Permanently make Finder columns as wide as longest filename in Lion?

Yup. I just had to uninstall Xtrafinder. I don't understand how this isn't a preference or a fundamental choice the user can make.

This isn't a fix but when I want to see the entire filename, I use the list view (Command-2), then open folders as needed. It's also handy to be able to see multiple open folders in one window.

I have emailed trankynam asking for a fix to this apparently non functioning part of Xtrafinder. Nothing back from him yet. Will update if I receive anything.

Have apple fixed this yet?

This is totally ridiculous that in 2015 you still have to manually fiddle about with this even in El Capitan

I always say that "Apple does 9 things perfect, but the 10th is made by a really really stupid person".

This is one of those 10th things.

I mean, *** APPLE!??!? "Autoresize column width by largest name" is so obvious that it should've been a preference since Finder was invented!! Or at least, since Columns where invented in OS X...

Oh man, this is sooooo frustrating...!!

😠😠😮

I've settled for resizing with mouse while holding down the Option key. Does the job for 95% of folders/files, until Person 10 pulls his/her/it/their finger out.

(replying to bottom of thread)

+1 on "this is really irritating". It's MORE irritating in having found a cure in the form of Xtra-Finder, but to now have that cure taken away(El Capitan upgrade), which makes the loss so much more irritating having lived blissfully using that ONE FEATURE in Xtra-Finder for so long now.

I am sad.

Just use the alt ( option) on your keyboard while adjusting the size of your column, that's all.

No, it just resizes all colums to the same width.

We want individual column widths, all as long as the longest filename in that column.

Try Path Finder, http://www.cocoatech.com/pathfinder/, free 30-day trial. Unfortunately it isn't free like XtraFinder, but it has been compatible with El Capitan since about a week before El Capitan came out last year. It is $39.95 for a new purchase, $19.95 for an upgrade purchase. Path Finder version 7 works in Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, and El Capitan. It has a ton of features, most of which I don't use, but the auto-sizing of columns was worth it to me. You can use it as a Finder replacement or run it alongside the Finder. Since there are a few things Path Finder can't do, I leave Finder running in case I ever need it, but on a daily basis, I only use Path Finder to navigate around to all my files. It auto-sizes columns exactly in the manner you want, without excess white space in the column as you drill down through folders.

Thanks!

I would really like it to be an integrated part of the real Finder though. But I will definitely try it for a week or two!

Hey, I would be thrilled to just be able to manually change the column width. I can make Name as wide as the sun, I can make Date Modified as wide as it needs to be, but I cannot make Kind wide enough to read everything. It does not matter what nonintuitive Option-Crap-Triple-Click-Shift-Crap I do, I cannot make that column any wider in list view. Finder is a pain.

Gina

It only works up to Yosemite, unless you fiddle with the system. 😝

Super helpfull, I'm pretty good with mac shortcuts but this one was driving me crazy having to manually enlarge columns. Your fix solved my problem. BTW, Im using Sierra and worked. Thank you.