What's wrong with the Finder?

[dejo]

Yes, but I would much like it to just be folder in alphabetical order, and the files in alphabetical order (regardless of extension)

Much like XP is.

In other words rather than a simple, obvious one-criteria sort, it should be a subtle, not-so-obvious two-criteria sort.

I think if they're gonna do this, they need to make it obvious what it's doing: sort first by type, second alphabetically.

 

[yg17]

I love the cut command and wish Finder had it. The way it could work is that it wouldn't remove the file from the original location until it's pasted somewhere else. That way, you have no dangerous deletes.

 

[Evangelion]

I had a problem with Finder last night, and maybe on of you guys could help me: How do I configure Finder to show ALL folders in certain view? Assume that I want to use list-view. I select it and everything seems to be working. I then open some folder and it shows it in icon-view! I select list-view again, and open another folder: Again icon-view!

How do I change that?

 

[Voidness]

Why oh why can I not have folders at the top of my columns and THEN the files?

I end up putting underscores before most folder names just to get this.

Actually, there's another workaround for that, and it's much more practical. From Macworld:

Change the Order of Folders Sorted by Kind in List View:

If you use List view and sort a folder’s contents by Kind, you’ll see that any folders within the folder are alphabetically sorted right into the middle of the mix—since their kind is Folder. To most people, however, folders are special entities and shouldn’t be sorted with other files in the folder. Here’s how to make all your folders go to the top (or bottom) of the list when sorted by Kind.

The hardest part of this hint is navigating to the file you need to edit. In the Finder, go to System: Library: Frameworks: ApplicationServices.framework: Versions: A: Frameworks: LaunchServices.framework: Versions: A: Resources. Whew. Within that folder, you’ll see the English.lproj folder. Highlight it, and then select File: Get Info. In the Ownership & Permissions area, click on the Details triangle, click on the lock icon, and then click on the Owner pop-up menu and set it to your user name (enter your password if asked). Leave this window open; you’ll be changing it back in just a minute.

Inside the English.lproj folder is a file named Localized.strings. Drag it onto TextEdit. Find the line that reads "Folder" = "Folder"; and insert a space before the F in the second Folder. To sort folders to the bottom of the list instead of the top, you’ll have to use one of four special characters: ? (mu), ? (pi), ? (omega), or ? (the Apple-logo character)—see Mac OS X Hints, November 2004, for more information). Save the file, approving any dialog boxes that may appear. In the Get Info window that you left open, change Owner back to System and then close the window.

Now you need to restart your computer—these values are read only at startup, so a simple logout and login won’t do the trick. Once you’ve restarted, you’ll be rewarded with improved sorting.

 

[Voidness]

I had a problem with Finder last night, and maybe on of you guys could help me: How do I configure Finder to show ALL folders in certain view? Assume that I want to use list-view. I select it and everything seems to be working. I then open some folder and it shows it in icon-view! I select list-view again, and open another folder: Again icon-view!

How do I change that?

I just noticed that. Weird, it only happens in List View. Column and Icon View seem to work across different folders (Unless you specified List View for a particular folder).

 

[A.Fairhead]

The only thing for me, really, is this:

If you have Finder display 'all folders' in a certain way, an option to include/exclude the exclusive layouts for those certain folders you've set up (e.g. if you wanted one with a different background colour or larger icons etc), would be quite nice. Also, an option to restore one of those 'certain folders' back to the generic layout that you have everything else displaying like would also be nice.

Very small point, but one I thought I'd make

 

[projectle]

I would like to propose a change of the title to this thread...

It could be "Whats wrong with fixing the f***ing finder?"

Are you saying that you have never connected to a network server through Safari (opening FTP in Finder) at which point your system becomes completely unresponsive until the connection will undoubtedly time out (usually after 5 minutes of being connected whether in use or not).

In most cases, it is almost impossible to get Finder to disconnect from the remote server through the normal eject system, so you would need to go through the terminal to umount /Volumes/<name_your_site>.

There are a whole lot more, but I am complaining about that one because I just had to deal with it about 15 minutes ago.

 

[mox358]

I've been one of those who complained about the Finder for a long time. But this week I finally realized how much of an improvement the OS X Finder really is.

