Another Newbie

[robfuscate]

i'm just returning to Macs after some years with PCs. It isn't by choice, just employment change, certainly there are some very nice things in OSX, 🙂 I just have too many useful programs that have no equivalents in Mac to want to change now. 🙁

My questions

1/. How can I set View As Columns as the default opening view for folders when I open them?

2/. Can I set the columns to 'auto-size' to fit contents, instead of dragging?

 

[devilot]

My questions

1/. How can I set View As Columns as the default opening view for folders when I open them?

I can only answer this one.

While in Finder> Finder Preferences> check 'Open new windows in column view

 

[robfuscate]

ooops

Oh, perhaps I should have said that I had this box ticked and it doesn't seem to work... is there some other way?

R

 

[TLRedhawke]

Alas, no. The checkbox is the only approach, but even so OS X is kind of flaky with enforcing this preference.

 

[balamw]

certainly there are some very nice things in OSX, 🙂

Finder certainly isn't on the top of my list of what's right about OS X. 😉

It doesn't annoy me enough to try them out myself, but have you considered trying alternatives, such as Path Finder? http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16678

B

 

[robfuscate]

Finder certainly isn't on the top of my list of what's right about OS X. 😉

It doesn't annoy me enough to try them out myself, but have you considered trying alternatives, such as Path Finder? http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16678

B

Unfortunately I am only a basic user, cannot add/change anything 😡

there are a number of programs out there which would certainly enhance my Macxperience, that i simply can't use.

2/. Can I set the columns to 'auto-size' to fit contents, instead of dragging?

Anyone any suggestions/advice about this?

R

 

[frankblundt]

Unfortunately I am only a basic user, cannot add/change anything 😡

really? not at all? i thought even in "limited" accounts you could still install applications, just you have to install them into your own home folder (after making a folder called applications) rather than into the system apps folder.
They can lock the dock too (which is a pain) but i don't think that stops you running apps from your folders directly.
No?
Or do you mean not allowed by THE MAN? (been there 🙁 ) If your setup is that oppressive, someone's responsible for making it that way - grumble to them about what you want to do. They lock you out of helping yourself, they should be helping you out.

or you could get hold of a system cd and reset the admin password 😉 (don't get fired tho)

 

[stridey]

Oh, perhaps I should have said that I had this box ticked and it doesn't seem to work... is there some other way?

R

Try openning a new Finder window, changing to column view, and immediately closing it again.