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2 Things about OSX I don't get...File size and END key

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purdueboiler87

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 5, 2005
82
2
Clearwater, FL
I have two simple questions that I just can't figure out:

1. How come in the finder for some of my files, the file size does not display? It just shows "--". Why doesn't it give me the file size? I have some big video files I would like to see the size of without doing a Get Info all the time.

2. What is the purpose of the end key? Seems like it just doesn't work right. When I have the focus in an URL field for example and you hit the end key, it should go to the end of the field. Doesn't do that. If I am typing a sentence, like this for example, and I hit the end key, it does not go to the end of the sentence? If it doesn't go to the "end" of something, why did they call it the "end" key?
 
purdueboiler87 said:
I have two simple questions that I just can't figure out:

1. How come in the finder for some of my files, the file size does not display? It just shows "--". Why doesn't it give me the file size? I have some big video files I would like to see the size of without doing a Get Info all the time.

2. What is the purpose of the end key? Seems like it just doesn't work right. When I have the focus in an URL field for example and you hit the end key, it should go to the end of the field. Doesn't do that. If I am typing a sentence, like this for example, and I hit the end key, it does not go to the end of the sentence? If it doesn't go to the "end" of something, why did they call it the "end" key?
Click to expand...

1. This is because the file that you are looking at is a large file. These little lines (--) means that it is measuring the size of the folder and it will display it as soon as it's loaded.

2. I'm not sure about the end key. :)
 
Under Windows, the End key goes to the end of the line. Under OS X it goes to the end of the page. Press Command-Right for the same behaviour as Windows.
 
So I did a Get Info on three of the files that didn't have sizes displayed. 23GB, 128K and 12 GB. The finder window has been open over a minute now and the file sizes still don't appear. Maybe it's me but this seems pretty dumb. I have a dual 2.3 with 4.5 gigs of RAM and when I open a finder window, I can't get file sizes for "big" files? I love my Macs and OSX but this just seems too ridiculous. Is there some option I can turn on? God, even windows can give me the file sizes.
 
purdueboiler87 said:
So I did a Get Info on three of the files that didn't have sizes displayed. 23GB, 128K and 12 GB. The finder window has been open over a minute now and the file sizes still don't appear. Maybe it's me but this seems pretty dumb. I have a dual 2.3 with 4.5 gigs of RAM and when I open a finder window, I can't get file sizes for "big" files? I love my Macs and OSX but this just seems too ridiculous. Is there some option I can turn on? God, even windows can give me the file sizes.
Click to expand...

Are they folders?

Click on the little gear icon in the finder window and select View Options, then at the bottom of the little window that opens is a box marked "Calculate all sizes." Does that work? You might have to close and reopen the window so that it refreshes.
 
Chundles said:
Are they folders?

Click on the little gear icon in the finder window and select View Options, then at the bottom of the little window that opens is a box marked "Calculate all sizes." Does that work? You might have to close and reopen the window so that it refreshes.
Click to expand...


That fixed it. Thanks. Not sure why that wouldn't be on as a default. Thanks again.
 
purdueboiler87 said:
That fixed it. Thanks. Not sure why that wouldn't be on as a default. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Because it doesn't look as polished and finished as not having it on by default
 
purdueboiler87 said:
So I did a Get Info on three of the files that didn't have sizes displayed. 23GB, 128K and 12 GB. The finder window has been open over a minute now and the file sizes still don't appear. Maybe it's me but this seems pretty dumb. I have a dual 2.3 with 4.5 gigs of RAM and when I open a finder window, I can't get file sizes for "big" files? I love my Macs and OSX but this just seems too ridiculous. Is there some option I can turn on? God, even windows can give me the file sizes.
Click to expand...


so your upset your computer couldnt immediately read and calculate the size of a 23 gig file?

dude, 23 gigs is HUGE. I know it doesnt seem like it, with 60gig ipods and 4 gig nanos... but as ONE file, 23 gigs is gigantic. Relax. This is normal for calculating the file size.

Your computer has little to do with how fast it would display that. It can only scan the file so fast (processor has little to do with that), and its just taking time to figure out the size.

if it bothers you so much, cut your files down in size.
 
