GreenAppleCore
Level 1 (7 points)
iPhone

Q: How to Change View Options for ALL Finder Windows?

I know how to set the view options for each Finder window (text size, sorting, etc.), but is there a way to apply these setting to every Finder window I will open in the future?  If so, how?

 

For example if I change the settings to what I want and click the "Use as Default" box, it only make them the default for that paricular window - not any other.

 

Screen Shot 2013-11-09 at 7.33.15 PM.png

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 9, 2013 7:39 PM

by baltwo,Solvedanswer
baltwo baltwo
Level 9 (62,256 points)
A:

Use as Defaults is supposed to carry over to all newly opened Finder windows, but it doesn't change any previously opened windows. If you want to revert all previously opened windows to that view, follow these steps:

 

Launch the Terminal app (in /Applications/Utilities/), copy & paste this command into the window that pops up, and hit the return key:

 

sudo find / -name ".DS_Store"  -exec rm {} \;

 

At the Password: prompt, carefully enter your admin password, since nothing shows up on the screen, and hit the return key. When the default prompt, usually the $ sign, pops up again, quit the Terminal app, restart, and open a Finder window, set it up the way you want, and click on Use as Defaults button. All subsequently opened or created folders should retain that view.

Posted on Nov 12, 2013 2:36 PM

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GreenAppleCore

Q: How to Change View Options for ALL Finder Windows?

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  • by pedro d,

    pedro d pedro d Nov 12, 2013 12:26 PM in response to GreenAppleCore
    Community Specialists
    Nov 12, 2013 12:26 PM in response to GreenAppleCore

    Hello there, GreenAppleCore.

     

    The following Knowledge Base article provides some great pointers in regards to your question:

     

    Mac Basics: Modify your windows

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2487

     

    Particularly:

    Change the view and view options

    HT2487-MtLion-ViewOptions-001-en.png

     

    • Depending on your window's view, you can modify how it displays its contents.
    • To change a Finder window's view, click the appropriate button in the toolbar, or choose as Icons, as List, as Columns, or as Cover Flow from the View menu. (For more information on Finder window views, see The Finder.)
    • To customize the window further by view, choose View > Show View Options.
    • If you choose List, Icons, Columns, or Cover Flow view, you can choose whether to apply your settings to only the current window or to all windows. Select the appropriate checkbox at the top of the View options window.
    • In each view option you can modify what displayed and viewable. For example, with Columns view you can modify the text size, and icon and preview column visibility. In List view, you can modify the icon and text size, select what file information to display in columns, and more.

     

    Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

     

    Cheers,

    Pedro.

  • by GreenAppleCore,

    GreenAppleCore GreenAppleCore Nov 12, 2013 2:05 PM in response to pedro d
    Level 1 (7 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 12, 2013 2:05 PM in response to pedro d

    Thanks for your reply, Pedro.

     

    I've already changed the view preferences in Finder and it works fine for one window,...

     

    BUT what I want is for those view settings to be applied globally for EVERY Finder window.  It's a little annoying having the settings changed in only the folders I've updated.

  • by baltwo,Solvedanswer

    baltwo baltwo Nov 12, 2013 2:36 PM in response to GreenAppleCore
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 2:36 PM in response to GreenAppleCore

    Use as Defaults is supposed to carry over to all newly opened Finder windows, but it doesn't change any previously opened windows. If you want to revert all previously opened windows to that view, follow these steps:

     

    Launch the Terminal app (in /Applications/Utilities/), copy & paste this command into the window that pops up, and hit the return key:

     

    sudo find / -name ".DS_Store"  -exec rm {} \;

     

    At the Password: prompt, carefully enter your admin password, since nothing shows up on the screen, and hit the return key. When the default prompt, usually the $ sign, pops up again, quit the Terminal app, restart, and open a Finder window, set it up the way you want, and click on Use as Defaults button. All subsequently opened or created folders should retain that view.

  • by GreenAppleCore,

    GreenAppleCore GreenAppleCore Nov 12, 2013 9:31 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (7 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 12, 2013 9:31 PM in response to baltwo

    That did it baltwo.  Thanks so much!

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Nov 12, 2013 10:23 PM in response to GreenAppleCore
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 10:23 PM in response to GreenAppleCore

    thumbsup.gif  Good computing.

  • by house9,

    house9 house9 Feb 14, 2014 7:41 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 14, 2014 7:41 PM in response to baltwo

    I ended up having to use

     

    sudo find / -name .DS_Store -delete; killall Finder

     

    which is basically the samething you posted, but this one worked, possibly killing Finder was the difference?

    running Mavericks

  • by Cvo1,

    Cvo1 Cvo1 Mar 13, 2014 8:21 AM in response to house9
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 13, 2014 8:21 AM in response to house9

    Worked for me thanks so much!

  • by cyferian,

    cyferian cyferian Apr 29, 2014 10:29 PM in response to house9
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2014 10:29 PM in response to house9

    It worked for Mavericks.

    Thanks so much!

  • by dcarterc,

    dcarterc dcarterc Dec 6, 2014 7:40 AM in response to GreenAppleCore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 6, 2014 7:40 AM in response to GreenAppleCore

    I tried this and can't seem to get it to work... this is the message I get back in terminal:Screen Shot 2014-12-06 at 7.37.35 AM.png

    I"m running latest version of Yosemite on a 27" late 2011 iMac.  Any help would be much appreciated thanks guys!

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Dec 6, 2014 7:53 AM in response to dcarterc
    Level 9 (71,175 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 6, 2014 7:53 AM in response to dcarterc

    You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.


  • by dcarterc,

    dcarterc dcarterc Dec 6, 2014 8:07 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 6, 2014 8:07 AM in response to Eric Root

    Oh thanks Eric... sorry, I don't use these forums much :-)

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Dec 6, 2014 2:21 PM in response to dcarterc
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Dec 6, 2014 2:21 PM in response to dcarterc

    You have to wait until you get back the Dave$ prompt.

  • by gumsie,

    gumsie gumsie Dec 31, 2014 3:56 AM in response to baltwo
    Level 4 (2,174 points)
    Dec 31, 2014 3:56 AM in response to baltwo

    Hi Baltwo. I hope you don't mind me latching on here quickly.

    Your command above works as advertised for me. What I tend to do for myself and others is make them into Automator applications and embed the command into an Applescript..

    Usually in this way when using sudo in one, instead of ;

    sudo ******* ******, you might type;

    do shell script "******* ******" with administrator privileges.

     

    My problem is when there are quotes in the actual command itself as per below. How might I get around this, (I think the semi colon may present an issue too)?

    on run {input, parameters}

     

      do shdo shell script "find / -name ".DS_Store"  -exec rm {} \;" with administrator privileges

     

      returreturn input

    endend run

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Dec 31, 2014 4:13 AM in response to gumsie
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Dec 31, 2014 4:13 AM in response to gumsie

    Try single quotes around the term: '.DS_Store'. As for the semicolon, that shouldn't matter.

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