Show Address Bar in FInder

[Kelly Craig]

In Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

Once you run the above command, you will also need to restart the Finder, so you can either type "killall Finder" and hit return, or use the Force Quit option under the Apple menu to relaunch it. The Finder will restart, and you will start seeing the paths to directories in the title bar.

 

[Mikey7c8]

^^ that's handy, thanks!

It really does hurt without an address bar, at least for a power user. Command-Shift-G is good to know, but it doesn't start from your current path which could almost be a decent substitute.

Coming back from linux that's one of the big things that hurts, alongside the lack of built-in sshfs support - which is practically criminal. Yes I can use macfusion, but I shouldn't *have* to when finder has a perfectly good mount system.

Was pretty close to blowing OSX away at one point.

 

[JarredWagner]

If I am working on a project that I know will make use of a few particular folders scattered throughout the system, I will add them as shortcuts in the sidebar. This creates one-click access to any folder regardless of its 'distance', and you can also drag and drop into the shortcuts and hover to spring open.

Of course it's not what you are asking for, but it is the best way I have found to quickly move around and move things around.

Also Pathfinder can make something like this more tolerable with tabs and its 'Dual Browser' view.

I must say that I am working much faster since embracing this approach, but of course ymmv.

 

[jessef]

pha

Yea well unfortunately Apple doesn't consider the fact that people may actually want to be efficient while using their computers. It's quite pathetic that you would have to use third party software to be able to type in the address of where you want to go. However, even the third party utilities do not do the trick. God for bid I want to type in the file path of where I want to save a file to, the third party app will not work as the finder is what is used to save files. Or what if I wanted to do something so complicated like RENAME a file in a directory while in the process of saving a file to that directory, or move some files around while I am in the process of saving a file?? Mac users probably do not even know what I am talking about as this is SO far fetched in the MAC realm.

For anyone that is about to dispute what I said, or that will say that cmd + shift + g, or the path, or anything else is actually what I am looking for, then you just don't understand what I am talking about. I primarily use Windows but for some dumb reason decided to get a mac for Pro Tools (audio recording) and cannot stand its "toy's r us" ish feel. Fine, I admit that a person off the street who never used a computer in their life may have an easier time using a mac off the shelf than a Windows computer, but once you get past the stage of being able to double click something, a mac becomes SO FRUSTRATING!

 

[NT1440]

Yea well unfortunately Apple doesn't consider the fact that people may actually want to be efficient while using their computers. It's quite pathetic that you would have to use third party software to be able to type in the address of where you want to go. However, even the third party utilities do not do the trick. God for bid I want to type in the file path of where I want to save a file to, the third party app will not work as the finder is what is used to save files. Or what if I wanted to do something so complicated like RENAME a file in a directory while in the process of saving a file to that directory, or move some files around while I am in the process of saving a file?? Mac users probably do not even know what I am talking about as this is SO far fetched in the MAC realm.

For anyone that is about to dispute what I said, or that will say that cmd + shift + g, or the path, or anything else is actually what I am looking for, then you just don't understand what I am talking about. I primarily use Windows but for some dumb reason decided to get a mac for Pro Tools (audio recording) and cannot stand its "toy's r us" ish feel. Fine, I admit that a person off the street who never used a computer in their life may have an easier time using a mac off the shelf than a Windows computer, but once you get past the stage of being able to double click something, a mac becomes SO FRUSTRATING!

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

put that in the terminal, hit enter, and quit whining. You couldnt be bothered to read the thread you posted in?

Thanks Kelly Craig!

 

[jessef]

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

put that in the terminal, hit enter, and quit whining. You couldnt be bothered to read the thread you posted in? ...

Thanks. I did read the whole thread. That helps a bit but you still cannot type the path of where you want to go. Nor can you do anything to the folder while in the process of saving a file to that folder. Or what if you want to copy and paste some files from folder to folder? Is the most efficient way to right click or command c, then manually browse to the other folder and paste? Or if you want to CUT a file or folder into a different folder, do you have to drag?

IDK, maybe I just don't get these macs but seemingly simple tasks seem to take WAY longer and I don't think there is any arguing about that.

 

[devburke]

Note that a folder's full path is viewable in Get Info, but stupidly you can't select the text to copy the path to the clipboard

Don’t know if this was changed in Leopard, but you can select the text in Snow Leopard.

