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

B

bogman12

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2007
218
0
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!?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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..
 
Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]
 
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.
 
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.
 
Killyp said:
Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]
Click to expand...

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.
 
kingjr3 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Command+Shift+D for Desktop
 
davidjearly said:
I find it very tiresome when people come on complaining about the lack of a Windows feature in Mac OS X.
Click to expand...

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.

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

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"
 
davidjearly said:
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.
Click to expand...

Agreed. You have to let go of the Windows way of doing things and embrace the OS X way of doing things. :cool:

The two finger screen scrolling and two finger right click are good examples of other Mac features new Mac converts find puzzling. But once you start using them you'll love them. 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. :(
 
BlackMax said:
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. :(
Click to expand...

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

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...
 
bogman12 said:
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?
Click to expand...

When the dialogue box opens DRAG the file into it… Upload… what could be easier? :confused::confused:
 
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
 
Killyp said:
Drag a file from the open Finder window into the 'Save as' or 'Open' dialogue. It will take you to that location. =]
Click to expand...
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!
 
Good call, thanks for that tip, I will use that one.
MacHiavelli said:
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
Click to expand...
 
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