FinderSync - finder extension doesn't register folder updates on /Volumes/ (mounted drives)

Originator:stefan.szekeres
Number:rdar://34362783 Date Originated:09.11.2017
Status:open Resolved:
Product:macOS FinderSync (Finder plugin extension) Product Version:
Classification:bug Reproducible:100%
 
Summary:
A finder extension (FinderSync) primary method (-beginObservingDirectoryAtURL:)  is not called only on /Volumes if registered to monitor root "/" folder.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Created a sample FinderSync ("Finder Sync") application.
2. It is sandboxed
3. It is signed and embedded in our .app with signing.
4. @interface FinderSync : FIFinderSync
5. in my init, in the implementation I have:
self.myFolderURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:@"/"];
[FIFinderSyncController defaultController].directoryURLs = [NSSet setWithObject:self.myFolderURL]; 
note: So basically I'm watching the root folder including /Volumes;
6. I implement the protocol 
- (void)beginObservingDirectoryAtURL:(NSURL *)url {
    // The user is now seeing the container's contents.
    // If they see it in more than one view at a time, we're only told once.
    NSLog(@"beginObservingDirectoryAtURL:%@", url.filePathURL);
    self.beginObserving = [url copy];
}

Expected Results:
- (void)beginObservingDirectoryAtURL:(NSURL *)url 
should be called upon clicking on a folder on a mounted drive under /Volumes

Actual Results:
It is not called. Neither - (void)endObservingDirectoryAtURL:(NSURL *)url
But only on /Volumes, it works on any other folder on my tested systems.
Also the selected files are properly loaded under /Volumes, but not the folders.

Version/Build:
macOS 10.10.5, 10.12.3, 10.12.6, 10.13 developer beta 9 (17A360a)

Comments

Limitation of FinderSync extensions

The effect of Finder Sync extensions doesn't cross file system boundaries; this is poorly documented but empirically true through at least 10.13.3. It's probably a result of the intended use case to monitor Dropbox-like folders rather than extend the Finder's contextual menu; I suspect Apple does not regard this behavior as a bug, but it's possible to work around it. See .

By rsfinn at Feb. 22, 2018, 9:42 p.m. (reply...)

That URL should be...

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38473610/os-x-findersync-fails-for-volumes/48936481#48936481

By rsfinn at May 15, 2018, 9:38 p.m. (reply...)

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