Reset Finder show view options in Snow Leopard 10.6

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Level 1

15 points

Reset Finder show view options in Snow Leopard 10.6

Hello, I have been playing around Snow Leopard 10.6 and I am still unable to fully reset my finder view options to one style through all of my system, not just the top folders...

I have tried tricks that used to work with leopard like holding the option key to enable reset to defaults while in view options, but that trick doesn't seem to work anymore.

I have upgraded from 10.5 so maybe my upgrade is not ok...

Thanks for the help.

Unibody Macbook Pro 17" - 4GIG RAM, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 7, 2009 7:16 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 7, 2009 7:23 PM in response to deijmaster

Try using cmd instead of option.

Regards

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Answer 2

deijmaster Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 8, 2009 1:40 AM in response to Josef Kowalewski

Well doesn't seem to change anything... Quick example, when I go in finder, click on my drive - I am in list view. Then the second I click in Applications, I'm back into icon view view. The I go in Downloads, oups, back in another view...

Simply put, I want a full restore of default views (or any other views) system wide. All key combos up to now does not work.

Knowing Unix command line, is there a way (maybe) that I could input a command combo to just clean this mess?

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Answer 3

pullman

Level 4

1,199 points

Sep 9, 2009 2:27 PM in response to deijmaster

I have the same problem. Even more odd - deleting com.apple.finder.plist doesn't reset all folders.

/p

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Answer 4

deijmaster Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 10, 2009 5:45 PM in response to pullman

You bet, did exactly the same thing and delete doesn't change anything... very special.

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Answer 5

Sep 11, 2009 3:40 PM in response to deijmaster

Yes, this is a problem for me too and I see no solution....

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Answer 6

Sep 16, 2009 5:23 AM in response to Bob Spaulding

Yup its frustrating me.... how do we reset the default view option? MIne is all grayed out....

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Answer 7

Sep 16, 2009 5:33 AM in response to Damien Gerard Chew

Download a tool like Onyx for free. Install and run it and you'll be given a plethora of options for resetting things like finder views, trash, DS_Stores and so on.

It's easy to use and if you're at all unsure, you can always seek online assistance. I'm pretty sure it would sort the problems you're having here.

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Answer 8

deijmaster Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 16, 2009 7:24 AM in response to aboywholikesapples

Thanks for the advice, but after many years on OSX I am aware and very confortable with these tools and they still can't make it work... Been there done that got the T-Shirt.

My places folders still keep weird settings and nothing seems to be able to unlock these preferences... Thanks again for the advice.

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Answer 9

Sep 20, 2009 1:24 PM in response to deijmaster

Has anyone found the solution to this? Its driving me up the wall!

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Answer 10

mdi

Level 1

20 points

Sep 20, 2009 11:25 PM in response to deijmaster

OS X saves appearance information in hidden .DS_Store files. Any folder with "personal preferences" set contains such a file. Deleting the file resets the folder to default view (...and deletes any file comment, by the way).

To show hidden files and delete .DS_Store files manually, paste the following in Terminal, hit Enter, and then restart Finder (alt+rightclick on Finder's Dock icon > "Relaunch"):

{quote}defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles ON{quote}
Undo (Restart Finder again):
{quote}defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles OFF{quote}

Another way would be this. Terminal, *Use at your own risk*:

{quote}sudo find /path/to/folder -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;{quote}

This command will ask for your password, and then find and delete (and not "move to trash") any file named ".DS_Store" in the given directory (path and subfolders). It will ask only once, and it will delete immediately whatever (filename) you type after -name. For your user folder the command would be:

{quote}sudo find /Users/yourusername -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;{quote}

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Answer 11

MaNiFeX

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2009 10:42 AM in response to mdi

Thanks mdi!

That command makes sense and probably works, but I want to run this at root ( / ) to reset all my directories. I am weary of blasting all my .DS_Store files without knowing the repercussions, though. Has anyone had much success with this?

From my past experiences, I would just use the "Set as Defaults" radio button in the View Options in Finder and my folders would all assume the same view.

Is this a confirmed bug in 10.6? Any more info from people successful at setting global view options would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

MaNiFeX

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Answer 12

#2

Level 1

10 points

Sep 28, 2009 11:58 PM in response to MaNiFeX

I have the same problem. Deleting .DS_Store files and com.apple.finder.plist just make the folders to revert back to the Finder window view options when they where created. There is no way I can make them to use the options I have set to be used as default in Mac OS X 10.6. I can however manually restore a folder to the defaults using the view options palette and the option key but that's not a solution since there are hundreds of folders. How can a folder keep the old customized Finder window view options when the .DS_Store file is deleted?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2179443

Message was edited by: #2

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Answer 13

dogsnack

Level 2

157 points

Oct 29, 2009 12:07 PM in response to #2

Has anyone found a solution to this issue? I have something similar. New computer not an upgrade to OS 10.6.1. I am unable to View desktop items in List, Columns or Cover Flow. They are grayed out. As is rest of the Finder window except Arrange By and Show View Options. I threw out Finder pref but to no avail.

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