Getting started
- 01
Open FrameShelf and select Choose Folder… or press ⌘O.
- 02
Choose a folder on your Mac, an external drive, or an available network volume. You can also drag a folder onto the window.
- 03
Wait while the app scans that folder and all its subfolders. Your movies remain in their existing locations.
- 04
Use arrow keys to select, Space to preview, and Enter or a double-click to open a movie in its default player.
// library_basics
Libraries, thumbnails, and tags
Access is remembered
FrameShelf runs in App Sandbox. A secure macOS bookmark lets the last folder reopen after an app restart. Close Folder clears the current selection and its remembered access.
The image sits beside the movie
For clip.mp4, the app looks for clip.mp4.jpg. It can generate a 4×4 sheet for one movie or fill every missing thumbnail in sequence without replacing existing ones.
Tags are part of the filename
Example: clip [travel].mp4. Editing tags renames the movie and its related images. If the destination name already exists, the operation stops and overwrites nothing.
Combine ways to find footage
Search covers names and tags. Combine it with folders, favorites, history, and tags that are required, optional, or excluded.
// controls
Keyboard shortcuts
// troubleshooting
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to choose a folder again?
The drive may have disconnected, the folder may have moved, or its access bookmark may no longer be valid. Reconnect the drive and choose the folder again with ⌘O.
Why does a movie have no thumbnail?
Make sure the JPEG sits beside the movie and uses the movie’s complete filename followed by .jpg. You can also generate a 4×4 sheet; success depends on macOS codec support.
Can custom cover art replace a sheet?
Yes. Use any landscape JPEG with the same filename. Artwork close to a 16:9 aspect ratio usually looks best.
Why can’t a tag be saved?
A tag cannot be empty or contain [ ] / :. FrameShelf also rejects a rename when the destination filename already exists.
Why is scanning taking a long time?
Large libraries and slow network drives need more time. Keep the drive connected and use ⌘R only after the folder contents change.