Don't tell me I can't do this in OS X ! [Archive]

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 02:25 AM

TH-Gunner

Apr 3, 2008, 02:30 AM

Yes, I would also like to know if there is an alternative way to select files. In many cases, I would like to type out the path. It makes it easier to get to things like hidden files and folders without having to go into OnyX...

I've always found this to be very lame.

TH-Gunner

Apr 3, 2008, 02:56 AM

Ah, I have news, friend!

You can, indeed, choose the path manually. When the dialogue pops up, type in a slash: /

You will be prompted with "Go to folder."

Hooray!!!

Anyway, I thought the sacrifice of a double post was worth the bump.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 03:02 AM

But I want a way to paste the path of an already opened Finder window.. The folder is buried so deep, that I don't want to type out the entire path manually..

In Windows, I have an address bar with the path available to copy/paste.. OS X doesn't have such basic feature.. sigh..

Killyp

Apr 3, 2008, 03:12 AM

Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]

Burgess07

Apr 3, 2008, 03:13 AM

Wouldn't it just be easier to use the search bar to grab the file(s)?

davidjearly

Apr 3, 2008, 03:22 AM

richard.mac

Apr 3, 2008, 03:24 AM

what about searching for the zip in spotlight? the Finder window that pops out like a blind in Safari has a search bar too!

just type in "xxxx.zip" or "zip" (not including quotes) or ".zip" (including quotes which searches for files with the a .zip extension) and you should find it.

or you could organise everything within your home folder and use the sidebar for quick access to folders. the sidebar is also visible in Safari's Finder window blind thingy.

psychofreak

Apr 3, 2008, 03:37 AM

CMD+Shift+G

DoFoT9

Apr 3, 2008, 03:52 AM

you need to learn to use spotlight my friend!

MisterMe

Apr 3, 2008, 09:08 AM

I find it very tiresome when people come on complaining about the lack of a Windows feature in Mac OS X.

...Preaching to the choir.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 09:13 AM

Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]

Yep, its that easy.

Also, worth mentioning is you can quickly navigate to certain folders with the usual keyboard shortcuts:

Command+D for Desktop
Command+Shift+H for home folder
and so on.

lssmit02

Apr 3, 2008, 09:43 AM

Yep, its that easy.

Also, worth mentioning is you can quickly navigate to certain folders with the usual keyboard shortcuts:

Command+D for Desktop
Command+Shift+H for home folder
and so on.

Command+Shift+D for Desktop

kkat69

Apr 3, 2008, 09:53 AM

I find it very tiresome when people come on complaining about the lack of a Windows feature in Mac OS X.

What's even more tiresome (and this coming from a long time windows user) is that some people won't even take the time to read up on the way to do things, google their question (which most of the time can answer the question), or take the time to play around and learn. Then instead of asking a question if still lost, would much rather post a hateful "OSX Sucks if I can't do this, cuz I can do this in Windoze" and post all the task gripes which actually makes them look more foolish more times than not.

It is not that there is a 'lack' of anything, but rather in OS X, there are different ways to do things.

This is the concept I think most switchers can't grasp.

My wife is a recent switcher and very computer illiterate. She's more prone to b!tching about how something worked this way in windows and how she can't do the same in OSX but she actually took the time to learn and went "Oh wow! that's so much easier", or "Hmm, that's a nice feature, that's better than this/that." Point being, she hasn't complained about this or that, but rather try to look it up, then come to me "I'm having a hard time doing this, I used to be able to do this, what's the equivilant on my MB" and I would gladly show her.

She did one time say "This sucks, I can't even do that" which I replied "Sure you can and it's easier", she said "How?" and I told her flat out "Google it if your gonna b!tch about it"

BlackMax

Apr 3, 2008, 09:56 AM

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 10:16 AM

Command+Shift+D for Desktop

Nope. In a File Open or Save dialog, it is Command+D.

kkat69

Apr 3, 2008, 10:23 AM

At work I have to use Windows XP on my T42 and I'm constantly trying to use the two finger scrolling on my T42's trackpad only to realize it is not there. :(

I have to use it on my Dell, (Windows is how I pay my rent) and yes I often find myself going "UGGGGGG" when I'm trying to scroll through a doc with my trackpad and can't 2-finger it.

Heck, my 6yr old and 5yr old would rather use my iMac or the wifes MB. When I asked them "Why don't you use your computer" they respond with (NO LIE!) "It's always broke"

aristobrat

Apr 3, 2008, 10:27 AM

Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]
IMO, that solution is so obvious that I would have never thought it would work before I read about it. :eek:

coolbits

Apr 3, 2008, 10:32 AM

In safari 3.1 you can just drag&drop that file to safari into upload field... no need to click on "choose file" or anything :)
Some things are much simpler than it seems :)

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 10:54 AM

I find it very tiresome when people come on complaining about the lack of a Windows feature in Mac OS X.

It is not that there is a 'lack' of anything, but rather in OS X, there are different ways to do things.

I personally hate the idea of an address bar displaying the path in Finder, and would much rather navigate through folders quickly using the arrow keys, or simply drag the file onto the 'Browse' window as Killyp described.

Okay David: Tell me what is your easy way of doing this.. ;)

1. Go to www.mediafire.com
2. In the input box where you enter the path of the file you want to upload - You can either paste/type in a path to the file or click the Browse button and click your way to the file.

I want to: 1) Click Browse. 2) Paste in the path to the folder where the file resides. 3) Select the file and click Open.
The above it impossible to accomplish in the crippled OS X Finder because it doesn't allow the copying and pasting of folder paths. OH btw, dragging the file onto the HTML Input box DOES NOT WORK.

Tell me, what is the method that you would do, to make this easier? Prove to me that OS X's way of doing things in this case is superior. :rolleyes:

BTW.. it is obvious from most of you fanbois' replies that none of you actually ready my original post. Nice...

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 10:56 AM

Okay David: Tell me what is your easy way of doing this..

1. Go to www.mediafire.com
2. Where it ask you to enter the path of the file you want to upload - You can either paste/type in a path to the file or click the Browse button. I want to: 1) Click Browse. 2) Paste in the path to the folder where the file resides. 3) Select the file and click Open

What is the method that you would do it to make this easier?

When the dialogue box opens DRAG the file into it… Upload… what could be easier? :confused::confused:

MacHiavelli

Apr 3, 2008, 10:56 AM

You can:

1. Click on the file or folder you want the path for
2. Click on 'Finder' in the menu bar
3. 'Services'
4. 'TextEdit'
5. 'New Window containing Selection'

A TextEdit window opens with the text (hyperlink) of the path, e.g. /Users/Jim/Music/file.mp3

coolbits

Apr 3, 2008, 11:00 AM

When the dialogue box opens DRAG the file into it… Upload… what could be easier? :confused::confused:

You dont even need to open the dialogue box... just drag the file to the upload field in safari...

dejo

Apr 3, 2008, 11:04 AM

Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]
This approach works even from apps other than Finder. For example, I was uploading pictures I had in iPhoto to my Panoramio account. When presented with "Choose File" on the webpage, I was leery of having to navigate through iPhoto folders to find the photo I was uploading. So instead, I just dragged the thumbnail from iPhoto onto the Choose File button and, ta-da!, it did all the heavy lifting for me. What a joy!

riscy

Apr 3, 2008, 11:04 AM

Good call, thanks for that tip, I will use that one.
You can:

1. Click on the file or folder you want the path for
2. Click on 'Finder' in the menu bar
3. 'Services'
4. 'TextEdit'
5. 'New Window containing Selection'

A TextEdit window opens with the text (hyperlink) of the path, e.g. /Users/Jim/Music/file.mp3

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:05 AM

Scottyk9

Apr 3, 2008, 11:05 AM

When the dialogue box opens DRAG the file into it… Upload… what could be easier? :confused::confused:

yes this is a fantastic feature - the 3 steps that the OP wanted to perform to do this (but can't) can be done in one step - brilliant

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:07 AM

please send me screen shot of where I should drag the file in question onto. Thanks.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 11:08 AM

Thanks for that, but HAHA is that the only way to copy a file's path?

