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Lifted from my topic on Apple Disucssions

Here are the main issues:

• It does not matter how I adjust the size of the NAME section in a Finder Window in List view. The next time the very same window is open, it defaults to the original size when initially opened with the NAME section too long for the content.

• The NAME section is always extremely long regardless of what is in the list (see image attached).

• Often, the TAG dot is so far over to the right that is does ot appear. It is not visible because the LIST COLUMN is too long. The rest of the window columns (SIZE, KIND, etc.) are similarly completely hidden in the overlarge window scrolling off to the right. They can be scrolled into view, but still default to the "too large" size when the windwo is opened.

• About half the time, it is not possible to adjust the LIST VIEW column size by the handle betweem the sections (NAME, DATE, KIND, etc.). Clicking on the handle (the line between sections) has no effect and the left and right arrows do not appear. THis seems to be limited to only the NAME section ofthe window.

Again, resizing the screen does nothing to fix any of this. I've looked at the FInder Preferences in the User Library which I have bolded below. I have opened and changed these in TextWrangler but they revert to the exact same settings, which I assume is becuase there is no way to quit the Finder w/o it saving the currently used preferences and settings (at least the unmutable ones). I will try booting in Target mode and replacing that file later today to see if i can force the OS to default to a smaller column size.

It's not a matter of my not understanding how the Finder works, nor any user error. The Finder windows on this system, for whatever reason, are not working efficiently and not accepting user adjustments for some reason. THAT is what I am trying to address.

You will have to open this following image in a new window or tab to see the whole picture:



Excerpt from the plist : com.apple.finder.plist


<key>ComputerOptions</key>
<dict>
<key>ListViewOptions</key>
<dict>
<key>ColumnCount</key>
<integer>8</integer>
<key>ColumnFlags</key>
<integer>9</integer>
<key>Columns</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>dnam</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<true/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>300</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>modd</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>2</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<true/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>181</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>ascd</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>2</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<false/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>181</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>phys</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>2</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<true/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>97</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>kind</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<true/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>115</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>labl</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<false/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>100</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>shvr</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<false/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>75</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ColumnPropertyID</key>
<string>cmmt</string>
<key>ColumnSortOrder</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ColumnVisible</key>
<false/>
<key>ColumnWidth</key>
<integer>300</integer>
</dict>
</array>

I've had this problem at least since 10.8, and possibly 10.7. One consistent thing I've found is if you simply open a Finder window, change the layout, and close it, the setting are gone when you next open a Finder window. You have to DO something with the window for the settings to stick. But, I've not been able to figure out what the minimum operation is.

E.g., if I open a new Finder window in list view, change the layout, scroll down, flip open a folder, select a file, do Get Info, close that, and close the Finder window, the setting will stick.

Definitely not the behavior in Snow Leo. I'm trying to figure out how this might be needed for tabbed windows?

I didn't see this in Mountain Lion or earlier. It's new with 10.9 for me. Apple discussions is useless sometimes...

ps... thanks for your replies, guys.

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:I didn't see this in Mountain Lion or earlier. It's new with 10.9 for me. Apple discussions is useless sometimes...

I do think that Apple monitors these threads, contrary to popular belief. The recent debacle with iTunes displaying ALL old podcasts actually prompted a trouble report from an Apple tech and was promptly fixed in an update.

What I'm seeing is what someone described in the Apple discussions link you posted. When I open a window the Name field (only) expands to fill out the window, but I'm not having the problem that you've experienced, where the other fields are out of view. I've also noticed in the View Options window there's Arrange By and Sort By as options. Were those both there before?

Phil

I've also noticed in the View Options window there's Arrange By and Sort By as options. Were those both there before?

Yes. Since 10.6, if I recall.

What's new is Date Added in the list of options. As someone who attaches files to a database and email many times a day, this is a huge time saver for me. Had I thought if it, I would have been bugging them to include it many versions ago.

UPDATE: I have found a way to temporarily fix this. Toggle the Finder window to FULL SCREEN and then back to normal (traditional) view). You can use the ESC key to do this. It fixes it. New windows seem to revert to the problem on an ad hoc basis but at least there is an easy fix. I'll be setting up a Quickeys command to toggle it for me when the need arises.

And interestingly, this only works with local discs. External drives retain the long name column.

Hoping for a fix.