Not the usual Finder sidebar issue (SL 10.6.2)

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 11, 2010

So a couple of days ago my Finder sidebar simply dissappeared, as in all my shortcuts were not there anymore and I cannot enable them. "Devices", "places" and "search for" is simply gone and it will not let me check it in the sidebar preferences.

Actions taken so far:
Realized it wasn't the typical "click jelly bean button on top right".

I did not accidentally hit "hide sidebar".

Restarted.

Repaired Disk Permissions.

Tried to enable via. Finder Preferences --> Sidebar --> checkbox. However, checkbox wouldn't "check".

Other accounts look just fine.

Restored ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist from backup
Finder crashed upon forced relaunch and no dice.

Deleted ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist from backup
On relaunch still no dice.

Now I am utterly lost.

mysterytramp · Jan 11, 2010

Any chance you accidentally hit "Hide Sidebar"?

mt

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 11, 2010

No.

Does it look hidden to you?

mysterytramp · Jan 11, 2010

Hmmmm. Sure seems like you've got a plist issue, though what you've done should have done something.

Since the A-string isn't chiming in, how about this:

Turn everything off in preferences and then force quit Finder.

If that doesn't work, what happens when you try to save a search?

What happens when you display icon view or list view?

Shooting in the dark here.

You might need to reinstall your OS.

mt

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 12, 2010

Driving me crazy here. Turning stuff off and relaunching doesn't work and new saved searches don't show at all.
I am able to view list and icon view fine but still no icons in sidebar.
Kinda crappy if I need to reinstall the system to fix this, especially since it's a user related issue... :/
Are there any other local preferences located anywhere that could have gone unnoticed?

LPZ · Jan 12, 2010

Jiddick ExRex said:
Driving me crazy here. Turning stuff off and relaunching doesn't work and new saved searches don't show at all.
I am able to view list and icon view fine but still no icons in sidebar.
Kinda crappy if I need to reinstall the system to fix this, especially since it's a user related issue... :/
Are there any other local preferences located anywhere that could have gone unnoticed?

Maybe try this----Open Terminal (in Utilities) and enter

defaults find sidebar

Post the entire portion pertaining to Finder, which should look something like this:

Found 14 keys in domain 'com.apple.finder': {
"All Images.cannedSearch" = {
SidebarWidth = 148;
ToolbarVisible = 1;
ViewHeight = 382;
ViewStyle = icnv;
WindowBounds = {
bottom = 490;
left = 24;
right = 774;
top = 108;
};
};
ComputerOptions = {
ListViewOptions = {
ColumnCount = 8;
ColumnFlags = 9;
Columns = (
{
ColumnPropertyID = dnam;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 300;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = modd;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 181;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = ascd;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 181;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = phys;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 97;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = kind;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 115;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = labl;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 100;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = shvr;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 75;
},
{
ColumnPropertyID = cmmt;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 300;
}
);
FontSize = 12;
IconSize = 16;
SortColumn = dnam;
UseCustomViewOptions = 1;
};
SidebarWidth = 135;
ToolbarVisible = 1;
ViewHeight = 382;
ViewStyle = icnv;
WindowBounds = {
bottom = 598;
left = 106;
right = 857;
top = 216;
};
};
ComputerViewSettings = {
WindowState = {
ShowPathbar = 1;
ShowSidebar = 1;
ShowStatusBar = 1;
ShowToolbar = 1;
SidebarWidth = 135;
WindowBounds = "{{575, 92}, {751, 460}}";
};
};
NSNavSidebarWidth = 120;
NetworkViewOptions = {
ColumnViewOptions = {
ArrangeBy = kind;
};
IconViewOptions = {
ArrangeBy = kind;
UseCustomViewOptions = 1;
};
ListViewOptions = {
ColumnCount = 8;
ColumnFlags = 9;
Columns = (
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = dnam;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 300;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = modd;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 181;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = ascd;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 181;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = "-1";
ColumnPropertyID = phys;
ColumnSortOrder = 2;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 97;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = kind;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 1;
ColumnWidth = 115;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = labl;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 100;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = shvr;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 75;
},
{
ColumnAlignment = 0;
ColumnPropertyID = cmmt;
ColumnSortOrder = 1;
ColumnVisible = 0;
ColumnWidth = 300;
}
);
FontSize = 12;
IconSize = 16;
SortColumn = kind;
UseCustomViewOptions = 1;
};
SidebarWidth = 146;
ToolbarVisible = 1;
ViewHeight = 382;
ViewStyle = icnv;
WindowBounds = {
bottom = 540;
left = 265;
right = 1015;
top = 158;
};
};
NetworkViewSettings = {
WindowState = {
ShowPathbar = 1;
ShowSidebar = 1;
ShowStatusBar = 1;
ShowToolbar = 1;
SidebarWidth = 146;
WindowBounds = "{{270, 30}, {750, 460}}";
};
};
PackageViewSettings = {
WindowState = {
ShowPathbar = 1;
ShowSidebar = 1;
ShowStatusBar = 1;
ShowToolbar = 1;
SidebarWidth = 192;
WindowBounds = "{{392, 75}, {770, 444}}";
};
};
SearchViewSettings = {
WindowState = {
ShowPathbar = 1;
ShowSidebar = 1;
ShowStatusBar = 1;
ShowToolbar = 1;
SidebarWidth = 146;
WindowBounds = "{{312, 105}, {924, 634}}";
};
};
SidebarDevicesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
SidebarPlacesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
SidebarSearchesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
SidebarSharedSectionDisclosedState = 1;
TrashOptions = {
SidebarWidth = 135;
ToolbarVisible = 1;
ViewHeight = 382;
ViewStyle = icnv;
WindowBounds = {
bottom = 736;
left = 464;
right = 1214;
top = 354;
};
};
WindowState = (
BROw,
{
EntryPoint = "file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20DVD/";
ScrollPosition = {
h = 0;
v = 0;
};
ShowToolbar = 0;
SidebarWidth = 0;
Target = "file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20DVD/";
ViewHeight = 420;
ViewStyle = icnv;
WindowBounds = {
bottom = 464;
left = 0;
right = 525;
top = 44;
};
}
);
}