Nermal said:
Under Windows, the End key goes to the end of the line. Under OS X it goes to the end of the page. Press Command-Right for the same behaviour as Windows.
Click to expand...
For more fun, try Option-Right/Left. It's incredibly useful for me, though I never figured out if that had an equivalent in Windows.
 
It's not on all the time, because it takes drive activity and CPU cycles to calculate those things all the time.
 
purdueboiler87 said:
That fixed it. Thanks. Not sure why that wouldn't be on as a default. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

And because it sucks up CPU resources constantly calculating folder sizes.
 
Lebowski said:
so your upset your computer couldnt immediately read and calculate the size of a 23 gig file?

dude, 23 gigs is HUGE. I know it doesnt seem like it, with 60gig ipods and 4 gig nanos... but as ONE file, 23 gigs is gigantic. Relax. This is normal for calculating the file size.

Your computer has little to do with how fast it would display that. It can only scan the file so fast (processor has little to do with that), and its just taking time to figure out the size.

if it bothers you so much, cut your files down in size.
Click to expand...

Lebowski, relax, he wasn't attacking OS X as much as he was asking why/what was going on.
There's no need to respond like that.
 
The "end" key thing is still questionable...

The only thing I've ever seen it work with, is MS Office...makes sense..MS..

but, why even put it on the keyboard..I really like the end/home commands in windows, a two button command in Mac is silly when you already have those keys....sometimes just hitting up/down in Mac will do the same thing, but not always...

One of the minor things that irritates me about OS X...

but it's a small thing..
;)
 
quigleybc said:
The "end" key thing is still questionable...

The only thing I've ever seen it work with, is MS Office...makes sense..MS..

but, why even put it on the keyboard..I really like the end/home commands in windows, a two button command in Mac is silly when you already have those keys....sometimes just hitting up/down in Mac will do the same thing, but not always...
Click to expand...

Try it in a webpage ;)
 
Lebowski said:
so your upset your computer couldnt immediately read and calculate the size of a 23 gig file?

dude, 23 gigs is HUGE. I know it doesnt seem like it, with 60gig ipods and 4 gig nanos... but as ONE file, 23 gigs is gigantic. Relax. This is normal for calculating the file size.

Your computer has little to do with how fast it would display that. It can only scan the file so fast (processor has little to do with that), and its just taking time to figure out the size.

if it bothers you so much, cut your files down in size.
Click to expand...

I know you're being a little tongue-in-cheek, but that answer is completely unacceptable. It's not like the OS is tabulating all 23,000,000,000 bytes to come to the final file size. It just has to look at the file table (FAT in Windows terms). It should be available instantly.

If you had a folder of 1000's of files that collectively totalled 23 gigs, I could maybe excuse a bit of delay, since it would have to sum all the sizes of all those files, but it shouldn't take THAT long.
 
Remember that any Mac application (.app-"file") is really a folder that may be containing countless files. Also if the permissions is "wrong" then it will not show the size and remain "--" for ever...
 
i always wondered about the sizing thing, id like to know the sizes of files and it makes sense that it takes up CPU to always calculate that stuff. but i think the sizes are saved unless something changes then itll recalculate it so its not always calculating all the time.
 
purdueboiler87 said:
2. What is the purpose of the end key? Seems like it just doesn't work right. When I have the focus in an URL field for example and you hit the end key, it should go to the end of the field. Doesn't do that. If I am typing a sentence, like this for example, and I hit the end key, it does not go to the end of the sentence? If it doesn't go to the "end" of something, why did they call it the "end" key?
Click to expand...

On the Mac, Up Down arrow -- scrolls a line worth, Page Up Down -- scrolls a screen worth and Home and End -- scroll to beginning and end of documents.
 
purdueboiler87 said:
2. What is the purpose of the end key? Seems like it just doesn't work right. When I have the focus in an URL field for example and you hit the end key, it should go to the end of the field. Doesn't do that. If I am typing a sentence, like this for example, and I hit the end key, it does not go to the end of the sentence? If it doesn't go to the "end" of something, why did they call it the "end" key?
Click to expand...

In a single-line text field (like the URL field) the down-arrow key will take you to the end of the field. Up-arrow will take you to the beginning of the field.
 
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