How to Create a ZIP File on macOS While Excluding Hidden Files?

When attempting to upload a theme ZIP file into the Shopware admin, an error occurred due to hidden files, particularly ./MACOX within the ZIP archive.

Problem

The Shopware admin rejected the ZIP file due to the hidden file ./MACOX, which caused an upload error.

Solution

To create a ZIP file on macOS while excluding hidden files, follow these steps using the terminal. This approach ensures that hidden files are excluded, unlike the normal compression method.

Step 1- Open Terminal

• Launch Terminal on your macOS. Go to Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.

Step 2- Navigate to the Folder

• Use the cd command to navigate to the parent folder containing the folder you want to zip. Open the terminal, for example:

cd /path-to-your-root-folder/

Step -3 Use the zip Command

• Use the zip command with the appropriate parameters to exclude hidden files. The command format is:

zip -r zipfilename.zip foldernametozip -x ‘**/.*’ -x ‘**/__MACOS’

• zipfilename.zip: Replace with the desired name of your ZIP file.
• foldernametozip: Replace with the name of the folder you want to zip.

Step 3- Explanation of Parameters

• -r: Recursively include all files and folders within the specified folder.
• -x ‘**/.*’: Exclude all hidden files and directories (those starting with a dot).
• -x ‘**/__MACOS’: Exclude the __MACOSX directory if present.

Example Command:

• Suppose you want to zip a folder named mytheme excluding hidden files:

zip -r mytheme.zip mytheme -x ‘**/.*’ -x ‘**/__MACOS’

Step 5- Verify ZIP File

• After running the command, verify that the ZIP file (mytheme.zip in this example) is created in the current directory without hidden files.

Conclusion

By using the zip command in the terminal with the -x option to exclude hidden files like ./MACOX, you can create a clean ZIP file suitable for uploading into the Shopware admin without encountering upload errors.

This method ensures that your ZIP file contains only the necessary files and directories, meeting the requirements for integration with the Shopware platform. For more expert guidance and professional assistance, consider partnering with a reputable Shopware agency to optimize your e-commerce solutions.