John Dorsey

Q: Mavericks Finder - how default to "double click opens new window"?

I am old and set in my ways.  I like having the Finder open a new window when I double click a folder.  Since 1984 I've arranged Finder windows in positions and sizes that suit me and I have never seen any reason to change.

 

In Mavericks however there does not seem to be a way to default to, "double click opens new Finder window".  My choices under Finder preferences are, open in the same window; or open in a tab.  I don't care for either.

 

Does anyone know of a way to restore the traditional Finder behavior in Mavericks?  Thanks in advance.

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 18 GB RAM

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 5:54 PM

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Q: Mavericks Finder - how default to "double click opens new window"?

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  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Oct 22, 2013 6:01 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 6:01 PM in response to John Dorsey

    Finder Preferences > General > uncheck "open folders in tabs instead of new windows."

  • by John Dorsey,

    John Dorsey John Dorsey Oct 22, 2013 6:17 PM in response to macjack
    Level 2 (426 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 6:17 PM in response to macjack

    That gives me the new folder's content in the existing window.  I want a new, separate window, in a place and size that I've previously set up.

  • by John Dorsey,

    John Dorsey John Dorsey Oct 22, 2013 7:55 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 2 (426 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 7:55 PM in response to John Dorsey

    Interestingly the Finder under Mavericks appears to refuse to honor whichever setting I give it, when I double-click on a folder.  All folders, when I double-click, open in place in the same window.  This is the same whether I have it set to open in 'tabs' or 'windows'.  The settings *do* affect the listing that shows when I right-click on a folder, appropriately reflecting "open in new tab" or "open in new window"; and those work as expected.

     

    So perhaps my question is a different one, namely, why is the Finder treating my double-clicks to mean one and only one thing?

  • by bblonshine,

    bblonshine bblonshine Oct 22, 2013 8:07 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 8:07 PM in response to John Dorsey

    I'm having  the same issue. I want a folder to open in a new window, not a new tab within the same window. I understand the use of that, and it will come in handy at times, but I still want folders to open in new and seperate windows.

  • by John Dorsey,

    John Dorsey John Dorsey Oct 22, 2013 8:12 PM in response to bblonshine
    Level 2 (426 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 8:12 PM in response to bblonshine

    It's not easy to find much on this issue out on the web, on the day of Mavericks' release, but I am seeing indications here and there that this is intentional behavior, to make the Finder act more like a browser.  So, double-click means "open this link right here" (like a hyperlink in a browser), with options to right-click or command-click and open instead in a new window or new tab (you choose which, in preferences).

     

    If true this would make operating the Finder a two-handed operation, and require the unlearning of a whooole lot of muscle memory.

     

    Let me ask:  Are other users able to double-click on a folder in window and get *either* a new tab or a new window out of it?

  • by Tezz27000,

    Tezz27000 Tezz27000 Oct 22, 2013 9:02 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:02 PM in response to John Dorsey

    Based on the way the setting is worded in finder preferences (and the fact that ther is a preference for a secondardy operation and not for the primary) I'm hoping that this is a fault that will be fixed in 10.9.1 or something. Maybe I'm just being an optimist.

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Oct 22, 2013 9:10 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:10 PM in response to John Dorsey

    YOU CANT

    .....unfortunately

     

    see here:

    http://www.macworld.com/article/2043164/hands-on-with-os-x-mavericks-finder-tabs-and-tagging.html

     

     

     

    Thats actually a VITAL feature to myself, .....the reason behind removing this feature, is to remove a desktop full of a bunch of windows open.......

     

     

    .....however i need it,....... its not a "bug" of Mavericks....  but there should be a patch for this missing feature people find important.

     

    It is a vital missing feature to a lot of people

     

    I can live without it, but juggling sometimes 5 attached hard drives  and doing file transfers,..., it is a Near-Vital feature

  • by TomW123,

    TomW123 TomW123 Oct 22, 2013 9:27 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:27 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Completely agree with PlotinusVeritas - this needs to be restored right away.

  • by TomW123,

    TomW123 TomW123 Oct 22, 2013 9:32 PM in response to TomW123
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:32 PM in response to TomW123

    Whoa - I've found a partial fix, set up Secondary Click.  If you have the Apple trackpad or MagicMouse, it's in your Preferences Pane.  Secondary click gives you a menu, the first option of which is Open in New Window. Nowhere near as fast or convenient as double-clicking ... which should still be a Finder Preferences option.

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Oct 22, 2013 9:38 PM in response to TomW123
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:38 PM in response to TomW123

    that isnt going to work on a macbook or macbook Air.

  • by nerdguy,

    nerdguy nerdguy Oct 22, 2013 9:53 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:53 PM in response to John Dorsey

    This really puts a fork in 30 years of Apple UX

     

    This completely changes how the Finder works, for the worse. Might as well never use the Finder.

     

    This is some "Windows 8 Start Screen" foolishness, right here.

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Oct 22, 2013 10:01 PM in response to nerdguy
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 10:01 PM in response to nerdguy

    There is a great deal of logic behind this change actually

     

    And youll find me the LAST PERSON to complain about Mavericks really,......

     

    not ONLY is it FREE,.......its made my new Air just blazing fast

     

    My boot time now is 8 SECONDS (my goodness)

     

    Switching APPS is ultra-fast.........even on my Air, Photoshop opens up LIGHTNING FAST,.....just mind numbingly FAST!

     

     

     

    Thank You to Apple, MAVERICKS IS AWESOME!!!! I REALLY LOVE IT!!!

    128405.gif

  • by Thrust,

    Thrust Thrust Oct 22, 2013 10:55 PM in response to John Dorsey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 10:55 PM in response to John Dorsey

    Hey everybody, while I too like most of what Mavericks has to offer, this change is SERIOUSLY making me think about going back to Mountain Lion... please, do as I have done and LET APPLE KNOW you don't like this!

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/

  • by Xiebinrui,

    Xiebinrui Xiebinrui Oct 22, 2013 11:12 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 11:12 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    PlotinusVeritas wrote:

     

    that isnt going to work on a macbook or macbook Air.

     

    What do you mean? Why wouldn't that work on those laptops?

     

    I'm using a Macbook Pro here and that works like TomW123 describes. I mean, I know a Macbook Pro doesn't equal a Macbook or Macbook Air, but it's just a trackpad setting, right? Not sure what the difference is in trackpads between the various laptops.

     

    Secondary Click is basically just a Gesture shortcut for Control-Click, so you just click with two fingers and it opens the menu and you click "open in new window."

     

    Granted, sure, it's not as quick as double-clicking, but I still don't see why this "isn't going to work" on one of those other laptops. Do those models not support Gestures or something?

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