Yea well unfortunately Apple doesn't consider the fact that people may actually want to be efficient while using their computers. It's quite pathetic that you would have to use third party software to be able to type in the address of where you want to go. However, even the third party utilities do not do the trick. God for bid I want to type in the file path of where I want to save a file to, the third party app will not work as the finder is what is used to save files. Or what if I wanted to do something so complicated like RENAME a file in a directory while in the process of saving a file to that directory, or move some files around while I am in the process of saving a file?? Mac users probably do not even know what I am talking about as this is SO far fetched in the MAC realm.

For anyone that is about to dispute what I said, or that will say that cmd + shift + g, or the path, or anything else is actually what I am looking for, then you just don't understand what I am talking about. I primarily use Windows but for some dumb reason decided to get a mac for Pro Tools (audio recording) and cannot stand its "toy's r us" ish feel. Fine, I admit that a person off the street who never used a computer in their life may have an easier time using a mac off the shelf than a Windows computer, but once you get past the stage of being able to double click something, a mac becomes SO FRUSTRATING!

Chill out man. What you have to understand is that OS X is not Windows, and it’s not trying to be. It will not emulate Windows behavior all of the time, and using it when you’re used to Windows may take a little adjusting. It does some things differently. In fact, in many ways, OS X allow you to be much more efficient than Windows.

As for your specific points…

Yea well unfortunately Apple doesn't consider the fact that people may actually want to be efficient while using their computers. It's quite pathetic that you would have to use third party software to be able to type in the address of where you want to go.

cmd-shift-g, when you’re in the Finder, if you like.

For anyone that is about to dispute what I said, or that will say that cmd + shift + g, or the path, or anything else is actually what I am looking for, then you just don't understand what I am talking about.

Right, because you’re talking about working in open/save dialogs, as you said here…

God for bid I want to type in the file path of where I want to save a file to

OK, there’s no address bar there. Learn to embrace column view. Let’s say I wanted to save a file in “/Users/Devin/Music/iTunes Media/Music/Biz Markie/The Biz Never Sleeps” (cuz who doesn’t love “Just A Friend”?). Now it would be simplest to start in my home folder from the sidebar, but for the sake of comparison to an address bar, let’s say I started in “Macintosh HD”. Here’s what I would have to type to get there using an address bar:

/Users/Devin/Music/iTunes Media/Music/Biz Markie/The Biz Never Sleeps

Now here’s what I have to type using column view (with “>” representing the right-arrow):

u>>mu>>i>mu>bi>>

Now that will be slightly different on everyone’s computer, depending exactly what files or folders you have. But it’s still a lot less typing. If I had started in my home directory from the sidebar, it would have only been:

mu>>i>mu>bi>>

OK, now we’re down from hitting 68 keys to hitting 13. And the functionality isn’t all that different, think of it as auto-completing folder names, and it’s mostly just the presentation that’s different. Then again, on second thought, I think Windows will auto-complete folder names for you too. Fair enough. In that case, this is pretty much the EXACT same functionality, with a very different face.

Ah, but now you’re probably thinking “That doesn’t work if I just want to change an earlier part of the path for the folder I’m already in!” True. I will give you that. In an OS X open/save dialog, you can click the name of the folder you’re in here:



…to get this dialog:



…where you can move up to a higher folder to navigate to a different directly (using the keyboard like I showed you above!)

But if you REALLY to type in the path for an open/save dialog, here’s a trick: go to Finder, use cmd-shift-g to open the folder, and then drag the folder icon from the title bar into the open/save dialog. Presto! The dialog has switched to that folder!

It’s different from Windows, but the functionality is there. Just don’t expect it to act like Windows.

Or what if I wanted to do something so complicated like RENAME a file in a directory while in the process of saving a file to that directory, or move some files around while I am in the process of saving a file??

Think about that one for a second. I know you can do it in Windows, but it doesn’t make much sense. If you click File > Save As…, the window that pops up should be dedicated to saving a file. Adding other functionality into it is inconsistent, doesn’t make sense, and just creates room for confusion (the only reason it makes sense to you is because you’re used to it, and again, OS X isn’t trying to be Windows). Why not just open the folder in Finder to rename/move files?

I’ll stress this one more time: OS X is different than Windows in a lot of ways. If you want it to act exactly like Windows…well there’s an OS that does just that, and it’s called Windows. You’re perfectly free to use it if you don’t want to adjust to a new system (which is understandable). Even if you have to use OS X for some things (like Pro Tools) you can still install Windows on the same computer and only start up OS X when you need it.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Chill out man. What you have to understand is that OS X is not Windows, and it’s not trying to be. It will not emulate Windows behavior all of the time, and using it when you’re used to Windows may take a little adjusting. It does some things differently. In fact, in many ways, OS X allow you to be much more efficient than Windows.

