Big Sur - New/Open/Save dialog box -size won't save

Xenophontus wrote:

I've found that the Default Folder X, an app I was already using has a simple workaround for this issue in the interim of Big Sur being updated.. You can check out their article about the problem here: https://www.stclairsoft.com/blog/2020/12/30/tiny-open-and-save-dialogs-on-big-sur/

Works, albeit with some delay... But it beats have to do it by hand everytime... I used Keyboard Maestro to adjust the dialogs but that works only with short Cuts not from choosing the menu Open etc.

Submitted as well. Here is my response. Feel free to cut and paste in order to save time.

"The Open and Save / Save As windows are super small when they open. To make matters worse, Mac OS doesn't remember that the user made them bigger EVERY TIME! This is so annoying and frankly mind-boggling how something so simple is forgotten with a new OS release. Please fix OS 11 to allow the user to adjust the default size of the Open and Save windows so that I don't have to drag them bigger just to make them usable every time I save something or open a file. Critical fail Apple, critical fail."

When is 11.2 Big Sure available? Also, why use a Save As Window at all? Why not simply open the Finder, on the preferred folder? As an example, in my case, Dropbox. A large comprehensive scope is always better for Save As. Also, whether a folder is opened automatically, the back arrows should always chase the folder above the folder. So Frustrating, to have to click out, then drill down, when you are down only a couple folders below where you want to save. SAVE AS window logic/idea MUST GO!!!

Even the newest update isn't a fix. SAVE AS is a must in many applications. When you're working in design software in the production industry I use SAVE AS over 200 times a day. The extra 10 seconds to resize the window to find my folders is a nightmare and adding so much time to my production workflow! This is big WHOOPS on apple!

Regarding your comment, "the back arrows should always chase the folder above the folder." If I understand you correctly, you can accomplish that by holding down the command button then clicking on the folder pull-down. You'll then see the folder tree structure all the way back to Documents and can choose the one you want, FYI.

I understand that save as is necessary. I am saying the save as as a small window versus just opening up finder and choosing the folder where you save as to. Just use finder and a Save As function for finder. Doing away with an independent small window. 99% of folks are not technical power programmers.

The Library issue did not exist with macOS 11.0/11.0.1 but began with 11.1. And, others have reported that third-party applications that use Apple's library in their Cocoa-based applications also have these NSPanel issues too.

To Clarify. I have a word doc, I have saved in the Folder Podcast. Yes, I can click the Folder Pulldown, without the Control pressed, and it expands to click, but the back arrow or left < > dead ends to the folder the file was in. So the ONLY way, as I see it and use it, is to click the Dropbox, then drill back down to the right folder. Does that make sense? The save as should not have so many clicks regardless, like mitchmac4 said, it is a nightmare and a big WHOOPS on apple. Anyhow, thanks for the chat. I appreciate you guys.

That’s odd. I know I followed this terminal command prior to the update, which didn’t work, but now, after the update, it works correctly. Hopefully this will help.

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/03/18/expand-save-dialog-default-mac/

Thank you for the suggestion; however, that didn’t do anything. The sidebar still shrinks back to its minimum width after bringing up the Open/Save dialog a few times, and the position of the window also resets every time.

Adding my voice to this frustrating feature.

My rant: For those of us that have used MACs for actual WORK for the past 25 years, why have the dialogue boxes (save, open, export, etc) been reduced so drastically -- without applications remembering how we resize them after the first use? Those of us who use them for production have to give long canonical names to folders and files ... but with all the new "margins and early 1990s rounding", they are useless. Every time i save or export, i lose time by having to stretch the dialogue box in all directions, and then the sub finder columns just to read things ... and then the file name box itself cannot be resized so you can't even read your file names. to the casual user, not a big deal. but for those who use them for work (and are constantly using dialogue boxes) -- well, it's frustratingly useless.

Hear. Hear. Well said. Thank you.

Again, to me, since Finder gives us a way TO SEE THE FOREST through the trees, then move from these limitations. To have the current option open to a nearly full screen option as a default, is a good start in the right direction.

The other thing that drives me crazy is, updates change user settings. I'd love to see the MAC team respect my time, and give me a tool, that can adjust user settings and set preferences, but then can zap and SET all my preferred settings with a one click of one button. Thanks for listening... Peace ...

Having the same problem here.

I want to add that the textbox to enter filenames is fixed and like that way too small as well for decades now.

The size should be auto adjusted according to the chosen width of the dialog box as well. On a 32" 4k screen it is like spying through a keyhole to enter a filename...

Hey there guys!

I had same issue here (iMac 27' 2019) with BigSur 11.1 and fixed it by reseting Finder preferences.

To do that:

From your Finder "Go" menu > "Go to folder" and enter

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

Click Go.

Delete the plist file.

Then, restart.

I did it yesterday and it's been fixed. Let's see if the issue will come back.

Hi, Luis131.

Good idea, and it does seem to fix sizing in the Finder (at least so far today), but it has not fixed the issue we face with a Save As dialog box. Like a lot of people in this forum who work in graphics and save multiple versions of files, this gets quite tedious when you have to resize dozens of dialog boxes a day.

Here's hoping it gets fixed soon.