Use terminal :rolleyes:

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 11:11 AM

please send me screen shot of where I should drag the file in question onto. Thanks.

Errrm
Here?
Just click on Browse… ;)

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:12 AM

Use terminal :rolleyes:

I downloaded Path Finder because of the absurdly designed Finder and yes, it does have option of keeping a terminal session open on the side that is in-sync to the browsing you do in the main folder windows.. This is very useful.. 1) pwd 2) copy & paste. OH but wait a minute.. Finder Open dialog box doesn't allow me to paste a folder path so I can jump to it directly.. hmmpff back to square one

Errrm
Here?
Just click on Browse… ;)

And then what? the dialog defaults to some top level folder.. I need to drill down many levels to find my file..
I also hate the dragging solution because I'm working on a 12" MacBook and my desktop isn't large enough to simultaneously display the web browser and the finder window.. so wha? I'd have to resize the browser window and the finder window so they can be adjacent to each other? Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 11:14 AM

Okay David: Tell me what is your easy way of doing this.. ;)

1. Go to www.mediafire.com
2. In the input box where you enter the path of the file you want to upload - You can either paste/type in a path to the file or click the Browse button and click your way to the file.

I want to: 1) Click Browse. 2) Paste in the path to the folder where the file resides. 3) Select the file and click Open.
The above it impossible to accomplish in the crippled OS X Finder because it doesn't allow the copying and pasting of folder paths. OH btw, dragging the file onto the HTML Input box DOES NOT WORK.

Tell me, what is the method that you would do, to make this easier? Prove to me that OS X's way of doing things in this case is superior. :rolleyes:

BTW.. it is obvious from most of you fanbois' replies that none of you actually ready my original post. Nice...

Okay.

Here are what your steps should be (and yes I read your original post):

http://h1.ripway.com/kuwisdelu/dragfile1.png

http://h1.ripway.com/kuwisdelu/dragfile2.png

http://h1.ripway.com/kuwisdelu/dragfile3.png

I'll take that over your copy/paste method any day.

I apologize for the bad handwriting.

Scottyk9

Apr 3, 2008, 11:14 AM

please send me screen shot of where I should drag the file in question onto. Thanks.

just drag to the "choose file" button

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 11:19 AM

Curious… I have just noticed that there is a difference in opening the url (http://www.mediafire.com/index.php) with Firefox or with Safari…

Firefox = Browse…
Safari = Choose File

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 11:19 AM

I also hate the dragging solution because I'm working on a 12" MacBook and my desktop isn't large enough to simultaneously display the web browser and the finder window.. so wha? I'd have to resize the browser window and the finder window so they can be adjacent to each other? Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

I wasn't aware Apple made 12" MacBooks. Do you mean a 12" PowerBook? I use a 13.3" MacBook and I have plenty of screen space.

Although if you really meant a 12" MacBook, I'd be quite interested in where you found it...

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 11:20 AM

It's called Exposé. Apple invented it for a reason.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:20 AM

Okay you guys have presented an easier way to do it then manually browsing thru the levels in the Open dialog.. I'll keep that in mind, thanks! However, I still contest that pasting the folder is easier because I'm working on a 13.3" MacBook and my desktop isn't large enough to simultaneously display the web browser and the finder window.. so wha? I'd have to resize the browser window and the finder window so they can be adjacent to each other? Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 11:23 AM

Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

Tut tut! You're still thinking in Windows mode… :D ;)

It is Command-Tab.

And why not use Exposé? So much easier. :)

Scottyk9

Apr 3, 2008, 11:24 AM

I downloaded Path Finder because of the absurdly designed Finder and yes, it does have option of keeping a terminal session open on the side that is in-sync to the browsing you do in the main folder windows.. This is very useful.. 1) pwd 2) copy & paste. OH but wait a minute.. Finder Open dialog box doesn't allow me to paste a folder path so I can jump to it directly.. hmmpff back to square one

And then what? the dialog defaults to some top level folder.. I need to drill down many levels to find my file..
I also hate the dragging solution because I'm working on a 12" MacBook and my desktop isn't large enough to simultaneously display the web browser and the finder window.. so wha? I'd have to resize the browser window and the finder window so they can be adjacent to each other? Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

hot corners, expose, etc...

when i got my 1st mac several years ago, I bought the "missing manual" book. Found it very useful, and avoided a lot of unnecessary aggravation of trying to rigidly adhere to methods I was used to

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 11:24 AM

Curious… I have just noticed that there is a difference in opening the url (http://www.mediafire.com/index.php) with Firefox or with Safari…

Firefox = Browse…
Safari = Choose File

Hmm you're right.

Apparently Firefox doesn't support the drag and drop method.

However, dragging the file to the "Browse..." dialog still works:

http://h1.ripway.com/kuwisdelu/dragfile4.png

And strange that the OP's 13.3" MacBook screen is too small for this kind of thing. Maybe I got the 13.3" MacBook with the specially-sized high-res screen?

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:25 AM

USE FREAKING EXPOSÉ. :mad:

I guess I'll just have to settle with that. Thanks.

Hmm you're right.

Apparently Firefox doesn't support the drag and drop method.

However, dragging the file to the "Browse..." dialog still works:

http://h1.ripway.com/kuwisdelu/dragfile4.png

Yes, I was using FireFox... Drag n' Drop doesn't work with that browser.

Okay I see what you're saying about draging into the open dialog box.. but you have to admit that's a bit more work than having that path to the folder accessible by Apple+v.. that screen shot already looks cluttered to me.. if I already have one Finder open pointing to the folder of my interest, why can't I just hit a keystroke to copy the path and hit another keystroke to paste it? I thought Apple users are all about the fluid keyboard shortcuts used to navigate OSX, this is very contradictory..

notjustjay

Apr 3, 2008, 11:37 AM

Here's what I do.

I have the bottom right-hand corner of my desktop as a hot corner set to Expose - show desktop, and the top right-hand corner set to Expose - all windows.

So what I would do is go to a Finder window, grab the file in question, and begin my drag operation. In doing so I would flick the cursor into the appropriate hot-corner, activate Expose, find the target window, let it become focused, and then release. It sounds much more complex to type it out than it does to actually do it. It's even better if the file in question was on the desktop, then I flick-show desktop, grab file, flick-bring back window, drop, all in one motion.

If you're not averse to keyboard shortcuts then it's just as easy to hit the Expose keyboard shortcuts. Or, avoid Expose altogether and just cmd-tab to the Finder window, pick up the file, cmd-tab back to the browser window, and drop.

As for the OP's original question about finding the path to a file, has anyone tried Get Info? Does the full path not show up there? (I'm not on my Mac right now so I can't try it).

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 11:39 AM

has anyone tried Get Info? Does the full path not show up there? (I'm not on my Mac right now so I can't try it).

Get Info shows the path… But you cannot select and copy it…

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:40 AM

If you're not averse to keyboard shortcuts then it's just as easy to hit the Expose keyboard shortcuts. Or, avoid Expose altogether and just cmd-tab to the Finder window, pick up the file, cmd-tab back to the browser window, and drop.

As for the OP's original question about finding the path to a file, has anyone tried Get Info? Does the full path not show up there? (I'm not on my Mac right now so I can't try it).

I'd also rather have a workflow where I can do a copy on a file and then point my cursor to the input box and paste and have the path to the file be pasted there.. much much easier than dragging IMO.

Get info shows the path to the file but I can't highlight and copy it.. plus, right-click->Get Info->Copy->Close Get Info is also more work than necessary..

yellow

Apr 3, 2008, 11:45 AM

OH but wait a minute.. Finder Open dialog box doesn't allow me to paste a folder path so I can jump to it directly.. hmmpff back to square one

Yes, it does.

Cmd-Shift-G

It opens a "Go to folder" subdialog box that allows you to paste paths.

I thought Apple users are all about the fluid keyboard shortcuts used to navigate OSX, this is very contradictory..

That is a disingenuous statement and meant to be inflammatory. Please stop with the baiting.
Complaints are fine, but comments like this, we don't need.

flopticalcube

Apr 3, 2008, 11:45 AM

PathFinder (http://www.cocoatech.com/) probably would do it for you. Its a love or hate thing, however.

