# Finder Tags

This function is used to set or read the Finder tags associated with selected files or their associated containing folders.

The function returns the action test state set to true on success and false on failure. When executed stepwise for file operations, an action test state of true implies for all files. When executed stepwise for folder operations, an action test state of true implies for at least one folder.

When executing stepwise and the function is Set folder Finder tags from variable, the values written to any one folder is the union of the tags all of all files associated with the given folder.

When extracting values, the statement returns a list of items delimited by newline characters (\n). The choice of \n is due largely for historic reasons. When setting values, the statement reads a list of items separated by newline characters (\n) or the default list delimiter (\~). The various list functions can be used to operate on the lists.

You can create tags with any names you wish. However... the OS supplies Yate with a list of standard names and their associated colours. These standard names and their associated default colours are available from a menu displayed by a disclosure button in the UI based Finder Tag Editor. The main window's Finder Tags and Folder Tags columns, display colour indicators for any tag which happens to have the same name as a standard tag and a black indicator for any other. Yate is not aware of the colour mappings or names of any tags created in the Finder. Changing the colour of the Red tag in the Finder to be green will not change how Yate displays the tag. A green Red will still display as red in Yate. If you create a tag called Test in the Finder and assign it the colour green, it will display as black in Yate. However, the tags will always display correctly in the Finder. Use of the main window columns only make sense if you use the standard names with their default colour assignments. A good rule of thumb is to always use the names as they appear in the Finder.