Q: How do you replace the tiny Mavericks color tags with more visible older file labels?

This is not an answer, since I don't think we can have them where they are of use to us in this version of the Mac OS.

However I DO SEE COLORED LABELS within the subdirectory list that is available to me in OS 10.9.4 within the "save as" window. My labels were migrated over from a OS 10.6.8 computer to the newer one that is now running OS 10.9.4. It is interesting that the data is there, but Apple won't let us use it.

I have the same desire to have access to the much more visually useful "labels" in place of the new "tags" and to have color back in the sidebar. I've recently purchased a used MacBkPro that came with OS 10.9.2 installed. I did a migration of my files from another computer that is still running OS 10.6.8 and was sorely disappointed to see the backward functionality of this "upgrade". What is interesting is that the colors for the sidebar ARE also still available, just we're not allowed to see them. I discovered this when I tried a 3rd party piece of software called SideEffects -- for a short time I could see my subdirectory colors and their functional grouping via color in the sidebar.  Unfortunately, SideEffects didn't consistently work; especially after I upgraded to OS 10.9.4.

Perhaps you should inform Apple that you need the labels for a more efficient work flow at this URL: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

I ask you to give them feedback in the hopes that someday they'll comply. I would like to be able to have the option to either have color or gay on gray in the sidebar and to use BOTH labels and tags, since they essentially do two different things.

As a partial solution to the loss of the Label feature from OS 10.6.8, I found that 3rd party software Folder Brander, ver 2.4, available through the App Store, gives me the ability to give folders color and big labels that I can see, even in column view. I was elated to discover that Folder Brander still worked under OS 10.9.2 and now with 10.9.4, too.

I've used a previous version (ver 1.2) for many years with my OS 10.6.8 machines and was happy to discover that my older Branded Folders still displayed their colors and labels after the migration onto the OS 10.9.2 machine from the OS 10.6.8 one.

I use XtraFinder extension to get whole name label colors vs tag dots

XtraFinder

<http://www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/>

Also see TotalFinder

<http://totalfinder.binaryage.com/>

Hi,

I recently upgraded to the 10.9 as was disappointed to find that the color highlights. Fortunately, Pathfinder 5 (by Cocoatech) still works, and the color highlights still work. The other great features include a dual pane and the ability to set font sizes globally for the sidebar and the window. (With finder, the text size must be set for each directory if you want something larger or smaller than the default.) There is additional functionality, but those are my favorites.

Pathfinder is now in version 6 & 7, but the website says the tag colors are still available. (Though I would take advantage of the 30 day free trial to confirm that.)

I'm looking forward to checking out the other suggestions that have been offered. (And even though it won't be read, I did enjoy leaving feedback for the cute, tiny little dots that are meant to help quickly guide us to our most useful or favorite folders. Do the designers and developers at Apple even realize the dots to not show on a finder window that has been sized down.)

Hope you find a solution that works for you.

Best,

Margaret

Searching Desperately for 3rd  party software the loss color label  (help Someone)
is crippling to our production schedule when you have thousands of Image files in/out from many vendors the color label system was at-a-glance efficient  the tags are just ********!!!
the loss or rather buried window function again slowing us down drop down, again another useful tool taken away and just slowing us down FRUSTRATING!

Never should have went to Mavericks only did so because of  looming CC and Yosemite (really!! enough with names?!)

should have stopped at lion and gone off the grid soooo done  being hammered between Apple & adobe

You have 4 options available to you in this post.

DId you even read and look at the links in this post?

There is the free XtraFinder OR Total Finder OR the other two options mentioned.

The XtraFinder solution that MichelPM suggested works very well with Mavericks:

I'm late to this party. Just upgraded to Mavericks and was horrified, for the same reasons as everyone else, by the loss of the colored label function. I just installed XtraFinder, and so far so good: www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/

in addition to the much more useful (old style) Labels,

XtraFinder allows you to change the following settings:

- cut & paste (cmd+x)

- fullscreen window when maximizing

- Return to open selection (instead of renaming it)

- swap Zoom button with Fullscreen button

all of which make a lot more sense to me.

thanks BobHarris!

PS. you need to click on the Restart XtraFinder button (bottom left) to see changes.

I have same issue:  apps have been suggested on this thread that look promising.

xtrafinder

totalfinder

Has anyone who has used one or other give pros/cons?  Reviews I find aren't very helpful.  I'd like to have more colors than Mavericks provides.

Thanks--

Enheduanna

I use XtraFinder and like it very much.

It also can add color icons to the Finder sidebar

I'm quite happy with the app.

I find Xtrafinder to be SUPER buggy in 10.10.3. I had to uninstall it. Any other reccos would be great.