Finder - Create new files directly from a folder using finder ?

In Finder, is there a way to do a right-click in a folder and create a new file like: New Text File or New Document from that location?
I used to do this oftenly in Windows (right click, New Word document) but I have not found it in Mac OS X, any work around ?

Thanks

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 17, 2010 6:35 PM

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Posted on Aug 17, 2010 7:12 PM

Try the [Apple feedback page|http://www.apple.com/feedback>. However, note that this is unlikely to be added. It would be a very cumbersome feature.

On Windows, you're almost guaranteed to be tied to a particular set of document creation tools. If you're using an office suite other than MS Office, you're so weird you might as well be using a Mac! 🙂 This means that commands like "New Document" make sense there.

On a Mac, a "document" could be created with MS Word, Pages, TextEdit, NeoOffice, OpenOffice, Mellel, Nisus Writer Marinter Write, or any of a host of other programs. (Mac users tend to put less emphasis on the popular tool and prefer to use the tool that "fits the hand" best.) Further complicating things is the fact that "document" is a very generic term, since every spreadsheet is a document, every Photoshop file is a document, etc. The contextual menu would rapidly become unmanageable if it had to fill up with "New Whatever Document" commands for every app on your hard drive!

It is possible for you to add your own custom services to the contextual menu using AppleScript or Automator, and you should be able to create services to create new documents for the apps you use frequently. Check on the [AppleScript forum|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724] for guidance on how to do this.
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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 17, 2010 7:12 PM in response to AppleForumAliasName

Try the [Apple feedback page|http://www.apple.com/feedback>. However, note that this is unlikely to be added. It would be a very cumbersome feature.

On Windows, you're almost guaranteed to be tied to a particular set of document creation tools. If you're using an office suite other than MS Office, you're so weird you might as well be using a Mac! 🙂 This means that commands like "New Document" make sense there.

On a Mac, a "document" could be created with MS Word, Pages, TextEdit, NeoOffice, OpenOffice, Mellel, Nisus Writer Marinter Write, or any of a host of other programs. (Mac users tend to put less emphasis on the popular tool and prefer to use the tool that "fits the hand" best.) Further complicating things is the fact that "document" is a very generic term, since every spreadsheet is a document, every Photoshop file is a document, etc. The contextual menu would rapidly become unmanageable if it had to fill up with "New Whatever Document" commands for every app on your hard drive!

It is possible for you to add your own custom services to the contextual menu using AppleScript or Automator, and you should be able to create services to create new documents for the apps you use frequently. Check on the [AppleScript forum|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724] for guidance on how to do this.

Aug 17, 2010 7:18 PM in response to AppleForumAliasName

Just create an Automator Service that acts on Folders in the Finder.
Add a Set value of Variable action.
Add a Create New Word Document.
Right-click on the header of that action and select Ignore Input.
Add a Save Word Documents and add the options you want.
In the Path, select New variable… and accept Path.
Go back to Set value of Variable and set it to Path.
Give it a Name and format.

You can do the same for the other Office docs.
For other types, you'd have to write the applescript that would create the new document in that application, if it is scriptable.

Aug 17, 2010 7:01 PM in response to AppleForumAliasName

No. But, if you want to report this issue to Apple's engineering, send a bug report or an enhancement request via its Bug Reporter system. To do this, join the Mac Developer Program—it's free and available for all Mac users and gets you a look at some development software. Since you already have an Apple username/ID, use that. Once a member, go to Apple BugReporter and file your bug report or enhancement request. The nice thing with this procedure is that you get a response and a follow-up number; thus, starting a dialog with engineering.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Finder - Create new files directly from a folder using finder ?

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