Stumbling across the dreaded errordomain=nscocoaerrordomain&errormessage=nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu.&errorcode=4 message can stop your workflow dead in its tracks. This frustrating error typically happens when macOS can’t locate a specific shortcut or file path your application needs.
Don’t worry—I’ve covered you with actionable solutions beyond the standard advice you’ll find elsewhere. Let’s dig into why this happens and how you can fix it for good.
What Does This NSCocoaErrorDomain Error: nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu & errorcode=4?
The error message errordomain=nscocoaerrordomain&errormessage=nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu.&errorcode=4 contains several components worth breaking down:
- NSCocoaErrorDomain: This indicates the error originates from Apple’s Cocoa framework, which powers macOS applications
- nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu: This Polish phrase translates to “cannot find the specified shortcut”
- errorcode=4: In the NSCocoaErrorDomain, error code 4 specifically refers to a file not found condition
Simply put, your system is trying to access a shortcut, alias, or file path that no longer exists where it’s expected to be. This happens often after system updates, file reorganizations, or application updates that change where resources are stored.
Here’s how the error typically appears in your console or logs:
Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4 “nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu.”
UserInfo={NSFilePath=/Users/username/Documents/missingfile.txt,
NSUnderlyingError=0x600003e70160 {Error Domain=NSPOSIXErrorDomain Code=2 “No such file or directory”}}
Common Causes of NSCocoaErrorDomain Error: nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu & errorcode=4
1. Recently Moved or Deleted Files
The most straightforward cause is when files that an application still expects to find have been moved or deleted. Your macOS keeps track of file references; when those references point to nothing, this error surfaces.
// Problematic code trying to access a moved file
let fileURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: “/Users/username/OldFolder/document.pdf”)
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: fileURL)
// Process data…
} catch {
print(“Error: \(error)”) // Will trigger NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4
}
Solution: Return the file to its original location or update the application’s references to the new location.
2. Broken Symbolic Links or Aliases
macOS uses symbolic links and aliases extensively. When these become broken—often after system migrations or updates—applications fail to resolve the true file path.
# Example of a broken symbolic link in Terminal
$ ls -la
lrwxr-xr-x 1 user staff 32 Oct 15 14:25 brokenlink -> /Applications/DeletedApp.app
Solution: Recreate the symbolic links or aliases to point to the correct current locations.
3. Corrupted Preference Files
Applications store their settings in preference files (.plist). When these become corrupted, they may contain invalid file references.
xml
<!– Example of corrupted plist with invalid file reference –>
<key>LastOpenedDocument</key>
<string>/Users/username/Projects/DeletedProject/main.swift</string>
Solution: Reset the application preferences by deleting its .plist files, which will regenerate with default settings upon relaunch.
4. Permission Issues Masquerading as Missing Files
Sometimes the file exists, but your user account lacks permission to access it. The system reports this as a “file not found” error rather than a permissions error.
# Permission denied but reported as “file not found”
$ ls -la secure_document.pdf
-rw——- 1 root wheel 2048 Oct 30 09:45 secure_document.pdf
Solution: Adjust file permissions to allow appropriate access to your user account.
Diagnosis and Troubleshooting Steps
Follow this systematic approach to diagnose and resolve the NSCocoaErrorDomain error:
- Identify the Exact Missing Resource: Extract the file path from the error message.
// Code to help identify the missing resource
extension NSError {
var missingFilePath: String? {
return userInfo[NSFilePathErrorKey] as? String
}
}
// Usage
if let error = error as NSError?, error.domain == NSCocoaErrorDomain, error.code == 4 {
print(“Missing file: \(error.missingFilePath ?? “Unknown”)”)
}
- Check if the Resource Exists: Use Finder or Terminal to verify if the file is missing.
# Terminal command to check if file exists
$ ls -la “/Users/username/Documents/missingfile.txt”
- Search for the File: If it’s been moved, use Spotlight or find commands to locate it.