ChrisME

Apr 3, 2008, 11:46 AM

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 11:47 AM

I'd also rather have a workflow where I can do a copy on a file and then point my cursor to the input box and paste and have the path to the file be pasted there.. much much easier than dragging IMO.

Get info shows the path to the file but I can't highlight and copy it.. plus, right-click->Get Info->Copy->Close Get Info is also more work than necessary..

It's really about the same amount of work. Select, copy, paste, click vs. select, drag, click. Even tossing in an Exposé operation or two doesn't complicate it that much. One is very Windows-y (file hierarchies, paths, keyboard operations) and one is very Mac-like (here's the file, there's where it's going, put it there).

Mac OS X Ocelot

Apr 3, 2008, 11:51 AM

The kind posters here have given you all the available methods in OS X. If you are still inconvenienced, instead of complaining to us (we don't really care) and calling OS X lame, you could submit feedback (http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html) to Apple detailing exactly how you wish it to work, since it is such an obviously better way. Make sure to be very specific and paint a vivid picture of the entire process. Also, don't use harsh language and DO NOT mention "how Windows does it."

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 11:53 AM

1. Download a free contextual menu plugin like FilePathToClipCMPlugin (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/9894) and install it by putting it in ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items and logging out.

2. Right-click a file in the Finder and choose FilePathToClip to copy its path.

3. In any Open window, type cmd-shift-G to open a path window and paste the path with cmd-V.

I wasn't going to post this, because the thread starter has acted like such a jerk that frankly I don't think he deserves to have anyone take the time to help him. But I'll post it anyway in case anyone else is interested.

Thanks for that hint Chris.. I only acted up after all these ppl with generic response lecturing me of how I should adjust to the OS X way without addressing the issue at hand. I called OS X lame.. yes, but I assume no one would take that personally..

It's really about the same amount of work. Select, copy, paste, click vs. select, drag, click. Even tossing in an Exposé operation or two doesn't complicate it that much. One is very Windows-y (file hierarchies, paths, keyboard operations) and one is very Mac-like (here's the file, there's where it's going, put it there).

I actually feel the OSX GUI is overall more keyboard oriented and one of which I preferred. Short of this major mishap, I love how the Command+W and Command+Q is consistent through all the OS X apps and that really has sped up my working style, by not having to click around to close documents and apps. The lack of tab based button navigation in a prompt window still bothers me though.. a huge oversight by Apple

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 11:56 AM

Thanks for that hint Chris.. I only acted up after all these ppl with generic response lecturing me of how I should adjust to the OS X way without addressing the issue at hand. I called OS X lame.. yes, but I assume no one would take that personally..

No one takes it personally. We just believe, and rightly, that if you're going to use a different OS you ought to adjust to the way it works. Otherwise, why bother?

sushi

Apr 3, 2008, 11:56 AM

I'd also rather have a workflow where I can do a copy on a file and then point my cursor to the input box and paste and have the path to the file be pasted there.. much much easier than dragging IMO.
I would venture to say, that it is because you are used to cutting and pasting.

Reminds me of when I went from DOS to Windows/Mac OS. I loved DOS, but eventually saw how much easier most things were in a GUI environment. I, like you are here on this thread, clung to my DOS methods and would try to continue to use them when other good alternatives were available.

A friend of mine, PC/Unix type, just got an iMac.

I sent him some advice of which this was a part:

"Don't use it like you do a PC. Just let yourself go with the Mac flow. For example. How would you make a copy of a file in place on a PC? Usually most folks will use the COPY then PASTE function. With the Mac, just select DUPLICATE under the FILE menu in the Finder."

What I find, is that most switchers try to do it the Windows way instead of learning/adapting the Mac way.

So give the Mac OS way a try for a while. Who knows, you might find that you like it better. And if you don't, fine. But at least you tried. Plus, as others have said, there are add ons that can enable the Mac OS to do things like you want.

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 11:59 AM

lol, now you guys know how windows users complain, we (still have a windows desktop..) complain alot, about everything.

To OP, from windows to mac is a "switch", no matter how easy apple is trying to tell you. In some cases, Its not.

Its very difficult to run OSX exactly "windows" way, with absolutely no judgement on "which way is better", I think it might be better if you getting used to it ASAP, unless you are still trying to figure out if you want to keep it or not.

kkat69

Apr 3, 2008, 11:59 AM

Okay so I have a finder window open and I've browsed to a folder where I've just created a zip file of the contents in that folder.

Now I want to upload that zip file to mediafire.com I click browse from the mediafire page and another finder window pops up so I can select the file to upload. This is where it gets frustrating:

In Windows, I can simply copy the absolute path of the folder where the zip file was created (folder is already open in the background) and paste it into the newly opened prompt window and then choose the zip file that exist there and click open. I'm now done.

In OS X, when the new Finder window pops, I have to browse manually to the zip file, and this especially gets frustrating when the folder is buried deep. Is there any reason why I can't EASILY grab the path of a finder window that's already open and paste that path somewhere else? In other words, There is NO way it seems to type a path to a folder in OS X Finder. You HAVE to freakin' click around for everything!

Does Apple think we're stupid and would always prefer the point n' click?

Oh and I also hate how after updating a file in an application, the file's modify date in finder doesn't get updated until I click on that Finder window.. wtf!?

I only acted up after all these ppl with generic response lecturing me of how I should adjust to the OS X way without addressing the issue at hand. I called OS X lame.. yes, but I assume no one would take that personally..

A. Your title and original post was rather whiney and didn't deserve this much attention. You started out this way, it's kinda obvious to expect just as equally 'jerky' comments in return.
B. No one is really taking this personally, just giving you sxxt for mostly your original post.

If it was a simple, "I'm trying to figure out how I can do this XXXXXXXX when in Windows I did XXXXXXX can anyone help" you would have found a much more welcome response. I would imagine that would be beyond your ability though considering the first post.

Report this post, ignore it, heck I don't care. If you start out with a good attitude, you'll get one in return. Start out as a jerk, you'll end up with such responses back.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 12:03 PM

Report this post, ignore it, heck I don't care. If you start out with a good attitude, you'll get one in return. Start out as a jerk, you'll end up with such responses back.

My attitude was directed at the software. My bad for insulting some of you in the process.

arkitect

Apr 3, 2008, 12:08 PM

The lack of tab based button navigation in a prompt window still bothers me though.. a huge oversight by Apple.

Yes, it is possible.

Systems Preferences >> Keyboard & Mouse >> Keyboard Shortcuts

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 12:09 PM

The reason we're telling you to stop doing it the Windows way is because OS X isn't Windows. It's not because we're silly fanboys or have some kind of alternative motive for getting you to use the Mac way. It's just that it's a different operating system, and certain things are different.

What I don't understand is why switchers sometimes complain that the Windows method is easier to better and then try to argue it when it's clearly not an issue of better vs. worse. Sometimes it's clear that one implementation of something is better than another. Trying to restore items from Trash on a Mac is going to be harder than restoring from the Recycle Bin on Windows. Trying to drag and drop everything you see is going to work much better on a Mac than it will on Windows.

When it comes to this kind of thing, it's not that one method is particularly better than the other. Personally, I always found the Windows copy-paste method of file management to be very messy and bothersome. The point of a GUI is to shield the end-user from such command-line level operations. That's why OS X is much more drag-and-drop focused than copy-paste focused. I like it that way. You don't. That's all there is to it. I find the OS X way easier. If you don't, it's not the Mac's fault: either adapt to the new method, or turn to 3rd party alternatives have been suggested. It's not a flaw; it's a different way of doing things. That's why we told you to adjust to the OS X way. If you refuse, there are other 3rd party methods that will get it to work the "Windows way." We're not necessarily saying either way is better, but the fact is that they are different operating systems with different ways of approaching things. All switchers need to accept that. That's all there is to it.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 12:18 PM

We're not necessarily saying either way is better, but the fact is that they are different operating systems with different ways of approaching things. All switchers need to accept that. That's all there is to it.

