ShelfQuayShelfQuay · Support
A clear record, with clear limits.
Start here for scanning, saved snapshots and portable reports. ShelfQuay records a directory; it does not copy your files.
Less plugging in. More finding.
Choose a folder or drive → scan its directory → search the saved catalog → reconnect only the source you need.
Scans are manual. Additions or removals after a scan are not reflected until you scan again. The latest complete snapshot is used for ordinary searches; if a catalog has no complete snapshot, its latest incomplete snapshot is shown with its status.
Know what a catalog can tell you.
Sources must be readable folders mounted on your Mac. Symbolic links, nested mounted volumes and cloud placeholders are skipped. Hidden entries and package interiors are excluded by default. Scan notes list skipped scope and read errors. Limits: 1,000,000 entries, 128 levels per scan. ShelfQuay’s own catalog database is excluded; a source containing it is marked incomplete.
Changes compare only recorded paths, kinds, file sizes and modified times. Comparisons require the same catalog, original root and scan settings, and two complete scans. There is no file-content verification, rename detection, backup or synchronization.
No content search, photo or video thumbnails, Finder tags, drive-health checks, duplicate-file verification, recovery, automatic scanning, file transfers or cloud integration. A saved catalog is not a backup and cannot prove a file still exists.
A complete scan means complete within its stated scope. Permissions, exclusions and changes during a scan can affect what is recorded. Never use metadata matches to decide that a backup is safe or a duplicate can be deleted.
JSON · CSV · HTML
Import ShelfQuay JSON reports up to 256 MiB and 1,000,000 entries. An imported catalog is a separate saved copy and never grants access to the original files. Other catalog formats are not supported.
Scanning reads directory information only. ShelfQuay never moves, renames or deletes your original files. Reports are written into a new result folder; failed exports retain any partial output with an incomplete status.
Reports include catalog names and relative file paths. Review them before sharing.
Free catalog viewer
Open a ShelfQuay portable JSON report in your browser. Search recorded names and paths without the original drive or the Mac app.
Browser limit: 8 MiB / 50,000 entries. Whole-number values must fit JavaScript's safe numeric range. The Mac app supports larger catalogs.
Saved metadata only. This viewer neither reads your source files nor uploads the report. It does not confirm current availability or file contents.
Try the free viewer ↗Contact
Include your macOS version and the steps that led to the issue. Share a report only after reviewing its file names and paths.