# Find command to locate missing files by name
$ find ~ -name “missingfile.txt” -type f
- Check the Console App: Look for related error messages that provide additional context.
Solution Comparison Table
| Prevention Technique | Recovery Strategy |
| Use absolute file paths sparingly | Restore files from backup |
| Implement robust file existence checks | Recreate missing shortcuts or aliases |
| Store file references in a central, updatable location | Reset application preferences |
| Bundle required resources with your application | Update hardcoded paths in configuration files |
| Implement graceful fallbacks for missing resources | Repair disk permissions using Disk Utility |
Comprehensive Fix Implementation
1. Fix Missing Files with Recovery Tools
If you’ve accidentally deleted the file, recovery is your first option:
// Example code for implementing a file recovery solution
import Cocoa
class FileRecoveryManager {
func recoverDeletedFile(originalPath: String) -> URL? {
// Implement recovery logic here
// 1. Check Time Machine backups
// 2. Scan recently deleted items
// 3. Look for alternative copies
// Return recovered file URL or nil
}
}
2. Create a Robust File Access Pattern
Implement a reusable file access pattern that gracefully handles missing files:
import Foundation
class RobustFileAccess {
enum FileAccessError: Error {
case fileNotFound(path: String)
case backupFileUsed(originalPath: String, backupPath: String)
case allAttemptsExhausted(paths: [String])
}
/// Attempts to access a file from multiple possible locations
/// – Parameters:
/// – primaryPath: The preferred file path
/// – alternativePaths: Backup locations to check if primary fails
/// – createIfMissing: Whether to create the file if it doesn’t exist
/// – Returns: URL of the accessible file
/// – Throws: FileAccessError if file cannot be accessed
func accessFile(primaryPath: String, alternativePaths: [String] = [], createIfMissing: Bool = false) throws -> URL {
// Try primary path first
let primaryURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: primaryPath)
if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: primaryPath) {
return primaryURL
}
// Log the NSCocoaErrorDomain issue for debugging
print(“Encountered potential NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4: File not found at \(primaryPath)”)
// Try alternative paths
for path in alternativePaths {
if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: path) {
print(“Using alternative file at \(path)”)
return URL(fileURLWithPath: path)
}
}
// Create if allowed and requested
if createIfMissing {
try “”.write(to: primaryURL, atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
return primaryURL
}
// All attempts exhausted
throw FileAccessError.allAttemptsExhausted(paths: [primaryPath] + alternativePaths)
}
}
// Usage example
do {
let fileAccess = RobustFileAccess()
let fileURL = try fileAccess.accessFile(
primaryPath: “/Users/username/Documents/config.json”,
alternativePaths: [
“/Users/username/Downloads/config.json”,
“/Applications/MyApp/Resources/default_config.json”
],
createIfMissing: true
)
// Process file…
} catch {
// Handle error…
}
3. Implement Automatic Symbolic Link Repair
For applications that rely heavily on symbolic links, implement an automatic repair mechanism:
import Foundation
class SymbolicLinkRepairer {
/// Repairs broken symbolic links
/// – Parameters:
/// – linkPath: Path to the symbolic link
/// – targetPaths: Possible target paths to try
/// – Returns: Boolean indicating success
func repairBrokenLink(linkPath: String, targetPaths: [String]) -> Bool {
let fileManager = FileManager.default
// Check if the link exists and is broken
var isDirectory: ObjCBool = false
if fileManager.fileExists(atPath: linkPath, isDirectory: &isDirectory) {
// If it exists but isn’t a symbolic link, don’t modify it
var isSymlink = false
do {
let attributes = try fileManager.attributesOfItem(atPath: linkPath)
isSymlink = (attributes[.type] as? FileAttributeType) == .typeSymbolicLink
} catch {