At work we're still on OS 9 (we're a small newwpaper, and they seem to be waiting on the Intel situation to shake out before they upgrade. After some really long hours this week, I had a couple of things happen at work that really opened my eyes. At home I have my old iMac G4 and my MacBook which both run Tiger.

Our server at work is huge, as at has archives that span as far back as the paper, multiple images for every story, the web archives, in-house stuff, and a massive collection of quick use stock art. Navigating this requires a seperate window for every folder that I need to keep open. There's no way to go up one folder level in the hierarchy without going all the way back to the actual folder and opening it. No way to launch an app by dragging it to the dock. I had to clutter up my desktop with all kinds of shortcuts to duplicate some of the dock functionality. The sidebar in OS X, which I used to never use, has become indisensible to me for being another quick launch tool.

After being a devout FTFF fan, I've decided that while they can always make improvements, the OS X Finder only needs small tweaks to be great. It's already a magnitude of order better than the OS 9 Finder ever dreamed of.

 

[tjwett]

use Path Finder instead for one day and you'll never want to touch the Finder again. http://www.cocoatech.com

 

[dpaanlka]

I'm really quite satisfied with the Finder.

I think people find "faults" with things that are different, not necessarily worse, than they are in Windows.

 

[daze]

hi all

disclaimer: I'm used to windows explorer since windows 3.0 and all sorts of "graphical shells" before it, like pctools, pcshell and stuff whose names I can't remember anymore My comments on the Finder are from my recent experience with OS X Panther, which was bundled with my first Mac. I'm usually happiest organizing my files with Gnome Nautilus.

I remember PCTools! That, and Norton Commander were two of my favourite utilities. Others were mostly archivers like ARJ, LHA, and SQZ. What a blast from the past!

Daze

 

[daze]

I love the cut command and wish Finder had it. The way it could work is that it wouldn't remove the file from the original location until it's pasted somewhere else. That way, you have no dangerous deletes.

Not having the Cut command is just pathetic. I mean, what's so hard about implementing this command? Why must I use "mv" in the Terminal to accomplish the same feat?

 

[solvs]

use Path Finder instead for one day and you'll never want to touch the Finder again. http://www.cocoatech.com

Version 3 didn't work out for me, and it screwed up my system when I tried to take it out. I've heard good things about 4, but I won't be trying it until I see what Leopard has to offer. I've heard it's really nice, but unfortunately couldn't get a lot of details.

Is different than what's been shown in the dev preview though, I can tell you that.

 

[mrgreen4242]

1) Network shares shares should be handled much, much better. From finding them, to mounting them, to disconnecting them.
2) FTP, as mentioned.
3) File Copying in Finder is HORRIBLE. If there is a bad file in the middle of, say, 6,000 files find just quits the copy... what's even worse is it doesn't copy files sequentially, or by folder so you can't be sure where you left off. It's an absolute mess. This is the #1 fix for me.

 

[mrwoodo]

How to list all files recursively?

Hi,

can someone please help with a question (I'm a Mac newb)

In Windows I would keep my photo / mp3 collection tidy by using the Windows Explorer, and searching on the root folder (eg "photos") for *.*, ensuring 'include subdirectories' was ticked. This would bring back all files, in a flat-view in the search results pane. Then I'd simply be able to delete any of the crap (eg. non jpeg files) by sorting of filetype, and selectively deleting.

So what I'm after is ability to list all files that are NOT of a certain type, recursively. I just can't seem to find it in the Finder or Smart Folder search. Sorry if this is explained somewhere else, just couldn't find it.

Ta,
Woodo

[edit]

ok found a way - I just put in some criteria that will bring back everything, like all files created before today, and it's fine from there. Dunno if there's an easier way but it works

 

[killmoms]

Not having the Cut command is just pathetic. I mean, what's so hard about implementing this command? Why must I use "mv" in the Terminal to accomplish the same feat?

Why don't you just, uh, move stuff? You know you CAN do that right? When you click and drag some files to another folder, it'll copy by default, but if you hold down the command key, that green + sign will disappear, and you'll move them instead. Easy.

 

[eXan]

Why don't you just, uh, move stuff? You know you CAN do that right? When you click and drag some files to another folder, it'll copy by default, but if you hold down the command key, that green + sign will disappear, and you'll move them instead. Easy.

