Media Catalog is a useful Mac app that indexes your removable media, such as CDs and DVDs, so that you can quickly find your files. Developer Robert Kuilman has recently updated the software, adding drag support and some Quick Look features.

The software is so easy to use that you'll totally forget about Apple's own Spotlight. You only need to remember a part of the filename or the dates between which it was created, and Media Catalog will narrow down your search and eventually zero in on the item you're looking for, in just a couple of seconds. Naturally, if you're having trouble remembering the date on which that file was created, you can also choose to specify the range in which the size must be.

As soon as you've found what you were looking for, double click on the file and Media Catalog will prompt you to insert the right volume and open the file. Here's an example of how it works:

Say you're working for a company that keeps a central archive system and you're looking for a Microsoft Excel document. You know this document should be less than one megabyte in size and have a name that contains the term "finance." You launch Media Catalog, and perform the search with the details you know. Media Catalog will then tell you it's on your company's January 2004 finance archive CD. Better start dusting that desk!

You can also use Media Catalog to make sure the file you found is the right one. The indexing software shows you all the information you need to verify which file you're looking at. Adding the ease of use and its high performance level of cataloging, you might just want to try out this demo version which lets you catalog 5 volumes.

New in version 4.0 is drag support, Quick Look support, improved indexing performance, minor bug fixing and improved overall responsiveness.

Media Catalog costs $24.99 to buy.