[snipped for length]

I’ll stress this one more time: OS X is different than Windows in a lot of ways. If you want it to act exactly like Windows…well there’s an OS that does just that, and it’s called Windows. You’re perfectly free to use it if you don’t want to adjust to a new system (which is understandable). Even if you have to use OS X for some things (like Pro Tools) you can still install Windows on the same computer and only start up OS X when you need it.

Totally agree. I also would like to say that column view is A LOT more efficient than the address bar in Windows. You can move incredibly fast using the arrow keys and letters to jump around. I much prefer that to Explorers many views.

 

[devburke]

Thanks. I did read the whole thread. That helps a bit but you still cannot type the path of where you want to go. Nor can you do anything to the folder while in the process of saving a file to that folder. Or what if you want to copy and paste some files from folder to folder? Is the most efficient way to right click or command c, then manually browse to the other folder and paste? Or if you want to CUT a file or folder into a different folder, do you have to drag?

IDK, maybe I just don't get these macs but seemingly simple tasks seem to take WAY longer and I don't think there is any arguing about that.

If you really wanna get efficient with the keyboard, for doing everything from moving files to uploading pictures to Flickr, you should check out Quicksilver. There are some great tutorials online. Lifehacker has some. It’s not being developed any more on its main site, so get the newest version from http://code.google.com/p/blacktree-alchemy/downloads/list . I use it all the time to move files in seconds with just a few keystrokes. For anyone who wants to be really efficient and good with the keyboard at all, you should really learn QS. Just be warned, there’s a pretty steep learning curve. It’s totally worth it though. You may find that some plugins make it crash or just don’t work. That’s cuz they’re old and haven’t been updated in forever. But using the ones that do work will make you wonder how you got by without it.

 

[jessef]

ok

Thanks for the tips everyone and sorry for whining. I've learned a few things.

-Column view is somewhat useful (sort of similar to Windows how you can type the letter of the folder you want to go to and then hit Enter), though copying and pasting (and typing) paths is infinitely useful. (Was this changed in Snow Leopard as devburke questioned?)

-I will be sure to check out Quicksilver...

thx

 

[hollerz]

Is this what you want?

When in File > Save As, click in the Search box and type / - It'll bring up the Go to the folder dialogue.

 

[devburke]

Is this what you want?

When in File > Save As, click in the Search box and type / - It'll bring up the Go to the folder dialogue.

Oh cool! Never knew that! This sounds like exactly what the OP wants!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Is this what you want?

When in File > Save As, click in the Search box and type / - It'll bring up the Go to the folder dialogue.

Cool tip... Typing ~ to start in you home folder also works...

Edit: It seems this is a new in Snow Leopard. It doesn't do this on my girlfriend's Leopard machine nor my old backup Tiger machine.

 

[Gregg2]

There is a path bar in Leopard…just go to the view menu and select "Show Path Bar"

Bingo! It would be nice if the OP would respond to all these suggestions to let all participants know if this, or some other suggestion, helps.

I also wish for an address bar like windows. The path bar, and different views are ok.. but not the same.

Yeah, it's not Windows. I bet you could come up with a longer list of things you like better about the Mac OS. Focus on the positive!

.
Just found in Leopard a menu option
View -> Show Path Bar
So at the bottom you get a graphical path bar showing you where you are. ...you can't select the text to copy the path to the clipboard

cherry su beat you to it 10 posts above. I like your idea about being able to copy the path. You should suggest that to Apple. I tried to do it in the Get Info window as well. No go.

right/ctrl-click in the toolbar (or use View-menu) to choose "Customize Toolbar...", and add the Path-icon.

And there are several options for displaying the toolbar. Just right-click or control-click in the toolbar... Text Only / Icons Only / Small Size / etc.

 

[devburke]

cherry su beat you to it 10 posts above. I like your idea about being able to copy the path. You should suggest that to Apple. I tried to do it in the Get Info window as well. No go.

In Snow Leopard you can do it from the Get Info window.

 

[mac2x]

Cool tip... Typing ~ to start in you home folder also works...

Edit: It seems this is a new in Snow Leopard. It doesn't do this on my girlfriend's Leopard machine nor my old backup Tiger machine.

It does on mine. Didn't know the feature existed!

 

[devburke]

It does on mine. Didn't know the feature existed!

I can confirm that it works in Tiger too.

 

[jamesleungphoto]

Thanks, from a windows user.

I was use to copying and pasting folder paths for open and save dialogs in windows 7 and XP.

As mentioned here
Dragging the Target folder in the finder toolbar to the open/save as dialog did just that I didn't even have to copy and paste.

Thanks for all the tips