:

1. Go to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions
2. Find Finder Extensions
3. Enable Sorta
4. Restart Finder

Sidebar shows old projects

Problem: Deleted projects still appear in sidebar.

Solution:

1. Restart Sorta
2. Run killall Finder in Terminal
3. Check that projects are actually deleted from Sorta
4. The sidebar updates automatically

Can't click sidebar items

Problem: Sidebar items are grayed out or not clickable.

Cause: Extension may have lost permission.

Solution:

1. Check System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions
2. Ensure Sorta is enabled in Finder Extensions
3. Restart Finder
4. If still not working, disable and re-enable in Sorta Settings

Right-click menu missing

Problem: No Sorta options when right-clicking sidebar items.

Solution:

1. Make sure you're right-clicking on the Sorta section or project
2. Check that Finder Extension is enabled
3. Restart Finder
4. Try right-clicking on the project name itself

Performance Tips

Keep Projects Updated

• Regularly review which projects appear in sidebar
• Archive old projects to reduce clutter
• Top 3 projects show based on recent activity

Folder Designation Best Practices

• Don't designate too many folders
• Focus on 1-2 import/export folders per project
• Clear naming helps quick identification

Speed Up Finder

• Too many sidebar items can slow Finder
• Keep Sorta projects organized
• Archive completed projects

Advanced Configuration

Customize Sidebar Order

Drag projects in Sorta to reorder how they appear in Finder sidebar:

1. Open Sorta popover
2. Drag projects to new positions
3. Changes reflect in Finder sidebar

Show/Hide Specific Projects

Control which projects appear:

1. Project Settings in Sorta
2. Toggle Show in Finder Sidebar
3. Project appears/disappears from sidebar

Multiple Mac Usage

Finder Extension settings sync automatically:

• Enable extension on each Mac
• Settings saved to your account
• Same sidebar experience across devices

Combining with Other Features

Works with Quick Access

Finder Extension + Quick Folder Picker:

Finder Extension → Navigate to project folder
Quick Access (⌘⇧Space) → Jump to any project in file dialogs

Both features use the same project data.

Works with Flows

Set up import folders, then create flows:

Import folder → Files land here
     ↓
Flow triggers → Auto-sorts to correct location

Works with Auto-Sort

Files sorted automatically regardless of how you access them.

Keyboard Shortcuts with Finder

Navigation Shortcuts

Finder Extension Specific

Tips for Power Users

Quick Project Switching

Use Finder tabs with Sorta projects:

1. Open project in new tab (⌘Click)
2. Multiple projects open simultaneously
3. Quick switching between projects

Finder Preview Pane

Enable Quick Look in sidebar:

1. View → Show Preview
2. Select Sorta project
3. See project details without opening

Smart Folders

Combine with Finder Smart Folders:

1. Create Smart Folder for Sorta projects
2. Save to Finder sidebar
3. Shows projects matching criteria

Comparison: Finder Extension vs Quick Access

Use both for maximum efficiency!

Next Steps

Now that you understand the Finder Extension:

• Set up Quick Access for file dialog navigation
• Create Flows to automate file organization
• Design folder structures with import/export folders
• Learn keyboard shortcuts for faster work

Common Questions

Q: Can I use Finder Extension without Full Disk Access? A: No, both permissions are required for full functionality.

Q: Does Finder Extension work in macOS System Settings? A: Yes, it appears in Finder windows across macOS.

Q: Can I hide specific projects from the sidebar? A: Yes, toggle "Show in Finder Sidebar" in project settings.

Q: Why don't I see Import/Export folders? A: You need to designate folders first in Structure settings.

Q: Is Finder Extension available on older macOS versions? A: Requires macOS 13.0+ (Ventura or later).