Finder "Up" Button?

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Level 2

290 points

Finder "Up" Button?

I know "Up" buttons in file managers aren't very cool anymore, since neither Leopard or Vista has one. However, I really wish Finder had in its "Customize Toolbar" collection, a little Up button you could use to go up a folder level. I mean, it would be nice to have the option of using one, even if it wasn't included in the default set toolbar.

Any chance of Apple adding this? Has anyone (other than Apple) developed a little "Up" button app that integrates seamlessly with the Finder?

17" iMac 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 16GB iPod Touch 40GB Apple TV

Posted on Feb 8, 2008 4:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Feb 8, 2008 4:28 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

cmd+up arrow.

Or,
Save this Applescript as an Application and drag the application to the toolbar:

tell application "Finder"
 set the target of Finder window 1 to (container of target of Finder window 1)
end tell

If you want it to look like an Up arrow, you'll need to find or make an icon for the application.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Feb 9, 2008 5:15 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Thanks for the AppleScript. I don't actually know anything about AppleScript, so I'm not sure how to implement that.

Open Script Editor (Applications/Applescript/). Paste the code into a new window. Save the script as an Application (File format: dropdown towards bottom of save dialog), and clear all the Options checkboxes. Sorry, can't help you on the icon, though.

When you drag the icon of the script to the toolbar, you have to wait a second for it to change to the green "+" blob before you let go.

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 8, 2008 4:23 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Have you tried adding "Path" to your Finder menu bar?
EDIT: Also the right arrow key will take you up a level.

-mj
macjack@gmail.com

Message was edited by: macjack

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Answer 4

petrock

Level 3

980 points

Feb 8, 2008 11:06 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

Just click the left arrow button in the toolbar. Its default location is on the left side of the toolbar.

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Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 9, 2008 9:35 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

-mj
macjack@gmail.com

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Answer 6

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

290 points

Feb 8, 2008 4:42 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for your replies.

I already have the Path icon on my toolbar. Perhaps that's the modern day equivalent of the Up button. It doesn't seem quite as fast to me.

And yes, I also know about command-up or command-down to go up and down Finder path levels. That seems to be the quickest way to do it. I still wish there were counterpart buttons though as an option for those who want them.

Thanks for the AppleScript. I don't actually know anything about AppleScript, so I'm not sure how to implement that. Plus I would want a nice smart icon, to match the Back and Forward buttons in the Leopard Finder. Hasn't anyone made/done that already?

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