Tutorial Native macOS Finder integration with Synology Universal Search

[Robbie]

Robbie submitted a new resource:

Native macOS Finder integration with Synology Universal Search - Using macOS Finder's native search engine with a Synology NAS

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Native macOS Finder integration with Synology Universal Search

Aimed at novice users this is a simple and quick tutorial on how to bring the native capabilities of macOS Finder and full integrate them with Synology’s own Universal Search application.

In the out-of-the-box state the Synology search integration with macOS is limited to finding named files and folders that are mounted as a share. Similarly within Synology’s own File Station app you...

Read more about this resource...

 

[jbol21]

Thanks - clear explanation and this works like a charm for Finder.

Two questions:
(1) Universal Search in DSM gives results across all folders of the NAS, not just the one mounted and opened in Finder. Is there a Universal Search app for Mac that would do the same so you wouldn’t have to open the browser for it? If not, are there any other ways to search the entire (indexed) NAS in one go instead of mount by mount (folder by folder)?
(2) Spotlight doesn’t provide search results for files located on the Synology, only for files in iCloud and Mac HDD. Is there a way to integrate Spotlight with Universal Search?
Thanks.

 

[Robbie]

Sure - the higher up the folder hierarchy you create the Indexed Folder the more sub-folders will be included in the searchable index. In extremis you could have a single top-level folder with everything else on the NAS as sub-folders below it and your search from Finder would include everything on the NAS.

Mounting the NAS on macOS is nothing more that clicking on the location on the lefthand side of Finder. If you want to automate macOS so that it it always mounts a particular NAS share or folder when you login then you can do that via macOS > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and click '+' to add the folder or share you wish to mount.

I have a Mac mini server that is set to always mount the 'Video' share on one of my NASes automatically as I use it for Plex DVR functionality:

Sadly Apple restricts Spotlight to local items only and they are unwavering on their dev pages when they say that they have no plans to change this.

 

[jbol21]

Clear - thank you.

 

[SysEng]

Sure - the higher up the folder hierarchy you create the Indexed Folder the more sub-folders will be included in the searchable index. In extremis you could have a single top-level folder with everything else on the NAS as sub-folders below it and your search from Finder would include everything on the NAS.

Mounting the NAS on macOS is nothing more that clicking on the location on the lefthand side of Finder. If you want to automate macOS so that it it always mounts a particular NAS share or folder when you login then you can do that via macOS > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and click '+' to add the folder or share you wish to mount.

I have a Mac mini server that is set to always mount the 'Video' share on one of my NASes automatically as I use it for Plex DVR functionality:

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Sadly Apple restricts Spotlight to local items only and they are unwavering on their dev pages when they say that they have no plans to change this.

Hello @Robbie,

I am new to Universal Search and I have a a couple of questions and I would appreciate your help.
1- I understood from your post that there is no way to use Spotlight to search file located on the Synology NAS. If this is correct, is there a 3rd party applications that would do that?

2- In Universal Search, is there a way to:
(a) search in s specific subfolder - I don't see n option that allow me to choose which folder or subfolder to search.
(b) search for a file that its name is "name" AND its content includes "Text1" AND "TEXT2" AND does not include "TEXT3"


Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Robbie]

Hi @SysEng

1 - Yep, Apple does not permit Spotlight to be used. Clearly no third-party either as that wouldn't be Spotlight.

2 - Yes, no problem but that is more of a Finder question and as with regular Finder you can be as limiting as you like when searching your Synology shares. You just add more and more fields to your search criteria to narrow the search down by clicking the + button the right and shaping the filters as you go:

 

[SysEng]

Hi @SysEng

1 - Yep, Apple does not permit Spotlight to be used. Clearly no third-party either as that wouldn't be Spotlight.

2 - Yes, no problem but that is more of a Finder question and as with regular Finder you can be as limiting as you like when searching your Synology shares. You just add more and more fields to your search criteria to narrow the search down by clicking the + button the right and shaping the filters as you go:

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Thank you for your response @Robbie.

1- Have you heard of applications like NeoFinder and DiskCatalogMaker for Mac? I have just come across these applications as a potential solution for searching Synology files directly from Mac.

2-It seems your answer refers to searching Synology Video folder directly from Mac. How did you do that? I am unable to search any Synology files via Mac Finder or Spotlight. Therefore I was asking about how to refine the search using Universal Search but if I can search Synology directly through my Mac, that would be great.

 

[Robbie]

@SysEng Did you not click on the tutorial in the first post above? It is the very reason for this thread - the ability of macOS Finder to integrate directly with Synology Universal Search.

Native macOS Finder integration with Synology Universal Search

 

[SysEng]

@SysEng Did you not click on the tutorial in the first post above? It is the very reason for this thread - the ability of macOS Finder to integrate directly with Synology Universal Search.

Native macOS Finder integration with Synology Universal Search

@Robbie, I did and followed the tutorial but for some reason I am unable to make it work. I cannot search Synology filler from Mac finder as shown in the tutorial.

 

[Robbie]

@SysEng Ahh, something not working is a bit of a different question.

Is the network share mounted (ie has the eject arrow as shown on the NAS highlighted below)?

 

[SysEng]

@SysEng Ahh, something not working is a bit of a different question.

Is the network share mounted (ie has the eject arrow as shown on the NAS highlighted below)?

View attachment 3425

Yes, it is mounted but the search does not return any results.

 

[tillemetry]

I am having the same difficulty. No results when I do a search. However, this only happens when I log in using SMB. When I turn on AFS, everything is fine. As you know, AFS is deprecated. Naturally, I would like to fix this now, rather than later. If you could please suggest something, I want to thank you in advance.

 

[Seaprobe]

Yes, it is mounted but the search does not return any results.

Yes, I am experiencing that now and it seems to have started with the latest DSM software update which included an update to the Universal Search package.

Sometimes it just returns nothing, other times the Finder just beach balls for a couple of minutes, and other times the results come back immediately. I have not found a clear pattern yet…

 

[SysEng]

Yes, I am experiencing that now and it seems to have started with the latest DSM software update which included an update to the Universal Search package.

Sometimes it just returns nothing, other times the Finder just beach balls for a couple of minutes, and other times the results come back immediately. I have not found a clear pattern yet…

Do you use SMB or AFS?

 

[Seaprobe]

Do you use SMB or AFS?

SMB. AFP is not enabled.

 

[SysEng]

SMB. AFP is not enabled.

I read in some other forums that AFP is still working on BigSur.

 

[Rusty]

I read in some other forums that AFP is still working on BigSur.

I only use afp on all ma macs with big sur

 

[fredbert]

I only use afp on all ma macs with big sur

I bet you're still using AppleTalk too

What baud is your modem?

 

[Rusty]

I bet you're still using AppleTalk too

What baud is your modem?

This is how I roll!

 

[Seaprobe]

I read in some other forums that AFP is still working on BigSur.

As a client, yes that ability is still working on Big Sur. The server portion is gone with SMB file sharing the only option.

I no longer have AFP enabled on the NAS. I don't need it, so keeping it off reduces the attack surface.