The ultimate and common goal of all OS is to improve the ease of operation. Since Windows and OS X pretty much caters to the same clientèle, Whatever the differences in workflow, one will always be better than the other. Some Apple is good at, some Windows is good at. One shouldn't have to accept to adopt to the workflow designed by some individuals at a company. If no one voices an opinion, then where are the end-users in the equation?

Case in point: What is the point of displaying the path to a file in "Get Info" if the user is unable to copy that string? The path is displayed there because it is obviously a useful piece of information, but without being able to access that info, it only serves as a filler on the GUI. Does Apple expect me to get out a pen & pad to jot down the path? For something as obvious as this, one shouldn't argue that "It is designed as such in OS X so just get used to it." In Windows, the properties window of a file allows the user to copy every piece of information that is displayed there. OS X should follow Windows in this regard.

khunsanook

Apr 3, 2008, 12:24 PM

When the dialogue box opens DRAG the file into it… Upload… what could be easier? :confused::confused:

you're right - couldn't be much easier. I just did that with a mediafire file. Great tip - thanks

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 12:27 PM

Can not drag with FireFox.

Then it sounds like you have a problem with Firefox, not OS X, since this method works perfectly in Safari. Maybe you should contact the Firefox team and file a bug report.

Mac OS X Ocelot

Apr 3, 2008, 12:27 PM

The ultimate and common goal of all OS is to improve the ease of operation. Since Windows and OS X pretty much caters to the same clientèle, Whatever the differences in workflow, one will always be better than the other. Some Apple is good at, some Windows is good at. One shouldn't have to accept to adopt to the workflow designed by some individuals at a company. If no one voices an opinion, then where are the end-users in the equation?

Case in point: What is the point of displaying the path to a file in "Get Info" if the user is unable to copy that string? The path is displayed there because it is obviously a useful piece of information, but without being able to access that info, it only serves as a filler on the GUI. Does Apple expect me to get out a pen & pad to jot down the path? For something as obvious as this, one shouldn't argue that "It is designed as such in OS X so just get used to it." In Windows, the properties window of a file allows the user to copy every piece of information that is displayed there. OS X should follow Windows in this regard.

Posting complaints here isn't going to get to Apple. It's just antagonistic to the posters of these forums. I provided a link to Apple's feedback page in another post. If you feel strongly enough about your ideas of the right way of doing things, tell Apple.

Sky Blue

Apr 3, 2008, 12:29 PM

Can not drag with FireFox.

Seems like a limitation with FireFox then. Use Safari

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 12:31 PM

The ultimate and common goal of all OS is to improve the ease of operation. Since Windows and OS X pretty much caters to the same clientèle, Whatever the differences in workflow, one will always be better than the other. Some Apple is good at, some Windows is good at. One shouldn't have to accept to adopt to the workflow designed by some individuals at a company. If no one voices an opinion, then where are the end-users in the equation?

But this is exactly what you've done, except you've adopted the workflow that Microsoft emphasizes. They are different operating systems with different views on how your computer should work. You don't have to like how everything works with either of them, but you should accept that that's just how they work until someone changes it. If you feel strongly enough about it, submit feedback (http://www.apple.com/feedback/) to Apple. If you really want to be completely free to change your operating system to work exactly how YOU want it to work, then switch to a Linux distro. There are some really great ones out there. Personally, I like Ubuntu and Fedora.

But if you want to use Windows or OS X, then they both come with their advantages and disadvantages. Which do you prefer? I like OS X and I like how it does things. Sometimes I find something that could be improved and I tell Apple about it. But there are some things that are more fundamentally a difference in how they operate. There will never be a start menu on OS X. There will never be a single menu bar on Windows. Go with whichever OS you prefer realizing it WILL come with certain differences. There will be flaws in it, whichever it is, and there will also be things that aren't flaws, but that you just don't like for one reason or another, because you're used to something different. If you don't like that--suck it up and use Linux. You can change it to no end.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 12:33 PM

Can not drag with FireFox.

To the button - no, but you can drag to the browse dialog window - as you have already been shown.

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 12:33 PM

Case in point: What is the point of displaying the path to a file in "Get Info" if the user is unable to copy that string?
Maybe because "dragging a file to any plain text input field in OS X will place its path there."

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 12:33 PM

Can not drag with FireFox.

firefox doesn't bundle with OSX, there are some APIs (public, or secret) that firefox does not use. There are pros and cons with it. If this is very important, then you can try out safari.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 12:35 PM

If this is very important, then you can try out safari.

Or Camino.

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 12:38 PM

Or Camino.

camino does that?

Anyway, I found manipulating two separate app windows quite inconvenient. Drag and drop.... isn't always the easiest way.

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 12:39 PM

Or Camino.

Does Camino support this feature? If so, then it should be fairly easy for Firefox to implement it (especially since they're both made by the same people...). Someone ought to point this out to them ;)

gnasher729

Apr 3, 2008, 12:42 PM

Case in point: What is the point of displaying the path to a file in "Get Info" if the user is unable to copy that string? The path is displayed there because it is obviously a useful piece of information, but without being able to access that info, it only serves as a filler on the GUI. Does Apple expect me to get out a pen & pad to jot down the path? For something as obvious as this, one shouldn't argue that "It is designed as such in OS X so just get used to it." In Windows, the properties window of a file allows the user to copy every piece of information that is displayed there. OS X should follow Windows in this regard.

In every well designed user interface, simple operations are designed to fit together so that the user can achieve the complex things that they want to achieve. However, the "simple operations" of user interface A and the "simple operations" of user interface B can be very different and hard to exchange.

If you do something in five simple steps in Windows, you may find that each step is difficult to do on MacOS X - but there are four, five or six completely different steps on MacOS X that let you do exactly the same thing. Or the other way round.

In MacOS X, it is very, very, very rare that you would need a pathname. One place where I need pathnames reasonably often is when I am using Terminal - and in Terminal, you just drag a file to the Terminal window and the path is there.

Mac OS X Ocelot

Apr 3, 2008, 12:43 PM

Does Camino support this feature? If so, then it should be fairly easy for Firefox to implement it (especially since they're both made by the same people...). Someone ought to point this out to them ;)

I think one's Cocoa and the other is Carbon or something like that, so it's not as simple as copy and pasting and code.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 12:44 PM

Does Camino support this feature? If so, then it should be fairly easy for Firefox to implement it (especially since they're both made by the same people...). Someone ought to point this out to them ;)

Camino is Aquafied Firefox, so I would assume so. Firefox still uses some of its own UI components such as buttons. I can't test until tonight to know for certain. Anyone want to try for me?

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 12:47 PM

Camino is Aquafied Firefox, so I would assume so. Firefox still uses some of its own UI components such as buttons. I can't test until tonight to know for certain. Anyone want to try for me?

I just tested it. Camino's implementation is the same as Firefox's. :mad:

Sky Blue

Apr 3, 2008, 12:48 PM

Just tried it. does not work in Camino

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 12:51 PM

Just tried it. does not work in Camino

Crap. :o Thanks for checking

You tried both the text field and the button, right?

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 12:53 PM

nope, :) clicking text field/button will pop up file selector.

ChrisME

Apr 3, 2008, 01:05 PM

Thanks for that hint Chris.. I only acted up after all these ppl with generic response lecturing me of how I should adjust to the OS X way without addressing the issue at hand. I called OS X lame.. yes, but I assume no one would take that personally..

You sort of came out swinging from post one. I know it's frustrating when you can't get something to work the way you want it to, but taking out your frustration in an angry post isn't really conducive to getting help - people end up responding more to your tone than to your actual problem.

You should file a feature request with Apple asking them to add a way to copy full file paths from the Finder. I'm actually kind of surprised there isn't a way to do that already. If people bring it to their attention, there's a pretty good chance they'll address it down the road - they've been good lately about accommodating more Unix/Windows minded users.

MisterMe

Apr 3, 2008, 01:16 PM

Camino is Aquafied Firefox, so I would assume so. Firefox still uses some of its own UI components such as buttons. ...No, Camino is not Aquafied Firefox. Firefox is cross-platform with a small OS-specific runtime engine to interpret XUL code. Camino is a MacOS X binary application. Wikipedia has entries for both Camino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino) and Firefox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Firefox).

