S. G.
Level 1 (51 points)
iPhone

Q: How to highlight the entire folder with the tag color, as before?

I've always highlighted important folders with colors, so that they stand out among others in a list for quicker access. Now in Mavericks list view, there is only a small color dot to the right of the folder's name (sometimes very far from the folder's name if the column is large). As a result, it is much harder to pick important folders. Is there any way to apply the tag color to the whole folder, as it used to be in all previous systems? Or at the very least, to move the dot to the left of the folder name within lists, as in Icon view? I really hope Apple did not remove this feature simply for the sake of design. Thanks.

MacBook Air + iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 2:14 PM

by S. G.,Solvedanswer
S. G. S. G.
Level 1 (51 points)
iPhone
A:

Someone on another thread suggested this free app, XtraFinder, and it's great:

 

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/42067/xtrafinder

 

You can add colors back to the entire name (slightly less pretty than with previous OS but good enough) of the folder in list view or icon view. As a result, colored folders and files jump at you again in list view, as they used to. XtraFinder appears to use the last tag color that was added, if you use multiple tags and may show as various colors in a sorted tag view.

 

You can also add colors to the sidebar, thereby removing the need for the extra extension SideEffects.

Posted on Jun 12, 2014 3:16 PM

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S. G.

Q: How to highlight the entire folder with the tag color, as before?

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  • by S. G.,

    S. G. S. G. Oct 27, 2013 8:18 PM in response to Alancito
    Level 1 (51 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 27, 2013 8:18 PM in response to Alancito

    Thanks for the suggestion Alancito. I have custom icons on some folders already, and while better than nothing, it is still a bit subtle in the small list view. I may have to look into more contrasted ones.

  • by kathylw,

    kathylw kathylw Oct 29, 2013 2:16 PM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2013 2:16 PM in response to S. G.

    I add another vote to restore a color label on files and folders. Pre-Mavericks I used labels to highlight folders to assist with work task priorties. The tags are not as effective for that use. I have posted requests for 2 changes if labels are not restored:

        - be able to place the tag dots to the left of the file/folder names in list formats so that tag color is visually prominent,

        - when sorting files/folders as icons/list/columns by tags - be able to turn off the tag name header for each of the tag groups. The tag header takes up a lot of visual real estate on the screen, unnecessary as the sidebar also contains the tag labels. I want to be able to sort the files/folders by tag when viewing, but I don't need the header to remind me why they are grouped.

  • by S. G.,Helpful

    S. G. S. G. Oct 29, 2013 2:20 PM in response to kathylw
    Level 1 (51 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 29, 2013 2:20 PM in response to kathylw

    Following Alancito's recommendation, this helps a little:

     

    http://ekliptikz.deviantart.com/art/Snow-Leopard-Folder-Colors-162730433

     

    Unfortunately, it is only for folders. I still can't highlight files as I used to.

  • by wyrmsmaug,

    wyrmsmaug wyrmsmaug Oct 29, 2013 7:35 PM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Oct 29, 2013 7:35 PM in response to S. G.

    Oh, that's rather nice! Admittedly, as many are saying, not as good as the original 'labels' which included files, but still very good and helpful. Much appreciated!

     

     

  • by Mg7707,

    Mg7707 Mg7707 Oct 30, 2013 11:55 PM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 11:55 PM in response to S. G.

    I can't believe how bad apple has gotten in seeing the obvious... tags are a downgrade from labels... please fix this quick for all of us who are already stuck on Mavericks. Last time I "upgrade" so quickly.

  • by Alancito,

    Alancito Alancito Oct 31, 2013 3:27 AM in response to Mg7707
    Level 6 (11,157 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 3:27 AM in response to Mg7707

    Mg ~ Welcome to the Support Communities.

    Mg7707 wrote:

     

    please fix this quick

    We can't fix it — we're just users like yourself. To ask Apple to fix it, use this form:

     

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

     

    _SIgnature.gif

  • by Laralyn10,

    Laralyn10 Laralyn10 Oct 31, 2013 8:33 AM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 31, 2013 8:33 AM in response to S. G.

    Yes! I'm so glad I'm not the only one.

     

    I also used labels to highlight important folders and files. Now in Mavericks you have to trace across to see the little dot. Not to mention if you are on the road with a 13" display, so quite often windows are running off the display, so you can't even see the dot till you move it in. Not to mention that the full-name label colours gave the eye visual clues about more than just important files- they built a sort of structure that helped you navigate the rest of the folder.

     

    As a designer myself, this really makes me want to round up some designers from Apple and slap them upside the head. Yes, I'd tell them, I know making everything sorta monotone and subdued looks nice. The dots instead of whole-name-labels look more tasteful, I agree. BUT THEY DON'T WORK, and that has got to come first!! Yes I agree, the labels in mountain lion could appear a bit too childish - but that could have been fixed by not using gradients and by modyfing the standard colours a tiny bit to be less garish.

