otmaxo

Q: Open and Save dialogue boxes are useless

I have recently moved from Windows to Mac after being told I would never look back and I am already 'looking back' somewhat in terms of the OS. I work with photos and graphics and I'm on the move a lot so went for a Mac Book Pro Retina with SSD and I am not going to lie it is lightning quick and the display is beautiful. But when it comes to saving and opening workflow it does not work how I expected it would.

 

It seems such a simple thing but you cannot rename files from within mac open and save dialogue boxes. I'm so used to right clicking on a PC to create a new folder, hit F2 or right click and hit rename to rename to what I want then save the file into that new folder. You can also directly edit the name of the files and folders from within the open save dialogue box. If you right click on a mac you can create a new folder but it defaults to the name 'untitled folder' and you then can't change it's name. It find it unbelievable that you can not do this on a MacOS! So unbelievable that I went into an Apple store and spoke with someone there. When I showed them the problem they weren't even aware of it and pointed out I should just use finder. But that is not convenient if if you want to rename a new folder to then have to come out of the open save relocate in finder and change from there.

I know there is the new folder button down to the left hand side and you can rename the folder as soon as you create it using that but sometimes you may make a mistake and want to change it. Same with file names.

 

Why can't you do this on a Mac? It's crazy. After searching about, I came across the Default Folder X app which appears to fix this issue which isn't really that cheap for something I consider should be 100% native in any OS.

 

There are other issues that frustrate me from moving over from Windows to Mac (like the ability to snap windows to screen edges, Better Snap Tool fixed that for me at a much more reasonable price but still would have expected this to be native), which I know I will just have to get used to but this one really surprised me.

 

Considering I was promised so much in terms of better efficiency with work flow and ease of use overall there is still a lot that's left to be desired.

Posted on Jan 26, 2015 5:25 AM

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Q: Open and Save dialogue boxes are useless

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  • by fbcz-jf,

    fbcz-jf fbcz-jf Jun 2, 2016 3:19 PM in response to otmaxo
    Level 1 (12 points)
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    Jun 2, 2016 3:19 PM in response to otmaxo

    Otmaxo, I'm with you on this. I'm having the same kind of PC to MAC OS pain in relation to the finder boxes. Not being able to use every file dialog window as I would a typical finder window is annoying and really slows down my efficiency. Add to it the glitches that Adobe CC has with the Photoshop/Illustrator open file dialog window, the gradient swatch window, the save window, etc always opening at a the tiny default size instead of the size I closed it at and I'm pulling out my hair, wondering why I didn't go with another PC instead of believing getting a MAC was what I needed.

     

    I have to say, though, that the "just deal with it" and "Macs aren't PCs" types of responses I've been getting in these apple "help" forums aren't useful. Not only so, but I can't help but think those posts were written with an annoying "better than thou" tone, cause obviously, those people are experts and never have trouble with their operating systems doing things they would prefer they didn't or wish that this is room to improve various aspects of the OS. But ok, I get it. There are people who are so in love with their particular operating systems that they feel defensive when speaking to anyone who thinks differently, but it's frustrating to need answers and to find that the "help" forums are so unhelpful. I mean, you spend upwards of $5000 on a computer you've been told is the best thing since tater tots (when you know you could've gotten more computer for your buck if you'd chosen the other OS - one that has a built in CD drive, one that has a full keyboard, one that has enough USB slots, etc) only to find that the silver bullet is just pretty to look at, is slower than expected, locks up just as often as the other OS, and isn't particularly intuitive with all of it's secret keystrokes and gestures (as cool as some of those are - LOVE the multiple desktops feature!).

     

    I know Apple has to be different than Microsoft... maybe that's more than half the issue. Having worked extensively with both operating systems, I'm not saying that PCs are better - they have issues too, but their OS seems more intuitive and is certainly easier to keep clean since the open file dialog and the save file dialog boxes (all file windows, in fact) make the option of renaming files or even moving files into folders optional before you save/open the file you're looking for. So, in the windows vs finder case, it seems the windows option is more powerful and useful since all of the file windows operate in the same way, ultimately providing the user more power in managing their files. The Mac OS X falls on its face in that regard - just can't manage to provide what the user needs/wants - it restricts instead of granting freedom/power to work in a way that is desired without charging for additional apps that edit the OS code... which, honestly, is out of my wheel-house. Unless there is an option to make all file windows as powerful as the finder - is it just another "hidden" jewel that requires a special keystroke sort of thing to make it happen?

     

    Another way finder falls flat is the column width. Sure, you can resize all columns to the same width if you hold down the opt key - yeah, but not all of my columns need to stay that wide, just some of them. But if I don't use the opt key when resizing the column, the columns always open at the tiny default width and even resizing them as needed doesn't stick.... Anyway - gotta deal with it cause Macs aren't PCs and I'll grow to love it, right? 

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