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 01:19 PM

No, Camino is not Aquafied Firefox. Firefox is cross-platform with a small OS-specific runtime engine to interpret XUL code. Camino is a MacOS X binary application. Wikipedia has entries for both Camino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino) and Firefox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Firefox).

You're nitpicking. ;) I doubt that many mac users are aware of the Gecko rendering engine, so it's just easier to reference Firefox.

crees!

Apr 3, 2008, 01:29 PM

I'd also rather have a workflow where I can do a copy on a file and then point my cursor to the input box and paste and have the path to the file be pasted there.. much much easier than dragging IMO.

Get info shows the path to the file but I can't highlight and copy it.. plus, right-click->Get Info->Copy->Close Get Info is also more work than necessary..

So full of complaints. Why the hell did you even get a Mac without researching how you could use it productively first? BTW, that was rhetorical. Grab a book, read the basics, then come back if you have any questions.

deputy_doofy

Apr 3, 2008, 01:46 PM

As everyone has mentioned, simply dragging a file to a command line or text field automatically creates the whole file path. Once you start using it, it is beyond convenient versus copying and pasting a path into a text field.

You can always experiment with it simply by opening a terminal window and dragging a file.

notjustjay

Apr 3, 2008, 01:51 PM

Wow, this thread exploded over my lunch hour, and it's all much ado over nothing.

For the record, I'm very surprised that you couldn't select the path displayed in Get Info, that seemed like exactly the sort of thing that Apple should have let you do. It wouldn't have "cost" anyone anything in terms of usability or appearances and it would add useful functionality in an intuitive place to look. Oh well. Perhaps we can submit it to Apple as a feature request.

For the rest of it, we're just going around in circles:

"How do I do X on the Mac? I liked doing that in Windows."
"Well, you can't. But you can do Y, or Z."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't. But if you add on this program, it's similar to X."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't. But Y's actually faster, once you get used to it."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't..."

I agree that complaining here won't get you far other than suggestions for similar actions, workarounds, or third-party enablers. Otherwise, absolutely please suggest it to Apple. I think the OP does have a point about both systems catering to different styles but ultimately doing the same thing. Over time, surely both Windows and OS X will evolve until they have both hit on the one most efficient way to do things (e.g. instead of "thinking different" just for the sake of being different). But it won't go that way unless we tell them what we want.

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 01:59 PM

For the rest of it, we're just going around in circles:

"How do I do X on the Mac? I liked doing that in Windows."
"Well, you can't. But you can do Y, or Z."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't. But if you add on this program, it's similar to X."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't. But Y's actually faster, once you get used to it."
"But I want to do X."
"Well, you can't..."

I suspect it would be better if Apple tells switchers that they should expect some differences, rather than just tell them "Its easy!"

ChrisME

Apr 3, 2008, 02:01 PM

Update: You can copy a file's full path from the Finder. When you choose Copy on a file in the Finder, it actually puts a bunch of different things on the clipboard - the filename, a link to the file itself, and the file's full path. Which one gets used depends on where you paste it - if you paste it into a path window or Terminal, the whole path gets pasted. I've been using OS X since developer preview 1, and I didn't realize this. Very slick.

Edit: Oops. Spoke too soon. I guess it only works in Terminal windows.

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 02:06 PM

ChrisME

Apr 3, 2008, 02:08 PM

It also works in Plain-text documents in TextEdit, or textareas in Safari, just to name a couple. But it is up to the application developer to decide how this is handled.

It doesn't for me - only the file name gets pasted. The full path only seems to get pasted in Terminal.

scaredpoet

Apr 3, 2008, 02:29 PM

So full of complaints. Why the hell did you even get a Mac without researching how you could use it productively first? BTW, that was rhetorical. Grab a book, read the basics, then come back if you have any questions.

There does generally need to be an important point to communicated to switchers: this is Mac OS X, not "Microsoft Windows for the Mac." There are going to be differences in workflow and different ways of achieving the same goals. That's what makes it a different OS!

Whether it's easy or not depends on the individual user. OS X has plenty of advantages, but requires a learning curve, or rather, an unlearning curve where people figure out that the Windows way isn't the only way to do something. If that's a detriment in your eyes, then you have to ask yourself: do the benefits of OS X outweigh the detriments? If the answer is no, well, that's why Apple has a trial period for its computers. And, if you're past that trial period, you can eBay it to some other willing owner, or, you could always just install Windows...

And lastly, baiting the forum goers with "OS X sux0rz becuz it doesn't do xyz!" isn't going to change the fact that it "doesn't do xyz." We aren't going to say "Oh, you're right, here, let me re-write the OS for you. Here you go." Nor will we agree with you that OS X "sux0rz." Because, from our perspective it certainly doesn't.

If there are alternatives, we'll point them out to you... if you're halfway civil about asking (and sometimes even you aren't). And again, you have to decide if that alternative is acceptable. If not, then sending in your feedback to Apple (civilly!) will offer the best chance of a feature being added in the future.

gauchogolfer

Apr 3, 2008, 02:32 PM

I'm not at my Mac at the moment, but what happens if in Finder you have 'Show Path enabled such that the path is visible at the top of the Finder window. Can you drag/copy that text as a clipping to the desktop, or directly into another window?

Just wondering...

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 02:40 PM

It doesn't for me - only the file name gets pasted. The full path only seems to get pasted in Terminal.

Ah, my mistake. I meant to say that the drag-and-drop method yields the path, not copying and pasting.

dejo

Apr 3, 2008, 02:44 PM

I suspect it would be better if Apple tells switchers that they should expect some differences, rather than just tell them "Its easy!"
Hmm, where does Apple tell them "it's easy!"? :confused:

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 02:53 PM

Hmm, where does Apple tell them "it's easy!"? :confused:

i guess you got me again! :D

but, honestly, which ads of apple's pc vs. mac really warns switchers of anything? And which one does not imply an impression of "easy"?

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 02:57 PM

Easy != not different.

If anyone switches from Windows to OS X expecting things to work the same, then they're awfully silly. What would be the point of switching?

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 03:11 PM

Easy != not different.

If anyone switches from Windows to OS X expecting things to work the same, then they're awfully silly. What would be the point of switching?

Good question, ask those who switched under the influence of those ads, ask them how they feel about those ads, before, and after the switch.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 03:27 PM

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 03:29 PM

Mac OS X Ocelot

Apr 3, 2008, 03:45 PM

There are many things I like about OS X, and I'm seriously considering getting an iMac or Mac Pro..

I'm just frustrated of not being able to do a very basic thing.

I did initially try dragging the file to the HTML input box next to the browse button. As it turned out, only Safari supports this feature. Well I'm not about to abandon an industry dominant browser to use Safari.

My frustration was not that OS X didn't behave like Windows, it was that it didn't perform a basic functionality that SHOULD be on both Windows and OS X. Unless Apple totally revolutionizes their next OS and abandon the tree/folder file management structure, dealing with folder/file paths are a crucial aspect of the usage of the OS.

On Mac, Safari is the "industry dominant" browser. Secondly, who appointed you namer-of-what-should-and-shouldn't-be? File paths are only crucial in Terminal. OS X already has that "revolutionized file management structure" that doesn't depend on file paths to navigate the filesystem. Haven't you ever found it funny that you're the only person in the world that has a problem with it? Maybe that's because you're the first person to notice OS X's absolutely fatal flaw (the kind of which will devastate the mac community and render OS X an embarrassment the likes of which even Vista has never seen before): that you can't copy a file path in Finder without a small workaround. However did the rest of us get along so long without that functionality?

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 04:00 PM

On Mac, Safari is the "industry dominant" browser.

Right, a dominant browser on platform with 8% of the personal computing market. If you want to stay within the Apple Macintosh Webring, then by all means go ahead. I'll try to accommodate for the majority.

I develop websites, and Safari compatibility is the last thing I'll worry about as of right now. I'm sure that stance will change as Safari adoption increases.

killmoms

Apr 3, 2008, 04:03 PM

Right, a dominant browser on platform with 8% of the personal computing market. If you want to stay within the Apple Macintosh Webring, then by all means go ahead. I'll try to accommodate for the majority.