     

    Yeah, I too have found myself wondering how they could be made to look nicer without taking away functionality. Notice those four words? The MOST important thing is that they worked. These silly new dots do NOT work. Form follows function.

     

    ughhhhhh! Go back to design school!    

  • by Laralyn10,

    Laralyn10 Laralyn10 Oct 31, 2013 3:14 PM in response to peterleary
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 31, 2013 3:14 PM in response to peterleary

    you should tweet that image at apple. or something.. is that how twitter works?

    peterleary wrote:

     

    Screen Shot 2013-10-27 at 10.51.36 am.png

    vs

    Screen Shot 2013-10-27 at 9.57.20 am.png

  • by johnny cilantro,

    johnny cilantro johnny cilantro Oct 31, 2013 6:14 PM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 6:14 PM in response to S. G.

    Here’s my feedback sent to http://www.apple.com/feedback/

    The visual subtlety of the new tag system that has replaced the old label system is not appreciated by me.

     

    The ability to color, or more specifically, HIGHLIGHT specific files and folders was very useful.

     

    Perhaps it could be brought back as an option?

    Feel free to copy.

     

    Please complain!

  • by Laralyn10,

    Laralyn10 Laralyn10 Nov 1, 2013 2:52 AM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 1, 2013 2:52 AM in response to S. G.

    I just found out PathFinder may have this feature. The developer Cocoatech tweeted a screencap of it, even though it doesn't seem to be listed as a feature on their website.

     

    Of course we would all prefer Apple to do this instead so we don't have to buy third party software just for a feature that should never have been taken away in the first place.. but here we are.

  • by EIMX,

    EIMX EIMX Jan 27, 2014 4:12 AM in response to Laralyn10
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2014 4:12 AM in response to Laralyn10

    I totally agree with you.. Apple should have never removed this feature.. i too like most users, had my folders colour coded to help me find them and make my life easier and more efficient.

     

    I hate how apple doesnt listen to its customer's feedback and how they are trying to lock us in more and more with less and less choices..

     

    Bring back OSX' s status as a truly powerful and capable and open and compatible operating system

     

    Thank God for android which gave me a choice away from ios. now apple is pushing me away from their main OS...

    Good job apple.

  • by DimsOne1,

    DimsOne1 DimsOne1 Jan 27, 2014 12:33 PM in response to S. G.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2014 12:33 PM in response to S. G.

    Apple Mac people did a good job with the tagging of the files but they should do also an option in the OS Mavericks to hilight files with different colors like it was before! As many people got already used to it! Hey Apple, you should respect your users more with their customs and habbits otherwise it looks like it has been done for porpouse to mislead users, get them confused and to make them to loose control of what happennig in their computer.

  • by Alancito,

    Alancito Alancito Jan 27, 2014 12:38 PM in response to DimsOne1
    Level 6 (11,157 points)
    Jan 27, 2014 12:38 PM in response to DimsOne1

    DimsOne1 ~ Welcome to the Support Communities.

    DimsOne1 wrote:

     

    Hey Apple, you should respect your users more with their customs and habbits otherwise it looks like it has been done for porpouse to mislead users, get them confused and to make them to loose control of what happennig in their computer.

    Apple isn't here. You can send feedback to Apple via this form:

     

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

     

    (And consider using a spell checker.)

     

    _SIgnature.gif

  • by DimsOne1,

    DimsOne1 DimsOne1 Jan 27, 2014 1:35 PM in response to Alancito
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2014 1:35 PM in response to Alancito

    I had already sent them the request to add colourful labelling extra possibility to the tagging in the mavericks. Thanx!!!

  • by Pangaea88,

    Pangaea88 Pangaea88 Feb 21, 2014 12:24 PM in response to Laralyn10
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2014 12:24 PM in response to Laralyn10

    I just sent the following message to http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html:

    Look at the image in the following link and tell me: what is the title of the file with the yellow label?

    https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-23540515-31821 4/269-111/Screen+Shot+2013-10-27+at+10.51.36+am.png

     

    Now look at this image: what is the title of the file with the blue tag?https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-23540515-31820 9/310-97/Screen+Shot+2013-10-27+at+9.57.20+am.png

     

    Wasn't it quicker and more convenient to find the answer to the first question? Now you know why so many Mac users (including me) are clamoring for Apple to bring back the Labels feature. Finding individual files in a list is so much easier when the entire line can be highlighted. You can keep Tags, but please give us the option for Labels, too!

    If anyone else wants to reuse this message when sending feedback to Apple, please do!

     

    Here's hoping the folks at Apple will get the message and pay attention!

     

    P.S. Thanks for the images, peterleary!

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