Tom Sommerseth1

Q: Save file dialog does not pick up name.

Hi!

I have updated 5 macs in my household to Mac OS Sierra. Mac Mini, two Macbook Retina and iMac 5K. None of them is able to pick up existing filename when trying to save a file. I used to be able to click on a file on my drive and it input the filename in the save dialog, but input field just remains empty and I have to write the filename manually. Really frustrating when working with revisions and you just want to change the last number in the filename.

 

Anyone else experienced this and maybe have a fix?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Tom

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 12:13 PM

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Q: Save file dialog does not pick up name.

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  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Sep 27, 2016 12:23 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 8 (40,275 points)
    Sep 27, 2016 12:23 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    Your post provoked me to try this using two different applications (Apple's Pages and MacOS' Preview).  In both cases, when I opened an existing file, its name appeared at the top center of the window.  Further, when I did a "Save" or "Save..." that file name was presented as the default name; in other words, a save would simply overwrite the existing file.

     

    The behavior you're describing clearly depends on what application you're using.  You did not specify what application that might be.

  • by Tom Sommerseth1,

    Tom Sommerseth1 Tom Sommerseth1 Sep 27, 2016 12:49 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 12:49 PM in response to sberman

    Hi! And apologies. Did not know a question like this could provoke...? Anyway, it happens in every application where the standard Mac OS dialog is present. Sketch, Preview, Pages, Photoshop. Not application related. It does not pick up the name and does not allow me to save over it.

     

    If anyone else has experienced this and have found a fix I am happy to receive a helpful answer.

     

    Thanks in advance,

    Tom

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Sep 27, 2016 2:09 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 8 (40,275 points)
    Sep 27, 2016 2:09 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    It all works fine for me.

     

    Consider this sequence of four screen shots related to opening my file named "Carole" using Preview:

     

    1.  I open the file.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 1.58.40 PM.png

     

    2. The file name appears at the top of the window.  There is a drop down arrow next to the file with additional options which may be used in a "Save" context.  (I am not addressing this drop down arrow at all in this discussion, but perhaps it has options you would like.)

    Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 1.59.05 PM.png

    3.  I choose "File > Save ..." from Preview's menu.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 1.59.29 PM.png

     

    4.  By default, the current file name "Carole" appears in the "Save As" box.  I did not type that name.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 1.59.54 PM.png

  • by Tom Sommerseth1,Apple recommended

    Tom Sommerseth1 Tom Sommerseth1 Sep 27, 2016 11:46 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 11:46 PM in response to sberman

    Hi guys! Thanks for all the input. I figured it out. By accident. In thumbnail view it does not pick up the filename when trying to save. In listview however, it does. Used to work with picking thumbnails in previous OS X versions as well.

     

    Attaching screenshot:

    file-save-dialog2.gif

     

    Thanks for all the help.

     

    Cheers,


    Tom

  • by bobbagoose,

    bobbagoose bobbagoose Sep 28, 2016 1:55 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 1:55 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    Thanks, this has been driving me nuts and really effected my workflow. Being a graphics professional I use thumbnail view A LOT and picking up the filename for save is a shortcut that has been present for as long as I remember! How did they miss this? At least I can use this workaround for now. Hopefully this is something that will be fixed sooner rather than later.

  • by Billy Barker,

    Billy Barker Billy Barker Sep 28, 2016 9:51 AM in response to bobbagoose
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 28, 2016 9:51 AM in response to bobbagoose

    Your post is exactly my problem, all the way down to being a Graphic Designer. On accident I figured out if you click and drag down on a file, then let go, in thumbnail view it will update the Save As name field. Definitely a bug, but a better work around for now.

  • by 427Tri-Power,

    427Tri-Power 427Tri-Power Oct 4, 2016 9:10 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 4, 2016 9:10 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    So has there be any response from anyone at Apple as to why this is a change in macOS Sierra?  It worked fine before the upgrade to Sierra. Anyone know of a reason why it now only works in list view?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Oct 4, 2016 10:02 AM in response to 427Tri-Power
    Level 8 (40,275 points)
    Oct 4, 2016 10:02 AM in response to 427Tri-Power

    "Why" questions are almost never answerable on the Apple Support Communities.  We are not allowed to speculate why Apple does or does not take actions, offer/modify products, etc.

     

    Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Oct 4, 2016 11:14 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 7 (21,123 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 4, 2016 11:14 AM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    With Sierra, on a Save.../Save As... panel, you can update the Save As: filename field:

    1. Icon View
      1. Drag/drop new icon over the filename field
    2. List View
      1. Single-click of new document name
  • by OlifantCreative,

    OlifantCreative OlifantCreative Oct 4, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 4, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Tom Sommerseth1

    Just want to add a note of thanks, Tom. I've been trying to think of the best way to phrase a Google search to find the answer to this issue (I'm a graphic designer, too -- where's the love for your traditional user base, Apple?!) and finally stumbled on the right words that threw up this page.

     

    I thought it was a bug and have been waiting for another OS update but I guess it's just a "feature"... and a strange decision at that.