I develop websites, so Safari compatibility is the last thing I'll worry about Right now I'm sure that stance would change as Safari usage increases.

Honestly, if you're developing websites, you should be developing to web standards... Where Safari is one of the most compliant browsers on the market—yes, even better than Firefox. If you code to web standards you will have a site that can only be MORE accessible to MORE people.

If you were going to develop for the majority you wouldn't care about Firefox either, you'd be developing for the notoriously finicky IE7 (or 6). Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth, please.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 04:07 PM

Honestly, if you're developing websites, you should be developing to web standards... Where Safari is one of the most compliant browsers on the market—yes, even better than Firefox. If you code to web standards you will have a site that can only be MORE accessible to MORE people.

If you were going to develop for the majority you wouldn't care about Firefox either, you'd be developing for the notoriously finicky IE7 (or 6). Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth, please.

Theoretically yes, but in the real world, it's all about cost vs reward, the ideal thing is to develop code for all the various browsers and account for all of their little intricacies.. In the real world where there are budget and resource constraints, all websites will be build to IE's interpretation of the web standards, then comes FireFox and so on.. Safari is low in the pecking order, but climbing.

Mac OS X Ocelot

Apr 3, 2008, 04:14 PM

Theoretically yes, but in the real world, it's all about cost vs reward, the ideal thing is to develop code for all the various browsers and account for all of their little intricacies.. In the real world where there are budget and resource constraints, all websites will be build to IE's interpretation of the web standards, then comes FireFox and so on.. Safari is low in the pecking order, but climbing.

I've yet to have a single problem with any webpage using Safari. But that's beside the point. The point being that you're using an inferior web browser that also happens to not have the one function in an OS that you can't live without because it's more popular on Windows than Safari. Perception, I guess, is everything.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 04:15 PM

Well now knowing there exist these differences at the file management level, I'll dust off that Safari icon and see if I can live with it.. who knows, maybe I'll even come to prefer it?

Kwill

Apr 3, 2008, 04:21 PM

Thanks for that, but HAHA is that the only way to copy a file's path?

MacOSXhints details a script for ya:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071018002311820

On the above web site, a solution using Automator is included, successfully tested as shown here...

yellow

Apr 3, 2008, 04:24 PM

In the real world where there are budget and resource constraints, all websites will be build to IE's interpretation of the web standards

This statement disgusts me and is typical of one thing that is wrong in the web (development) community.

bogman12

Apr 3, 2008, 04:33 PM

This statement disgusts me and is typical of one thing that is wrong in the web (development) community.

Well my statement only applies to web design in the context of e-commerce. In the world of business what would you expect? I do all my personal stuff in Flash so there are none of those issues.

clevin

Apr 3, 2008, 04:47 PM

Honestly, if you're developing websites, you should be developing to web standards... Where Safari is one of the most compliant browsers on the market—yes, even better than Firefox. If you code to web standards you will have a site that can only be MORE accessible to MORE people.

If you were going to develop for the majority you wouldn't care about Firefox either, you'd be developing for the notoriously finicky IE7 (or 6). Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth, please.

I agree about coding for the standard, I also agree safari is one of the most standard compliant browsers. But I do want to advise cautious against making judgement based solely on acid3 test.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28XML%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28XHTML%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28graphics%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28CSS%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28DOM%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28HTML5%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28ECMAScript%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28SVG%29

ChrisME

Apr 3, 2008, 06:03 PM

OK, so just for my own amusement I wrote a little application to peek into exactly what Apple puts on the clipboard when you 'Copy' a file in the Finder. It turns out that they put no fewer than thirteen different representations of the file on the clipboard - including the file name, full path, file URL, even the file's icon and, in the case of a .jpg file, an image of the actual file contents. Pretty thorough :) So it's entirely up to the receiving application to choose the richest/most appropriate format. Terminal gets it right and pastes a full path. The path window only pastes a file name, which is so obviously wrong that it qualifies as a bug IMO. So forget the feature request - this deserves to have a bug filed against it.

erikistired

Apr 3, 2008, 06:29 PM

I've yet to have a single problem with any webpage using Safari. But that's beside the point. The point being that you're using an inferior web browser that also happens to not have the one function in an OS that you can't live without because it's more popular on Windows than Safari. Perception, I guess, is everything.

you don't have lotus notes webmail then. ;)

imho the only reason the world pays attention to IE anymore is drm and big corporate monoliths with their heads stuck in the sand. once they get educated (which is happening these days, yay!) people will realize coding to standards that everyone follows rather than one heavy handed company (microsoft) will be the right way of doing things. there is no reason to bow to microsoft's absolute arrogance concerning web standards anymore.

DJAKO

Apr 3, 2008, 06:30 PM

Well my statement only applies to web design in the context of e-commerce. In the world of business what would you expect? I do all my personal stuff in Flash so there are none of those issues.

People still do entire flash websites, who would've thought. Do you use scan lines and outer glows too, don't forget drop shadows.

erikistired

Apr 3, 2008, 06:33 PM

Well my statement only applies to web design in the context of e-commerce. In the world of business what would you expect? I do all my personal stuff in Flash so there are none of those issues.

i would expect businesses to conform to the standards that the more secure web browsers use and not the broken ones that the least secure web browser tries to force upon people to hold market share. ;)

scaredpoet

Apr 3, 2008, 06:37 PM

Theoretically yes, but in the real world, it's all about cost vs reward,

...and right now, the reward of adding this behavior would be to satisfy exactly one (1) person who has expressed it being a problem. The cost/benefit ratio does not appear to be in your favor at the moment, sorry to say.

the ideal thing is to develop code for all the various browsers and account for all of their little intricacies..

Uhh, no. Not by any means is that ideal. To code for the idiosyncrasies of everyone's differing implementations is to eventaully end up with... well, Windows.

In the real world where there are budget and resource constraints, all websites will be build to IE's interpretation of the web standards,

IE's interpretation of web standards has nothing to do with budget and resource constraints. I know because I work in a budget constrained environment with a limited staff, and we develop web apps. The easiest, most cost-effective way to develop is to be standards-compliant, NOT functional to ie-only.

Then, it shouldn't matter what browser someone is using or whether it's the "dominant" browser or some obscure contraption. If it is standards-complaint, it will work. That's generally the embodiment of what it is to have a standard.

And for the record, our apps, which are tested against those standards, and work quite well on ie 7, Firefox and Safari 3. Imagine that.

In any case, all of this may be rendered moot. FireFox 3 on the Mac apparently follows the cocoa interface standards and behaviors, and uses more of the cocoa libraries. So drag will likely work in FireFox 3, and this "bug" will probably be fixed.

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 07:02 PM

In any case, all of this may be rendered moot. FireFox 3 on the Mac apparently follows the cocoa interface standards and behaviors, and uses more of the cocoa libraries. So drag will likely work in FireFox 3, and this "bug" will probably be fixed.

I certainly hope so. I was testing it using Firefox 3 Beta 4. I haven't tried Beta 5, yet. I use Safari more often, though, so it doesn't actually matter to me that much, but it'd be awfully nice if the Firefox team adds this feature.

kuwisdelu

Apr 3, 2008, 07:18 PM

My frustration was not that OS X didn't behave like Windows, it was that it didn't perform a basic functionality that SHOULD be on both Windows and OS X. Unless Apple totally revolutionizes their next OS and abandon the tree/folder file management structure, dealing with folder/file paths are a crucial aspect of the usage of the OS.

You do realize that part of the point of OS X and the whole Mac "way" is to hide the kind of folder tree file management structure as much as possible from the end user, right? You can see it in many, many aspects of Apple's programs and many, many parts of OS X. It's silly to completely do away with the structure, as the Unix core of the OS relies on this structure, but that doesn't mean the user has to deal with it when there are friendlier ways.

You can go through your entire OS X experience without ever seeing any kind of folder tree or having to type, copy, or paste in any file path names. That's the intention. When it comes right down to it, you're doing it wrong (in OS X), because you're used to Windows, where that kind of thing is necessary.

