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Product summary
The Big Mean Folder Machine (TBMFM) is a utility created for Mac OS X Leopard that helps you split very large folders and recombine their parts. Even with much larger hard drives and cloud storage available today, there are occasions when dividing multi-gigabyte folders into smaller chunks is necessary — TBMFM is built to handle that task reliably.
How it divides items
TBMFM can break up collections according to a few different rules. These are useful for organizing large batches of mixed files or photos:
- By photo capture timestamp — ideal for separating large image libraries into chronological groups.
- By file modification or creation date — helps keep files organized by time.
- By file type or extension — groups similar formats together for easier management.
- By filename patterns — split items based on naming conventions.
Combining files and general workflow
Merging pieces from different sources is supported and straightforward. The process is driven by a step-by-step assistant that guides you through the choices, and a preview step is provided so you can confirm the result before committing. Depending on the total size of the data, combining or splitting can require a significant amount of time.
Usability notes
Both the splitting and joining operations are designed to be simple to set up and run. The assistant-style interface keeps the steps clear, and the preview gives you a chance to cancel or adjust settings if the outcome isn’t what you intended.
Compatibility and recent update
TBMFM was developed for Leopard and now includes compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7’s full-screen mode.
Suggested alternative
For those who prefer a different solution, WinRAR is often recommended as a free alternative for handling archives and file segments across platforms.
Technical
- Mac
- Free
