Can't find files regularly

[frapaul83]

I know this is probably posted but couldn't find what I'm looking for...

Every once in awhile I suddenly can't find files on Alfred. I don't know if my index rebuilding isn't done right or what, but files in this folder used to be found by Alfred (as recently as last week), but suddenly it can't:

 

Starting Diagnostics...

File: 'Reading the Bible.docx'
Path: '/Users/antonypaul/Google Drive/AP/Service/Lessons & Presentations'

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file cache database...

✅ File cache integrity is ok

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if file is readable...

✅ Alfred has permissions to read this file.

Unix Permissions: 420
Underlying Type: NSFileTypeRegular
Extended Attributes: (
    "com.apple.quarantine"
)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if volume '/' is indexed by macOS...

✅ Indexing is enabled on this drive

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check direct file metadata...

⚠️ Direct metadata is missing, this file is likely not indexed by macOS

Display Name: 
 Other Names: 
Content Type: 
   Last Used: 

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check mdls file metadata...

❌ macOS metadata missing essential items

kMDItemFSContentChangeDate = (null)
kMDItemFSCreationDate      = (null)
kMDItemFSCreatorCode       = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags       = (null)
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon     = (null)
kMDItemFSInvisible         = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden = (null)
kMDItemFSIsStationery      = (null)
kMDItemFSLabel             = (null)
kMDItemFSName              = (null)
kMDItemFSNodeCount         = (null)
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID      = (null)
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID       = (null)
kMDItemFSSize              = (null)
kMDItemFSTypeCode          = ""

-----------------------------------------------------------

❌ Troubleshooting failed
 

What am I doing wrong?!

 

THank you.

[Vero]

@frapaul83 As you can see from the troubleshooting report, the files on your Google Drive are not indexed by macOS right now. 

 

The easiest solution for finding content on your Google Drive will be to use the workflow here:

https://alfred.app/workflows/alfredapp/google-drive/

 

The workflow doesn't rely on the macOS metadata to return results from Google Drive, so will work even though the metadata is missing on your Mac.

 

Having said that, if you drag other files from your Mac and see the same warning that metadata is missing, you may want to follow the re-indexing steps here so that you can find results from the rest of your Mac in the usual way with Alfred:

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/

 

Let us know how you get on

[frapaul83]

Thank you so much. So the re-indexing instructions there I found when I had the same issue before and followed. But then regularly things would disappear. Today I went to implement this (I've been travelling) and suddenly the file does show in Alfred. Do you know what causes that? When I had submitted the ticket, I hadn't been finding the file for hours...

 

Thanks again!

[Vero]

@frapaul83 Did you do the deeper reindex (step 6) this time? It deletes the existing Spotlight metadata index before starting a fresh index, so it tends to clear out any issues that may have been getting in the way of a reliable index. 

 

If you now drag files to the File Troubleshooter, you should see a healthy metadata report for the files you're looking for

[frapaul83]

Yes, I had always done all of those steps, that's why I was confused why it's still happening or why I need to regularly reindex. Thanks again!