Quite the opposite. When you just drag stuff from one location to another, it will simply move, but when you hold the Option key while dragging, stuff will copy. Unless you ment moving stuff to the external drive...

 

[killmoms]

Quite the opposite. When you just drag stuff from one location to another, it will simply move, but when you hold the Option key while dragging, stuff will copy. Unless you ment moving stuff to the external drive...

Well, yes, but I assumed since he thought you _couldn't_ move files within the Finder he was going between volumes.

SO, to summarize:

Within the same volume, files move by default. Hold Option to copy files.

Between two volumes, files copy by default. Hold Command to move files.

 

[Blue Velvet]

There's no way to go up one folder level in the hierarchy without going all the way back to the actual folder and opening it.

Even in OS 9, you could navigate hierarchies by holding down the Apple key and clicking on the folder icon at the top of a Finder window.

What bugs me is people criticising things before they know how they work. Granted, it's not immediately intuitive but it's been there for years.

 

[sunfast]

I get annoyed when I'm copying files.

Let's say I have a file on the desktop I'm moving to an external drive.

1 - click Desktop in the side bar

2 - select file, drag to external in side bar

3 - external springs open, I drop the file.

4 - I now wich to go back to delete the file but "Desktop" is highlighted and clicking it does nothing. I have to select another side bar item before I can click desktop again.

It's a minor thing but it really really needles me.

 

[Blue Velvet]

I get annoyed when I'm copying files.

Let's say I have a file on the desktop I'm moving to an external drive.

1 - click Desktop in the side bar

2 - select file, drag to external in side bar

3 - external springs open, I drop the file.

4 - I now wich to go back to delete the file but "Desktop" is highlighted and clicking it does nothing. I have to select another side bar item before I can click desktop again.

It's a minor thing but it really really needles me.

But why not 'move' it by holding down the Apple key as you drag it?

 

[gauchogolfer]

But why not 'move' it by holding down the Apple key as you drag it?

Maybe because that would be too easy? I dunno

 

[sunfast]

But why not 'move' it by holding down the Apple key as you drag it?

Gosh. I learn something every day.

Still, I'm still annoyed by the way that a folder you are not viewing remains highlighted in the sidebar and clicking it won't take you there.

 

[Platform]

Even in OS 9, you could navigate hierarchies by holding down the Apple key and clicking on the folder icon at the top of a Finder window.

What bugs me is people criticising things before they know how they work. Granted, it's not immediately intuitive but it's been there for years.

I soo agree, most of the features are there, people just don't know...

I would like to see a location bar and a re-designed interface...

 

[Frogurt]

A weird/petty gripe about Finder/Dock user interface:
For many (but not all!) applications when I click on the icon in the dock two things will happen...
1) If I don't have a window open it will create a new one (this works whether I am currently in the application or not).
2) If I do have a window open it will ONLY switch applications.
The problem here is with consistency: firstly between applications (e.g. Quicktime does not follow this behavior) and secondly within a given application. For example, 95% of the time I use only one Finder window, so when I switch I either create a new one or use my old one. I experience a similar behavior in both cases: a window pop-ups on top of everything else for me to use. So, Finder/Dock has taught me to expect a Finder window to appear whenever I click on the Finder icon, which is confusing the 5% of the time I am doing something more complicated and need two windows. I click on the Finder icon and nothing happens.

I know you can say this is something I just need to learn (although I've been with OS X since 10.0 and I still haven't), but user interfaces in general perform better when there is less to memorize. This is especially true for beginers to whom differences are random and confusing. In this case Apple is making us memorize behavior for each application and to remember that it will change if there are already windows open. So for 40 applications we have to remember 40 small behaviors (which aren't even consistent within Apple) plus 1 big and somewhat contradictory behavior.

The simplest behavior, never opening a new window, requires just 1 behavior to memorize/learn. But Apple could keep the open new window behavior and yet not require as much thought by the user as the current system: click an icon to switch to an application (and would open a new window if one is lacking) and once in that application a click would open a new window. Of course standardizing behavior across all applications is the place to start.

This pales compared to network and ftp problems, but it's something that always gets to me since Apple prides itself on design and usability.