Yes, people still have to store their files in folders and things like that, but OS X tries to make sure people have to deal with folder structure as little as possible. Why do you think the icons look like folders? Because the user is supposed to treat them as folders. You open one, look inside it. If you want to, say, email a file in a folder, do you copy and paste the file location into the attachments or anything like that? Of course not! Think of it like this: if you were holding a real, physical file, and wanted to snail mail it to someone, would you tell the envelope the x,y,z coordinates of where your file is in relationship to your study? No! You grab the file from the folder and drop it in the envelope. Similarly, why would you want to tell your email the file path of your file when you can just drag and drop it right in? I realize, maybe you would prefer it the former way, but that's not the OS X way of doing things.

Look at iTunes and iPhoto. They're both apps that are especially designed to hide every facet of traditional file/folder structure from the user. You drop your songs into iTunes and it makes sure they're organized for you. You drop your photos into iPhoto, and it organizes them for you, too, and even tracks the changes you make to them as you go. If you use them right, you never, ever have to look for your songs in folders, or search through a file tree for that perfect picture. The applications have libraries already well-organized for you. Talk to the application like you would a librarian. Don't bother worrying where every individual book is or trying to keep track of the Dewey decimal system yourself; just like don't bother trying to organize 16GB or music or 10GB of photos on your own. Let the librarian/application handle that. Just tell it what you want, and it'll get it for you.

So Apple was already at that particular revolution. Get with it. File paths are so 90's. You don't need them anymore. Let go. You'll be a happier person. Let go, young padawan, and use the Force that is OS X.

I haven't had to deal with file paths or trees since leaving XP, and I'm a much happier computer user for it. You can do it, too. I believe in you.

jeremy.king

Apr 3, 2008, 09:11 PM

If it helps anyone, I wrote an Applescript and saved to /Library/Scripts that copies the selected file's path to the clipboard. I then added a Quicksilver trigger to execute this script, making sure to only enable it for Finder.app - I bound Command+Shift+F as the keyboard shortcut, so whenever I highlight a file and hit that keyboard combination, I can paste its path anywhere.

I guess you could probably just as easily add it to the Services menu too, but I *heart* Quicksilver.

Here's a small video of it in action. http://www.jeremyronking.com/mr/CopyFilePath.mp4

Enjoy!

P.S. I should mention I have Quicksilver including my Scripts folder in the catalog, don't think this is included by defaul.

Nick T.

Apr 3, 2008, 11:37 PM

Yes, it is possible.

Systems Preferences >> Keyboard & Mouse >> Keyboard ShortcutsThank you very much!

I've been asking questions about keyboard shortcuts for a long time and nobody has ever pointed me in this direction.

bplein

Apr 4, 2008, 12:39 AM

So Apple was already at that particular revolution. Get with it. File paths are so 90's. You don't need them anymore. Let go. You'll be a happier person. Let go, young padawan, and use the Force that is OS X.

I haven't had to deal with file paths or trees since leaving XP, and I'm a much happier computer user for it. You can do it, too. I believe in you.

Well, good for you in your closed OS X world!

I work in a mixed environment (actually, we're a Windows shop) and if I want to communicate the path to a file to a Windows user, I don't drag and drop a file into email (that copies the file to the email, which is NOT what I want to do). I need to copy the path to the file to the clipboard, and paste it as text into the email.

There are PLENTY of reasons to want the path to a file. Ever work with MacPorts? Do anything from a terminal window? Ever write a technical white paper? Ever have to work and communicate about the work done on a Solaris, Linux, Windows or other non-Mac system? There are many, many Mac users who do this type of work daily.

I'm a "switcher" and I don't complain about OS X, but to say that people shouldn't want their OS to be flexible is very narrow-minded.

That being said, Windows only allows you to grab the path to the folder, not the path including the filename. So it's twice the work if you want to paste the path into documentation, email, a white paper, etc. Copy the path, paste the path, copy the filename, paste the file name. So Windows doesn't do it right either.

MacHiavelli

Apr 4, 2008, 09:46 AM

I work about 50/50 with Windows and Macs - overall they are pretty much the same. Some things are better on Windows, some are better on Macs ... some are just preferred by people for their own reasons. It isn't absolute. The strange thing is that some Mac users think the Macs are perfect and don't want to learn/adopt anything from Windows. Bit crazy - but such is life.

Lone Deranger

Apr 4, 2008, 10:04 AM

No resizing needed. In the Finder, click/hold the file you want to upload and Command-Tab to your browser. The file will held under the mouse pointer. Move mouse over upload box and drop. Voila!
You've really got to work on getting out of that Windows frame of mind. :)

Okay you guys have presented an easier way to do it then manually browsing thru the levels in the Open dialog.. I'll keep that in mind, thanks! However, I still contest that pasting the folder is easier because I'm working on a 13.3" MacBook and my desktop isn't large enough to simultaneously display the web browser and the finder window.. so wha? I'd have to resize the browser window and the finder window so they can be adjacent to each other? Or Alt-Tab it until the Finder window is on top of the open dialog? lame..

clevin

Apr 4, 2008, 10:22 AM

No resizing needed. In the Finder, click/hold the file you want to upload and Command-Tab to your browser.

well, that isn't exactly intuitive nor easy...mice+keyboard altogether....

whats wrong with clicking "browse" button? clean, easy.

kuwisdelu

Apr 4, 2008, 11:28 AM

There are PLENTY of reasons to want the path to a file. Ever work with MacPorts? Do anything from a terminal window? Ever write a technical white paper? Ever have to work and communicate about the work done on a Solaris, Linux, Windows or other non-Mac system? There are many, many Mac users who do this type of work daily.

Actually, I do have to use Terminal daily. I have to remotely log into a Scientific Linux machine to get my research work done, and all I have there is the Unix command line and some limited X11 forwarding. I have to communicate and send files back and forth with Windows all the time, too. My research depends on Terminal and X11, so I guess that would probably qualify me as a Mac user who does this type of work daily.

Oddly enough, I've never had a problem with it. And show me a Windows machine that copies full file path from drag and drop. OS X makes it easy.

I was a switcher, too, once, you know. In fact most of us were. Yes, there are some here that have used Macs since 1984, but they're the minority. Most of us have also come over from a Windows frame of mind. I bought my first Mac just last summer, and I love it. I don't miss anything from Windows.

Just because I feel this way doesn't mean I think OS X is perfect. I just happen to find nothing lacking in its implementation. If they added the ability to easily copy the full file path (which there actually is...as it's in the clipboard) that would be great. I guess they just need to add the option "Copy file path..." or something. Then we'll all be satisfied :)

dejo

Apr 4, 2008, 02:20 PM

And show me a Windows machine that copies full file path from drag and drop. OS X makes it easy.
Wow! I just discovered that YOU ARE able to use drag-and-drop to populate the Choose File when using Safari for Windows! Apple makes it easy in Windows too. :D

ChrisME

Apr 4, 2008, 03:14 PM

ChrisME

Apr 4, 2008, 03:27 PM

I was a switcher, too, once, you know. In fact most of us were. Yes, there are some here that have used Macs since 1984, but they're the minority. Most of us have also come over from a Windows frame of mind. I bought my first Mac just last summer, and I love it. I don't miss anything from Windows.

When it comes to Mac OS X, we're all switchers :)

X was so different from the old Mac OS that switching to it was almost like switching to a completely different platform. A lot of muscle memory was lost and a lot of old habits had to be relearned. Some of us handled the transition better than others - there are still Mac users who keep their system loaded with dodgy utilities to make it work more like Mac OS 9. So to all the switchers who get exasperated at being told to give up their old habits and just learn the Mac way, don't feel bad - a lot of long-time Mac users have been through the same thing.

