Always "Hide Others" in the Finder

This doesn't directly address your question, and isn't really specific to the "Finder", but note that holding down the Cmd and Option keys while clicking on a background programme's window will bring that app to the front while hiding any other apps.

In the case of the "Finder", you can also Cmd-Option-click the "Desktop".

The trick also works in the "Dock", but unfortunately not in Exposé or the Cmd-Tab app switcher.

Also note that the behaviour of the "Dock" can be set to always "Hide Others", but this will apply when switching to any application, not just the "Finder".

biovizier wrote:

Also note that the behaviour of the "Dock" can be set to always "Hide Others", but this will apply when switching to any application, not just the "Finder".

How does one do that? I don't see an option for it.

Launch "/Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal.app" and enter these commands:<pre>
defaults write com.apple.dock single-app -bool true
osascript -e 'tell application "Dock" to quit'</pre>

The "single-app" effect only applies when switching between programmes by clicking on "Dock" icons, and not when switching via Cmd-Tab or clicking windows.

Repeat the commands using "false" instead of "true" to turn off "single-app" mode.

cool, thanks.