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 12, 2010

Code:

Found 12 keys in domain 'com.apple.finder': {
    BrowserWindowState =     (
                {
            BrowserViewState =             {
                ColumnViewInnerScrollOrigins =                 (
                    "{0, 0}",
                    "{0, 0}",
                    "{0, 0}"
                );
                ColumnViewOuterScrollOrigin = "{0, 0}";
            };
            ShowPathbar = 1;
            ShowSidebar = 1;
            ShowStatusBar = 1;
            ShowToolbar = 1;
            SidebarWidth = 169;
            TargetPath =             (
                "x-finder:Computer",
                "file://localhost/",
                "file://localhost/Applications/"
            );
            TargetURL = "file://localhost/Applications/";
            ViewStyle = Column;
            WindowBounds = "{{222, 300}, {1280, 458}}";
        }
    );
    ComputerOptions =     {
        SidebarWidth = 169;
        ToolbarVisible = 1;
        ViewHeight = 293;
        ViewStyle = icnv;
        WindowBounds =         {
            bottom = 727;
            left = 120;
            right = 920;
            top = 434;
        };
    };
    ComputerViewSettings =     {
        ListViewSettings =         {
            calculateAllSizes = 0;
            columns =             {
                comments =                 {
                    ascending = 1;
                    index = 7;
                    visible = 0;
                    width = 300;
                };
                dateCreated =                 {
                    ascending = 0;
                    index = 2;
                    visible = 0;
                    width = 181;
                };
                dateLastOpened =                 {
                    ascending = 0;
                    index = 8;
                    visible = 0;
                    width = 200;
                };
                dateModified =                 {
                    ascending = 0;
                    index = 1;
                    visible = 1;
                    width = 181;
                };
                kind =                 {
                    ascending = 1;
                    index = 4;
                    visible = 1;
                    width = 115;
                };
                label =                 {
                    ascending = 1;
                    index = 5;
                    visible = 0;
                    width = 100;
                };
                name =                 {
                    ascending = 1;
                    index = 0;
                    visible = 1;
                    width = 300;
                };
                size =                 {
                    ascending = 0;
                    index = 3;
                    visible = 1;
                    width = 97;
                };
                version =                 {
                    ascending = 1;
                    index = 6;
                    visible = 0;
                    width = 75;
                };
            };
            iconSize = 16;
            scrollPositionX = 0;
            scrollPositionY = 0;
            showIconPreview = 1;
            sortColumn = name;
            textSize = 12;
            useRelativeDates = 1;
            viewOptionsVersion = 0;
        };
        WindowState =         {
            ShowPathbar = 1;
            ShowSidebar = 1;
            ShowStatusBar = 1;
            ShowToolbar = 1;
            SidebarWidth = 169;
            WindowBounds = "{{79, 227}, {1280, 518}}";
        };
    };
    NSNavSidebarWidth = 120;
    NetworkViewOptions =     {
        ColumnViewOptions =         {
            ArrangeBy = kind;
        };
        IconViewOptions =         {
            ArrangeBy = kind;
            UseCustomViewOptions = 1;
        };
        ListViewOptions =         {
            ColumnCount = 8;
            ColumnFlags = 9;
            Columns =             (
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = dnam;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 1;
                    ColumnVisible = 1;
                    ColumnWidth = 300;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = modd;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 2;
                    ColumnVisible = 1;
                    ColumnWidth = 181;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = ascd;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 2;
                    ColumnVisible = 0;
                    ColumnWidth = 181;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = "-1";
                    ColumnPropertyID = phys;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 2;
                    ColumnVisible = 1;
                    ColumnWidth = 97;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = kind;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 1;
                    ColumnVisible = 1;
                    ColumnWidth = 115;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = labl;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 1;
                    ColumnVisible = 0;
                    ColumnWidth = 100;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = shvr;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 1;
                    ColumnVisible = 0;
                    ColumnWidth = 75;
                },
                                {
                    ColumnAlignment = 0;
                    ColumnPropertyID = cmmt;
                    ColumnSortOrder = 1;
                    ColumnVisible = 0;
                    ColumnWidth = 300;
                }
            );
            FontSize = 12;
            IconSize = 16;
            SortColumn = kind;
            UseCustomViewOptions = 1;
        };
        SidebarWidth = 169;
        ToolbarVisible = 1;
        ViewStyle = icnv;
        WindowBounds =         {
            bottom = 0;
            left = 0;
            right = 0;
            top = 0;
        };
    };
    SearchViewSettings =     {
        IconViewSettings =         {
            arrangeBy = name;
            backgroundColorBlue = 1;
            backgroundColorGreen = 1;
            backgroundColorRed = 1;
            backgroundType = 0;
            gridOffsetX = 0;
            gridOffsetY = 0;
            gridSpacing = 31;
            iconSize = 64;
            labelOnBottom = 0;
            showIconPreview = 1;
            showItemInfo = 1;
            textSize = 12;
            viewOptionsVersion = 0;
        };
        WindowState =         {
            ShowPathbar = 1;
            ShowSidebar = 1;
            ShowStatusBar = 1;
            ShowToolbar = 1;
            SidebarWidth = 169;
            WindowBounds = "{{164, 120}, {1280, 458}}";
        };
    };
    SidebarDevicesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
    SidebarPlacesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
    SidebarSearchesSectionDisclosedState = 1;
    SidebarSharedSectionDisclosedState = 1;
    "Today.cannedSearch" =     {
        SidebarWidth = 169;
        ToolbarVisible = 1;
        ViewHeight = 440;
        ViewStyle = icnv;
        WindowBounds =         {
            bottom = 727;
            left = 34;
            right = 1404;
            top = 287;
        };
    };
    TrashOptions =     {
        SidebarWidth = 135;
        ToolbarVisible = 1;
        ViewHeight = 307;
        ViewStyle = icnv;
        WindowBounds =         {
            bottom = 686;
            left = 65;
            right = 1629;
            top = 379;
        };
    };
}