Just because I feel this way doesn't mean I think OS X is perfect. I just happen to find nothing lacking in its implementation. If they added the ability to easily copy the full file path (which there actually is...as it's in the clipboard) that would be great. I guess they just need to add the option "Copy file path..." or something. Then we'll all be satisfied :)

I'm all for Apple adding nice little power user features that less experienced users can ignore, and the new Apple has actually been pretty good about that. One of the big reasons OS X is my favorite OS is that it does such a good job (most of the time) of being slick and trouble free enough for my Mom, but sophisticated and geeky enough for me at the same time. Apple doesn't get enough credit for pulling that off - it's pretty impressive, I think.

benpatient

Apr 4, 2008, 03:39 PM

to those of you asking why he isn't using spotlight to do this instead, i have to burst your bubble.

if you're using leopard, spotlight ignored file names if they don't look "interesting" enough.

if they have too many numbers, it will not return them as results unless you type in the entire file name from the beginning.

this "upgrade" has ruined several of my workflows from tiger, and so far, I have found no solutions. Everything just takes longer now.

benpatient

Apr 4, 2008, 03:47 PM

Wow! I just discovered that YOU ARE able to use drag-and-drop to populate the Choose File when using Safari for Windows! Apple makes it easy in Windows too. :D

that's nothing.

you can also open multiple files from an "open" dialog box in Windows.

Or, you can right-click on a file inside an open/save/attach dialog box and rename/copy/move/paste or otherwise manipulate that file without ever leaving the dialog box.

very useful if you want to save a file as "file 1.jpg but you look in the folder you're working on and that file name already exists...you can rename the old version of the file just like you have an explorer (finder) window open, then click "save" and your new file will take the old file's name without overwriting it.

also, you can cut/paste in windows instead of having to copy/paste/delete.

You can go through your entire OS X experience without ever seeing any kind of folder tree or having to type, copy, or paste in any file path names.

funny, i could swear i had to type a pathname into safari to get to http://forums.macrumors.com

Did your mac come pre-loaded with links to every website you want to visit? or when you want to get to a new site that you don't have a bookmark for, do you have to play a game of "find the link i want on a page i have a link to already"? amazing.

clevin

Apr 4, 2008, 03:55 PM

Or, you can right-click on a file inside an open/save/attach dialog box and rename/copy/move/paste or otherwise manipulate that file without ever leaving the dialog box.

also, you can cut/paste in windows instead of having to copy/paste/delete.

gotta say, windows does offer "more ways" of doing some things, and I don't think OSX is particularly time saving when performing these type of tasks. Sure its do-able, just not that effective. Call that subjective if you want tho.

Im not very clear about fullpath in safari tho, are you saying you have to type in "http://"?

dejo

Apr 4, 2008, 04:01 PM

that's nothing.
My point was that you can't do the same using Firefox or IE.

killmoms

Apr 4, 2008, 04:03 PM

funny, i could swear i had to type a pathname into safari to get to http://forums.macrumors.com

Did your mac come pre-loaded with links to every website you want to visit? or when you want to get to a new site that you don't have a bookmark for, do you have to play a game of "find the link i want on a page i have a link to already"? amazing.

That's a domain name, not a path name. Lay off the snark. :rolleyes:

Lone Deranger

Apr 4, 2008, 06:25 PM

Nice one.. didn't know that one yet. I love how many of those hidden treasures OSX has. Much better, faster and easier to use than tedious browsing. :D

You can also drag and hover over the browser icon in the Dock and hit Space to bring it to the front.

bogman12

Apr 4, 2008, 09:40 PM

that's nothing.

you can also open multiple files from an "open" dialog box in Windows.

Or, you can right-click on a file inside an open/save/attach dialog box and rename/copy/move/paste or otherwise manipulate that file without ever leaving the dialog box.

Very true, OS X open dialog box has no right-click functionality on individual files or folders. A waste IMO. Very often, I want to rename a file right before uploading to MediaFire.

Ludde

Apr 5, 2008, 03:24 AM

Okay so I have a finder window open and I've browsed to a folder where I've just created a zip file of the contents in that folder.

Now I want to upload that zip file to mediafire.com I click browse from the mediafire page and another finder window pops up so I can select the file to upload. This is where it gets frustrating:

In Windows, I can simply copy the absolute path of the folder where the zip file was created (folder is already open in the background) and paste it into the newly opened prompt window and then choose the zip file that exist there and click open. I'm now done.

In OS X, when the new Finder window pops, I have to browse manually to the zip file, and this especially gets frustrating when the folder is buried deep. Is there any reason why I can't EASILY grab the path of a finder window that's already open and paste that path somewhere else? In other words, There is NO way it seems to type a path to a folder in OS X Finder. You HAVE to freakin' click around for everything!

Does Apple think we're stupid and would always prefer the point n' click?

Oh and I also hate how after updating a file in an application, the file's modify date in finder doesn't get updated until I click on that Finder window.. wtf!?

There is another way to do this in OS X, that's almost even easier than copying the path.

You open the dialog for finding the file and then you simply drag the file to the right part of that window. The open dialog will switch to the folder where the file is located and you can upload it. It's easy as pie, but I think it took me a while to figure it out.

I hope this helps ;)

sushi

Apr 5, 2008, 03:40 AM

In the real world where there are budget and resource constraints, all websites will be build to IE's interpretation of the web standards, then comes FireFox and so on.. Safari is low in the pecking order, but climbing.
This is so wrong.

Standards are just that, and should be used as such.

This statement disgusts me and is typical of one thing that is wrong in the web (development) community.
Well said. Why have standards if you are not going to follow them.

IE's interpretation of web standards has nothing to do with budget and resource constraints. I know because I work in a budget constrained environment with a limited staff, and we develop web apps. The easiest, most cost-effective way to develop is to be standards-compliant, NOT functional to ie-only.

Then, it shouldn't matter what browser someone is using or whether it's the "dominant" browser or some obscure contraption. If it is standards-complaint, it will work. That's generally the embodiment of what it is to have a standard.

And for the record, our apps, which are tested against those standards, and work quite well on ie 7, Firefox and Safari 3. Imagine that.
Yep, imagine that. :)

yellow

Apr 7, 2008, 07:57 AM

Very true, OS X open dialog box has no right-click functionality on individual files or folders. A waste IMO. Very often, I want to rename a file right before uploading to MediaFire.

Agreed. There are more things that could be added to the contextual menu's basic functionality (like choosing what shows up and in what order), but since the right click is still not a "standard" in OS X, that implementation is kind of an afterthought.

bugfaceuk

Apr 7, 2008, 03:17 PM

What's even more tiresome (and this coming from a long time windows user) is that some people won't even take the time to read up on the way to do things, google their question (which most of the time can answer the question), or take the time to play around and learn. Then instead of asking a question if still lost, would much rather post a hateful "OSX Sucks if I can't do this, cuz I can do this in Windoze" and post all the task gripes which actually makes them look more foolish more times than not.

This is the concept I think most switchers can't grasp.

My wife is a recent switcher and very computer illiterate. She's more prone to b!tching about how something worked this way in windows and how she can't do the same in OSX but she actually took the time to learn and went "Oh wow! that's so much easier", or "Hmm, that's a nice feature, that's better than this/that." Point being, she hasn't complained about this or that, but rather try to look it up, then come to me "I'm having a hard time doing this, I used to be able to do this, what's the equivilant on my MB" and I would gladly show her.

She did one time say "This sucks, I can't even do that" which I replied "Sure you can and it's easier", she said "How?" and I told her flat out "Google it if your gonna b!tch about it"

I'm sorry but this is Mac snobbery of the worst kind. Tell the guy the Mac way of doing it, and leave it there. If you really think he is too lazy, then ignore his question. Why feel the need to preach?

There are some great suggestions in here, and I fully appreciate that there are features of a particular OS that you can miss when you switch, and the good news is that the mac normally offers even better alternatives (I'm a spotlight guy, love it).

Personally I love seeing all these switchers... bring on the questions I like nothing more talking about the great tricks in Mac OS.

Bug

shoulin333

Apr 7, 2008, 03:56 PM

For sure mac os was built to only show people what they needed to see.

Now that macs are becoming more than a webtv of comps.. and since i use a MBP now, having a true text path bar on the top of finder windows would be great.

I guess i have always been a fan of text based games, keyboard shortcuts, and right clicking. IMO CoverFlow is a piece of time wasting garbage, they should have saved their time and put in a real path bar as an option instead.

Not a windows fanboy by any-means, but osx is deff crippled in some ways to make it more "user friendly"

Added:
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I still dont understand why people dont pay the $15 a year or less for a real ftp.