Tiny Finder Sidebar (can I make it bigger?)

Question

Level 1

10 points

Tiny Finder Sidebar (can I make it bigger?)

When I open a window in Finder there's the usual sidebar which lists Macintosh HD, Desktop, Home, etc. I find the default is just too small to look at (it feels like to font is about size 10 and the icons are teeny-- what is the Desktop one supposed to be? It looks like a little purple smudge). Does anyone know how I can make the icons and text larger? I don't want to make things universally larger (I'm quite happy with the list view on the right as it is), just the sidebar.

Powerbook G4 15", Mac OS X (10.5), Just changed from 10.4.10

Posted on Oct 28, 2007 3:24 PM

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Answer 1

drandall

Level 1

10 points

Oct 28, 2007 10:34 PM in response to annelucretia

i wholeheartedly agree

the real problem comes when you're dragging files from a finder window to locations on the sidebar. the icons are so small that it makes what should be an easy thing into an unwelcome test of motor coordination.

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Answer 2

cfacc

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2007 11:44 AM in response to annelucretia

I'll second that!

The icons are way too small. And, even worse, the tiny font is just too small for people with impaired eyesight.

Apple: Please let us adjust font size and icon size in the sidebar in the first Leopard update!!

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2007 11:49 AM in response to annelucretia

Aw, see now, I like the smaller icons and text, the old ones were too big imho

But I see what you mean about visually impaired people.

If there were options to adjust the Resolution Independence settings, I would suggest trying that.

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Answer 4

Oct 29, 2007 11:50 AM in response to annelucretia

I LOVE the new tighter, cleaner sidebar.

If you're having trouble seeing it, there are several options.

1. Open System Preferences, click on Universal Access - activate the zoom feature which will allow you to zoom in using quick-keys to any part of your screen.

OR

2. Open System Preferences, click on Displays - change the display resolution to something less than it is currently set to - this will increase the size of the text and the icons.

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Answer 5

KeysDog

Level 1

15 points

Oct 29, 2007 3:10 PM in response to annelucretia

I'll second and third that! Make it so I can adjust the fonts size. Not everyone can see with 20/20 vision. I like my screen resolution the way it is, and I shouldn't have to resort to Universal Access to do this job.

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Answer 6

drandall

Level 1

10 points

Oct 29, 2007 9:07 PM in response to Unaha-Closp

the problem with the sidebar isn't clicking. it's dragging files into folders on the sidebar. with such a small icon, a near miss means you end up adding things to the sidebar, which is a pain.

i just measured. the music folder icon is 17 pixels square. i mean c'mon!

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Answer 7

Oct 29, 2007 9:35 PM in response to drandall

I agree too. While, it's the same as iTunes, I don't do as much in iTunes as I do in finder. I was looking for an option to increase the size of the icons but was unable to find one, mainly because one doesn't exist. But, hopefully in an update we can adjust some more appearances within Leopard.

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Answer 8

Oct 29, 2007 9:58 PM in response to jk_baller23

The bottom line is that Apple should not continue to hold as much control over the looks of our desktops. They really need to allow for things like changing font sizes, more control over colors of menu bars and windows, control over the transparency of things and any number of other items that allow us to make our desktops look the way that WE want.

What works for one does not always work for everyone and Apple needs to let people have a little control over the way they want their computers to look.

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Answer 9

annelucretia Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 30, 2007 10:56 AM in response to annelucretia

Thanks everyone who looked into ways of making the sidebar larger for me. While I can appreciate that the smaller version may appeal to some people, I'm still having difficulty with it. My problem is that without my contact lenses (my glasses tend to be 1 prescription behind because my eyes are still changing and I can't afford new glasses every year) I can't reliably drag files to the right place on the sidebar-- and I can't wear my contact lenses as late into the night as I work on my computer. I tried changing the screen resolution, but on my powerbook that made everything fuzzy and unpleasant. And zooming with Universal Access just isn't feasible for this. I'll cross my fingers for Apple giving us more control of our desktops, and keep my copy of Tiger in the drawer.
Thanks again.

(p.s. I thought the little Home icon looked unusual for Apple-- kind of basic and pixellated. Imagine my surprise when I opened it in Get Info and found it's an incredibly detailed image. There are shutters on the window, front steps, and shading on the chimney! It's a gorgeous little Home icon, but perhaps something more stylized would have worked better given the size we were going to see it at).

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Answer 10

LaVonne

Level 1

14 points

Oct 30, 2007 12:02 PM in response to annelucretia

Not being able to control the font size and style is a big problem for those of us with low vision. the zoom feature is useful but it's not the answer. I have a similar issue with Safari. the icons are small and I can't change the size or color. the text on the bookmark bar and tab bar is also small and the black text on a gray background is very difficult to read.

Apple does some nice things to facilitate accessibility like the ability to change the size of the mouse pointer but there are some limitations. Offering more flexibility for font size and background color shouldn't be that difficult. Microsoft can do it.

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Answer 11

Oct 30, 2007 12:21 PM in response to annelucretia

Hate to tell you guys to sit tight and wait for it, but resolution independence options might be the best thing to try..

Its in leopard, just not turned on yet. It was touted as a big feature, that clearly isn't quite ready to roll yet.

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Answer 12

Nov 6, 2007 9:26 PM in response to Matthew Morgan

Back in OS 9 (in the day of the candy-colored iMacs) the user interface was SO adjustable. You could make interface items be the same color as your computer, change sizes a lot, etc. This Leopard incarnation is kind of like a Henry Ford Model T approach: "you can have it in any color you want as long as it is black". It boggles my mind that things could go so radically backwards. What are people with cataracts, eye cancer, and macular degeneration, etc. supposed to do? "Zoom" just makes everything on the screen jaggier and uglier, plus you have to scroll around all over just to see the whole screen.

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