Q: How to get label colors back on Maverick?

Doug-H1955 wrote:

 

You have no idea how many Apple users are affected by the loss of lables.

How many? ...................................(and it's labels)

Pete

I'm not sure why people insist on calling PathFinder and Forklift "Utilities". They are apps that are run separately, which means that if you want to use the full labels view, you have to run the app. Of course you can run an app on startup and open an app window to view the old-style labels, but that's unnecessary work when all Apple would need to do is implement the ability to view your first tag as a full-line label.

I like PathFinder and Forklift - have them both. But I want to view the colors I assigned items within a folder. I don't search - I know where I stored my things - I want to jump to items based on the color I assigned, and I don't want to open a separate app to do so.

I do like MacLifer2's suggestion of at least putting the tags on the left instead of way on the right of the column - especially since Mavericks seems to forget the column width adjustments with every new opening of a folder window.

There are a few things I like about Mavericks, but many reasons I'm sorry I finally upgraded. If only Apple would implement options instead of making decisions for us, I'd be as happy as I was in the "old days".

I also notice this,

Running Excel and you go to open a file it shows the labels as they use to be!

Is finder doing this or Excel?

The finder is showing them. They are still in the OS code and many older programs show them in their Save dialogues.

And I assume that we can't port that to regular finder?

oh and as a test, if it has 3 different coloured tags then it shows the first colour that it was labeled with do reference to the other colours, although in the top bar you can still select labels rather than tags.

I'm a great fan of tagging -- very few files should live in one and only one folder.  Actually, for me the perfect solution would be to have colors (applied like the old labels were applied, but with more choices, please, 7 plus none is not enough), no names necessary, and tags -- no color, no dot, just a list of tags, as many as necessary and integrated into the UI of the Finder window.

I rarely had files residing in only one folder- but I always found aliases to do the job for me - I could get to originals, and everything was visible in the folder I was using to organize. I hate having to search things - I have files on my computer that go back into the '90's. It would get crazy. And, I certainly don't want to go back and tag old files or folders.

abbelougee.smile - I'm glad you can work without the visuals - you're lucky. I do like the idea of more choices, and would like to choose among more colors. BUT, I want the finder to work just as MattJayC was seeing when in open/save dialog boxes - I want to SEE my colors - and I"m happy if it just uses the first tag assigned to a file for that purpose...

...good reading more here.  I made my original complaint post some weeks ago.  So unfortunately we are all complaining about this but nothing is changing and I am trying to figure out if I should use TimeMachine to go back to Mountain Lion, or continue working with my Mac which I used to love but now don't enjoy because of this label struggle.  I'm working on a big project and just can't find things any more.  These tiny 'tag' dots are ridiculous.  And the folder windows never remember how I arranged the spacing of the menu, and on and on. 

And has anyone noticed all the new files that appeared after installing Mavericks (when you do a general search?  They have the original name of the file, but then instead of .doc or .pdf, they have "@0".  PLUS the original file, and sometimes two files with "@0" after it.  What is that all about??.  There are literally thousands of files that Mavericks apparently decided to duplicate in my computer in such a fashion, in addition to the actual file that had that name.  It must be using double the memory/processing (I'm not a techie so don't know terminology)--but where/how did this happen and am I the only one or what.  I don't have time to go thru and individually delete all this junk.  It is as if some foreign invader has taken my beloved Mac away and replaced it with a stranger. 

I think we are all just whistling in the wind here.  Mac doesn't care.

I've made my peace with it. Makes me sad when I open a file from an application (e.g., Acrobat) and am once again able to see my colored files (sigh).

Thing to do is to keep monitoring this and hope that Apple pays attention. Perhaps I'll write a letter to the NY Times tech section. Suggestions?

Barby Gale - you sound as frustrated as I am (there're other things about which I'm frustrated too). But at least you can GO back to Mountain Lion. I skipped it and went from Lion straight to Mavericks! Talk about culture shock! And, now I've been in Mavericks for several weeks, so going back would mean using my old system (I kept the whole hard drive, so that's the easy part), upgrading to Mountain Lion (I did download the installer, just never used it, so it IS available to me), and then going through my weeks and weeks of emails that I've done, and updates and upgrades I've done. I have it in case of emergency - but that seems like such a hassle. I just wish I didn't mind opening yet another program (like Pathfinder or Forklift) for the old label functionality. So far, the only thing I DO like about Mavericks is the dual monitor thing - works great for my business. Oh - and I DO like the tags - just not INSTEAD of labels - it would have been a great addition. Other than that, I'm quite annoyed.

Deedgee - sounds like you're very Zen about the whole thing. Perhaps I'll calm down over time too...

OR - someone'll come up with a solution - either a hack or Apple will listen (not holding my breath on that one).

If you have an opinion on this issue, please make sure you give Apple feedback here:

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

They won't acknowledge receipt, but it stands a better chance of being seen by Apple than here.

MtD

I just got a message in email to write to http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

It doesn't show up in this list for some reason, but to the person who wrote that reply - I had already done so, along with reporting several bugs and personal requests. I just submitted another plea behalf of this. I do hope they read those things.

But, although I'd already written to them, I still posted here - sometimes it's just good to voice opinions and commisserate.

Edit: the message post JUST showed up when I posted my last comment - again, thank you for the input.

Wish I actually could work without the visuals.  I just don't want the tags to be the (poorly conceived and executed) visuals.  And I want to be able to color code my files/folders using more than 7 colors.  I want colors -- lots -- and tags -- also lots but uncolored.

Path Finder and Forklift 2 both provide for labels the 'old' way and I have purchased and installed them both (mostly because I can't decide between them).  Yes I know -- and wholeheartedly agree -- that we SHOULDN'T have to resort to third party apps just to restore functionality that Apple has taken away.  But, until Apple decides to do this right, I will live with one or the other of the above finder substitutes.

Remember the ad campaign -- it just works...  Not no more, no how, nope.

I want Apple to stop aiming their 'upgrades' to the lowest common denominator (simpler isn't always better); stop trying to predetermine our workflows and stop downgrading the usefulness of the finder and other programs of long standing.

Bring back the label colors, the quickest way to find files I use frequently.  The tags are not visible enough to be useful. Bad move, Apple!