Right-Size Finder Column Widths Automatically

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Level 1

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Right-Size Finder Column Widths Automatically

With Sonoma now out, there’s STILL no setting to automatically “right-size” column widths in the Finder. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the most frustrating shortcoming of MacOS. Click on a folder to reveal its contents in the next column and it limits the width of that column to around 20 characters. So you have to manually open up the rightmost column to reveal the full name… Every. Single. Time. If I were to tally the amount of time I’ve spent needlessly resizing columns over the course of a year, it’d be hours. It’s just silly.

To my question: Are there any third-party utilities that will fix this glaring MacOS gaffe?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.3

Posted on Jan 19, 2024 9:32 AM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

135,749 points

Jan 19, 2024 12:51 PM in response to bonn128

You do know there are other file managers such as Path Finder, Commander One and others. One might do what you desire.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

135,749 points

Jan 19, 2024 12:08 PM in response to bonn128

I'm sure Apple has their reasons. Personally I don't have that many long file names that it makes a difference to me. I know some people have asked about it since at least 2009. I don't think it's likely to change but you can always send Apple feedback.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

135,749 points

Jan 19, 2024 9:40 AM in response to bonn128

There's been a way to "right-size" columns long before Sonoma.

Hover the cursor over a separation line just as you do to manually size the columns, then right-click to open the Options menu.

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Answer 4

bonn128 Author

Level 1

85 points

Jan 19, 2024 9:54 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks for replying. I’m aware of this feature. The problem is that you have to do this *every time* you open a column. The OS won’t do it automatically, which I’m suggestion should be what it does by default. Or at least, we should be given a preference option to make columns “right-size” automatically.

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Answer 5

bonn128 Author

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85 points

Jan 19, 2024 10:13 AM in response to dialabrain

Intriguing. I never thought of trying that. You're saying if you select "Right Size All Columns Individually" in your Home folder, that setting will "stick" and become the default in all Finder folders in Column view? Unfortunately, it didn't work for me when I tried it just now. That said, I am having other issues with Sonoma, so I'm not a reliable tester at the moment. I do appreciate your help on this though.

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Answer 6

dialabrain

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135,749 points

Jan 19, 2024 10:21 AM in response to bonn128

I just realized, do you mean so the entire file name is visible instead of being abbreviated? If so, no version of macOS does that, although I seem to remember there's some Terminal command that can disable the compressing of file names. Unfortunately I don't remember where I read that.

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Answer 7

bonn128 Author

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85 points

Jan 19, 2024 12:04 PM in response to dialabrain

Right. It shows the first few characters of the file name, then an ellipsis, then the last few characters. So unless you keep your file names under, say 20 characters, the middle part of your file names are withheld. The fact that you can change this per instance, suggests that Apple recognizes the importance of letting people see entire file names. But for some inexplicable reason, there's no option for making this a global setting. Absolutely confounds me.

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Answer 8

bonn128 Author

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85 points

Jan 19, 2024 12:46 PM in response to dialabrain

Oh I have, believe me. :)

Thanks for offering to help. I do appreciate it. I'll just sit tight and hope Apple chooses to address this at some point. Hopefully some independent developer will write a little utility app to address this. That's probably the more likely option. Apple is a big ship. Hard to turn a big ship.

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Answer 9

ophello

Level 1

64 points

May 13, 2024 11:13 AM in response to dialabrain

Apple has no reason. Apple is simply out of touch with how its users actually use their product.

Column widths should automatically be only as wide as necessary to show all filenames, and not one pixel larger or smaller.

PERIOD.

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Answer 10

ophello

Level 1

64 points

May 13, 2024 11:19 AM in response to dialabrain

Try opening some new folders with different width filenames, and I guarantee your columns will not resize to the width of the filenames contained in their folders automatically.

This feature is a ONE TIME FIX that only adjusts the current folder view you are looking at. It does not adjust on the fly.

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Answer 11

dialabrain

Level 10

135,749 points

Jan 19, 2024 9:59 AM in response to bonn128

Whatever setting I choose in the Home folder. applies to all folders on my Macs. Since at least Monterey. I still have a Mac running Big Sur but I'd rather not have to check unless you insist. 😎

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