allan.nyholm · Jan 12, 2010

Maybe migrate your stuff to a new Admin account? It sure is a difficult issue

I'm suggesting a new Admin account because you mentioned that other accounts look fine.

LPZ · Jan 12, 2010

Double-click on com.apple.finder.plist in ~/Library/Preferences. This should open with Property List Editor.

Do you have a key named ShowSidebar of type Boolean and value Checked?

Gregg2 · Jan 12, 2010

Why are no Places checked in the thumbnail in the first post?

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 13, 2010

Gregg2 said:
Why are no Places checked in the thumbnail in the first post?

Because they can't. When I check them, they become unchecked immediately...

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 13, 2010

LPZ said:
Double-click on com.apple.finder.plist in ~/Library/Preferences. This should open with Property List Editor.

Do you have a key named ShowSidebar of type Boolean and value Checked?

It is indeed checked.

LPZ · Jan 13, 2010

Jiddick ExRex said:
It is indeed checked.

Open again using Property List Editor. Uncheck that box. Save changes. Recheck box. Save changes. Quit Property List Editor.

Then do command+option+esc and relaunch Finder.

What a weird problem!

TheSpaz · Jan 13, 2010

Try dragging the com.apple.finder.plist file from another user account to your preferences folder, but before you restart the Finder, get info on finder.plist and make sure you lock it. Then restart the Finder.

Jiddick ExRex · Jan 14, 2010

LPZ said:
Open again using Property List Editor. Uncheck that box. Save changes. Recheck box. Save changes. Quit Property List Editor.

Then do command+option+esc and relaunch Finder.

What a weird problem!

This didn't work either. I am fairly convinced that it is not sidebar related as the sidebar is not hidden, it's the actual icons that won't show.

TheSpaz said:
Try dragging the com.apple.finder.plist file from another user account to your preferences folder, but before you restart the Finder, get info on finder.plist and make sure you lock it. Then restart the Finder.

No dice.
This is getting really weird!

LPZ · Jan 14, 2010

Jiddick ExRex said:
... it's the actual icons that won't show.

Not just the icons, but the entire contents of the sidebar.

I have nothing more to offer. Sorry---and good luck.

Chris Devers · Feb 10, 2010

Sidebar has a separate plist file, focus on that maybe?

You keep looking at com.apple.finder.plist, but the sidebar has its own plist file in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sidebarlists.plist.

Try renaming or removing that and see if it gets you anywhere.

Alternatively, run `sudo filebyproc.d | grep plist` in a Terminal window to try to get a sense of which plist file ~~are getting poked when you open up Finder windows.~~

v3lky · Jul 22, 2013

In case this has not been fixed, or anyway else has this problem here is what worked for me. The issue originally was that the sidebar simply was not present and could not be turned on in the View menu.

First I deleted the plist files for both the finder and sidebar, ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder....

Then I removed the Finder cache, ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.finder

Then I relaunched the Finder, closed all the problematic windows, opened new ones and the side bar was present once again.

Best of luck!

Not the usual Finder sidebar issue (SL 10.6.2)

macrumors 65816

Attachments

macrumors 65816

Attachments

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68020

macrumors 65816

macrumors 604

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 604

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors newbie

macrumors newbie

Our Staff