print(“Error checking link attributes: \(error)”)
return false
}
if isSymlink {
// Try to get the current destination
do {
let destination = try fileManager.destinationOfSymbolicLink(atPath: linkPath)
if fileManager.fileExists(atPath: destination) {
// Link is not broken, so no need to repair
return true
}
} catch {
// Failed to read the link, it’s likely broken
}
// Remove broken link
do {
try fileManager.removeItem(atPath: linkPath)
} catch {
print(“Error removing broken link: \(error)”)
return false
}
} else {
// Not a symlink, don’t modify
return false
}
}
// Try to create a new link pointing to one of the target paths
for targetPath in targetPaths {
if fileManager.fileExists(atPath: targetPath) {
do {
try fileManager.createSymbolicLink(atPath: linkPath, withDestinationPath: targetPath)
print(“Repaired symbolic link: \(linkPath) -> \(targetPath)”)
return true
} catch {
print(“Failed to create symbolic link: \(error)”)
}
}
}
return false
}
}
// Usage example
let repairer = SymbolicLinkRepairer()
let success = repairer.repairBrokenLink(
linkPath: “/Users/username/Documents/project_link”,
targetPaths: [
“/Users/username/Projects/active_project”,
“/Users/username/Backup/project_copy”
]
)
Preventing NSCocoaErrorDomain Errorcode=4 in the Future
To avoid reencountering this error:
- Use Bookmarks Instead of Hard Paths: macOS provides a robust bookmark system to survive file movements.
// Creating and resolving bookmarks instead of direct paths
import Cocoa
class BookmarkManager {
func createBookmark(for url: URL) -> Data? {
do {
// Create a security-scoped bookmark
let bookmark = try url.bookmarkData(options: .withSecurityScope,
includingResourceValuesForKeys: nil,
relativeTo: nil)
return bookmark
} catch {
print(“Failed to create bookmark: \(error)”)
return nil
}
}
func resolveBookmark(_ bookmarkData: Data) -> URL? {
do {
var isStale = false
let url = try URL(resolvingBookmarkData: bookmarkData,
options: .withSecurityScope,
relativeTo: nil,
bookmarkDataIsStale: &isStale)
if isStale {
// Bookmark needs to be refreshed
print(“Bookmark is stale, should be refreshed”)
if let newBookmark = createBookmark(for: url) {
// Save the updated bookmark
saveBookmark(newBookmark)
}
}
return url
} catch {
print(“Failed to resolve bookmark: \(error)”)
return nil
}
}
private func saveBookmark(_ bookmarkData: Data) {
// Implement saving mechanism here
}
}
- Implement a File Watcher: Monitor critical files for changes and update references accordingly.
import Foundation
class FileWatcher {
private var source: DispatchSourceFileSystemObject?
private let filePath: String
private let queue: DispatchQueue
init(filePath: String, queue: DispatchQueue = .main) {
self.filePath = filePath
self.queue = queue
}
func startWatching(onEvent: @escaping () -> Void) {
let fileDescriptor = open(filePath, O_EVTONLY)
if fileDescriptor < 0 {
print(“Failed to open file for watching”)
return
}
source = DispatchSource.makeFileSystemObjectSource(fileDescriptor: fileDescriptor,
eventMask: .delete,
queue: queue)
source?.setEventHandler {
onEvent()
}
source?.setCancelHandler {
close(fileDescriptor)
}
source?.resume()
}
func stopWatching() {
source?.cancel()
source = nil
}
}
// Usage
let watcher = FileWatcher(filePath: “/Users/username/Documents/important.txt”)
watcher.startWatching {
print(“File was deleted or moved!”)
// Handle the change accordingly
}
Key Takeaway
The NSCocoaErrorDomain Error: nie można znaleźć wskazanego skrótu & errorcode=4 isn’t just a nuisance—it signals that your application’s file references need attention. By implementing robust file access patterns, using bookmarks instead of direct paths, and properly handling errors, your applications can be resilient against this standard error. Remember that files move and change over time—your code should anticipate and gracefully handle these situations.
Instead of letting this error halt your productivity, use the strategies outlined here to build more resilient systems that recover automatically when resources change location.
